NYS TARC Newsletter—May 2025
- NYS 21CCLC TARC
- Apr 22
- 10 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Jump to section: NYSED News/Updates
Important Reminders from the NEW '24-'25 21st CCLC Timeline:
Submit 2025-2026 Budget Packets (FS-10 Budget (in excel), Budget Narrative, Composite Budget, and M/WBE documents) electronically by May 15, to NYSED via Survey Monkey Apply using this link: https://nysed-expandedlearning-apply.smapply.io/prog/budget_fs-10_submission/. Please do not send hard copies until they are requested by NYSED’s Office of Student Support Services.
Attend mandatory training on determining GPA equivalents for grades 7,8, and 10-12 (GPRA Outcome Indicator) using GPA Calculator, Date TBD
Administer the Student Outcomes Survey or another validated student survey to program participants in grades 4 and above. This survey measures indicators of satisfaction and perceived outcomes.
Enter spring 2025 program participation and activity data into EZReports by June 30.
Complete MI’s “EOY Staff Survey” by June 20, 2025.
Engage in the 2nd Internal Improvement Cycle Session. Use the Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool to guide the process of assessing indicators of success and reviewing progress towards the measurable targets/goals set at the beginning of the year. Additional information about the QSA Tool is available at: http://networkforyouthsuccess.org/qsa
Convene 4th Advisory Board Meeting/Year-End Review. Include all stakeholders. Topics might include a review of program accomplishments, areas for improvement, organizing information to communicate out to stakeholder audiences, and to begin strategic planning.
Collaborate with Data Manager and Local Evaluator to complete any final data collection and quality control, share available program and participant data, and to schedule receipt of AER once analyses are completed, results and findings can be presented.
The program modification forms have been revised and can be accessed on the TARC website:
We encourage the New York subgrantees to share their best practices nationally with the Department of Education. The next window is June 5-June 26. Link: https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/formula-grants/school-improvement/nita-m-lowey-21st-century-community-learning-centers
EZReports Guidance
We have informed our partners and subgrantees that EZReports will not be used after 3/31/25 since the contract with them has not been extended, as a new contract has been awarded to TransAct, following a competitive bid. TransAct, with its data collection system Afterschool21, will provide 21st CCLC data collection services for the New York State System.
During the transition time, subgrants will need to track their own attendance between the dates of March 31st – June 30th. At the end of the year, subgrants will need to fill out the template provided by TransAct and submit it to NYSED no later than July 15th, 2025.
NYSED and the Resource Centers will assist subgrantees through this transition. Please reach out to EMSC21stCCLC@nysed.gov and your respective Resource Center for assistance.
PD/Events
These are non-required PD/events that may interest you:
May-June: NYS Network for Youth Success STEAM Skill Webinars
Click on each time to register for a training.
Building Simple Circuits Using Common or Accessible Materials Build circuits and create reusable circuit components from common or easily purchased materials such as paper, copper tape, paper clips, aluminum foil, etc. with Walt Silva from SMISTNY.
Register: Friday, 5/16, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
From Idea to Impact: How to Start a STEM Club That Engages & Inspires! This interactive, practical session will walk you through everything you need to confidently launch a fun, sustainable STEM club—whether you’re working in a classroom, after-school program, or another learning space.
Register: Wednesday, 5/21, 12:00 PM–1:30 PM
Chip Kids: Exploring the World of Microchips
Sample some of the Chip Kids videos and see the how to do some of the simple hands-on activities with the middle school students you work with so that they have a better understanding of microchips that run their everyday devices.
Register: Wednesday, 6/11, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Buffalo Advancing Career Placement: Northland Workforce Training Center Northland Workforce Training Center was strategically built in 2018 in Buffalo NY to serve as a pipeline to great careers in advanced manufacturing. This will be an overview of all of the careers that they offer as well as the benefits of being a student in their programs.
Register: Friday, 6/13, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
May 21: Change Impact: Building Career Pathways for Youth Development Professionals (Lessons on Learning Live)
Change Impact is excited to invite you to join Lessons on Learning Live, a space for leaders to engage in restorative, forward-thinking approaches to learning and professional growth.
These live virtual sessions are based on Change Impact’s Lessons on Learning paper series, which highlights the latest and greatest professional development studies, observations, and recommendations for the education and youth work fields.
In these uncertain times of rapid change, it’s more important than ever to center community, sustainability, innovation, and equity in our work. Let's gather to share fresh ideas and evidence-based strategies!
Next Session:
Wed, May 21
Building Career Pathways for Youth Development Professionals Learn how to develop clear career pathways that enhance opportunities for youth development professionals.
May 22: The New York State Library and Office of Early Learning: Libraries Supporting Literacy Best Practices Webinar
The New York State Library and Office of Early Learning are excited to host a live webinar event for library staff focused on supporting the State’s latest literacy initiatives on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This session will offer insights on research-based literacy practices, strategies for enhancing the home-school connection, and methods to involve families in creating a robust literacy foundation for their children.
For more information on this event, please visit the New York State Library website.
Please contact Sharon Phillips with any questions or suggestions at Sharon.Phillips@nysed.gov.
On-Going Offering:
Self-Paced Professional Development
We're happy to remind you that 21C subgrantees have access to a number of free, self-paced courses through our partnership with Change Up Learning! Each course takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete, offers a Certificate of Completion (with SACC credits), and features resources you can utilize at your site.
As you wrap up programming in the next few weeks and prepare to kick off a new year, consider exploring the topics below to support your youth development efforts.
Gain tools to build design intentional activity plans: OST Alignment – Curriculum + Lesson Plans (includes a customizable lesson plan template - preview here!)
Level up academic engagement and STEM activities: OST Alignment - Academics or Educational and Fun Project-Based Learning
Learn ways to promote positive engagement and navigate challenging behaviors: Positive Behavior Management
Get started today!
If you’re based in NYC, activate your account here.
If you’re based in the rest of NY state, activate your account here.
Resources
Introduction to AI: Overview and Considerations for Youth Development Leaders
Presented by the NYSED Central/Western Community Schools TAC
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it’s essential for youth development leaders to understand its potential impact. Join us for this free, virtual workshop, to explore key considerations, opportunities, and practical applications of AI in youth development environments. This session will provide valuable insights to help navigate the evolving landscape of AI, and discuss relevant benefits and challenges for educators, youth, and families.
Participants will:
Gain understanding about the history of AI
Recognize potential risks and benefits when engaging with AI
Explore tools and guidelines to enhance systems, programming, and engagement with AI integration
Wednesday, May 7th
9:30 - 11:30 am
Facilitators
Ali Wittenberg, Senior Director, Professional Learning and Growth: Change Impact
Therese Workman, Chief Creative Officer: Change Impact
REGISTER: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rfuGgpzkuEtx7SNuDTfctkLS5gm295hGX#/registration
Invite your lawmakers to visit your after school programs – A GUIDE
Afterschool programs deserve recognition and support. Inviting elected officials to visit your site is a powerful way to show them the impact of your work, build long-term support, and help with sustainability efforts.
Use this toolkit to plan your visit and help sustain your program:
Extreme Weather Events and Ecological Emergency - Supporting Infants, Young Children and their Families
Please join us to explore this important topic with Dr. Jennifer Barkin, from the Mercer University School of Medicine and Dr. Sanne van Rhijn from the West London NHS Trust.
Clinicians are increasingly faced with the impact of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, on the pregnant women and young families they work with. Mental healthcare providers may have first-hand knowledge of the worries of parents about their babies’ health and of their lack of access to resources during extreme weather, but they may feel unsure of how best to support them. This webinar will summarize the literature on the impacts of extreme weather events (EWEs) and their effects on the mental health of pregnant women, babies, and young children. This will be further illustrated by some clinical cases from one of the presenters. The session will continue with exploring the role that clinicians can play in building awareness among families of environmental risks. The training will highlight the role that healthcare professionals can play in advocating on various professional levels for adaptations in healthcare settings. Participants will leave with an overview of resources on parenting in extreme weather settings and advocating for change.
Participants of this webinar will be able to:
Recognize and describe the impacts of EWE exposure on perinatal, infant, and child mental health
Explain to young families the risks of environmental changes especially in the urban environment
Demonstrate strategies and provide support for parents to practice self-care after EWE exposure
This workshop is appropriate for clinicians providing services for young children and their families. Date and Time
Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Registration: https://registration.nytac.org/event/?pid=2&id=4170
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Program Spotlights
Listening and Leading: How Lackawanna City School District Uses Stakeholder Feedback to Drive Student Success and Increase Family Engagement
Click on the thumbnails to view even more pics in this gallery. Click on an image to enlarge.
In March, we tied the Saturday Academy to National Reading Month, aligning our activities with the district’s “One School, One Book” program. Students made book-themed buttons, decorated cookies in the shape of books, created their own bookmarks, and each child left with a book of their choice. We also collaborated with local vendors and organizations, such as the Lackawanna Library, which brought books and activities that related to reading, and Coremess Yoga, which offered mindfulness and movement activities for our students.
Our April Saturday Academy at the Early Elementary Building is called “Zoo-La-La,” in response to a popular request from students and families for animals to be present. In this event, we partnered with the Buffalo Zoo, which brought in animals like a tortoise, a parrot, and Dillon the Armadillo, a fan favorite. We also worked with Caveman Critters, who supply 20 different reptiles and amphibians for students to touch and hold.
Looking ahead, our June Saturday Academy will be themed Lackawanna Pride, celebrating our community. The event will bring together local organizations such as the Lackawanna Police Department, Lackawanna Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works, showcasing their vehicles like plows and garbage trucks. We’ll also invite local businesses and community resources to join us, fostering a sense of unity and pride. To further engage students, the High School Cheerleading Team and various sports teams will offer mini camps, giving students a chance to get active and involved.
In addition to the Saturday Academies, we’ve introduced four parent-based night events in response to our Parent Needs Assessment. These hour-long sessions will focus on topics such as active listening, effective communication, mindfulness techniques, and journaling. These initiatives are designed to equip parents with valuable tools to support their children’s growth.
Finally, based on parent feedback, we realized the desire for a weeknight family activity. When a Saturday Academy in December was cancelled due to weather, we took the opportunity to reschedule the event as a Family Game Night on a Friday evening, offering families a fun way to connect and engage with one another.
Through our monthly themed Saturday Academies and ongoing collaboration with local vendors, organizations, and community partners, we are proud to offer a rich, engaging experience that enhances our students’ academic and social growth. Additionally, Paws for Love regularly brings their therapy dogs to the events, an activity so successful that it inspired other schools in the district to incorporate therapy dogs into their programming. At Lackawanna City School District, we will continue to listen, learn, and grow together to build stronger schools and a more connected community.
In addition, here are the links to the videos that we have made about After School:
Submitted by Jennifer M. English, Principal of Extended Learning and Community Engagement
Women’s History Month Spotlight at Long Island City High School
Each month at Long Island City High School, we invite professionals to share their personal journeys with our students, offering insight, guidance, and inspiration. In honor of Women’s History Month, we proudly hosted our Women’s HER-Story Speed Chat N’ Chew—a powerful event featuring 16 phenomenal female professionals across fields such as advocacy, law, education, food & dining, theatre, and more.
Through dynamic, small-group conversations, students in grades 9–12—both female students and male allies—connected with these leaders to learn about their paths to success, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the importance of representation in their respective industries. The wisdom shared during these conversations left a lasting impression and helped students envision the possibilities for their own futures.
Evaluators' Corner
Site Monitoring Visits (SMVs) are generally well-received by recipients.
Measurement Inc has started collecting survey feedback after the completion of Site monitoring visits this year. This feedback is valuable to the entire 21st Century team, since the outcome of these surveys will feed into determining the layout of future SMV processes. The feedback shows that the subgrantees agree with the findings of their respective SMV reports, and also noted the recommendations to be useful for strengthening their programs.
For instance; One respondent shared, I appreciated the opportunity to engage in in person dialogue with key CCLC grantor stakeholders. It was helpful to be able to explain, ask questions and get feedback in "real life." It was a very informative process.
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