NYS TARC Newsletter—October 2026
Jump to section: NYSED News/Updates
The 2026-2027 Timeline is here! You can view the complete timeline on the 21st CCLC Website.
Attend/participate in Lights on Afterschool, the nationwide event organized by The Afterschool Alliance to celebrate after-school programs and call attention to their value. October 22, 2026
Local Evaluators: Complete 26-27 Annual Evaluation Report (AER; MS Word Document) and accompanying Evaluation Plan & Results Tables (MS Excel Workbook) and send to the Program Director and NYSED via EMSC21CCLCSTCCLC@NYSED.GOV by October 31. Obtain student outcome data from districts as needed for local objectives.
Convene 2nd Advisory Board Meeting. Include all stakeholders. Topics might include review of initial program implementation efforts, enrollment/participation, family engagement plans/activities, staff development plans, internal improvement cycle/QSA process.
Participate in the 1st Evaluator’s Site Visit, conducted by the Local Program Evaluator. This is an opportunity to open the program to the observation of the partnering evaluator, collaborate to track progress indicators, and to receive valuable, actionable feedback about program implementation. Summary findings from this visit can inform the continuous improvement cycle and communicate progress updates to staff and stakeholders.
Update the Evaluation Plan and Logic Model/Theory of Change, see SMV indicator H-3, as needed.
Enter program fall 2026 participation and activity data into AS21 by December 31, 2026.
Conduct required, Internal Review/Check-In of Program Service Delivery. This is the opportunity for Program Leaders to observe their staff using a formalized process/protocol while staff are delivering programming to participants; they review the implementation of activities as designed/planned, the performance of staff, and the levels of engagement/targeted responses from participants. This provides valuable formative feedback to integrate into the internal improvement cycle. Additional information about this requirement and the Program Activity Implementation Review (PAIR) is in the Site Monitoring Visit Tool (SMV), Indicator D-2.
NOTE: An error was made in the August Newsletter:
Please make sure you are sending your Fiscal Documents to the correct address. The correct information is as follows:
Important update from the Office of Grants Finance:
“Old” FS10F forms will not be accepted for the 25-26 grant year. One signed original FS10F and one additional hard copy are to be mailed directly to:
Grants Finance
New York State Education Department
Room 510W EB
89 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12234
The Site Monitoring Visit tool has been updated.
You can find it here on the 21st CCLC Website!
Afterschool21 Guidance
Missed the latest AS21 Office Hours? Check out the new updates and Q&A’s here.
PD/Events
Virtual Town Hall: Introducing the new Site Monitoring Visit (SMV) tool
The NYC and Rest of State TARC teams are hosting a joint Virtual Town Hall introducing the new Site Monitoring Visit (SMV) tool. All 21st CCLC programs are welcome to attend.
During the Town Hall, we’ll walk through the new SMV tool, highlight key changes, discuss how it will be used during the monitoring process, and share resources to help programs prepare. There will also be time to hear from other subgrantees and address your questions.
We are offering two sessions. Please register for the session that works best for you:
Session 1: Tuesday 20 October, 10:30 am - 11:30 am Session 1 link
Session 2: Wednesday 21 October, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Session 2 link
You may also submit questions in advance using our SMV Town Hall Question Form
We encourage Program Directors and other staff involved in SMV preparation to attend. You only need to attend one session.
We look forward to supporting you throughout the SMV process.
Lights on Afterschool 101
Bring Healthy OST Practices to More Programs - free learning opportunity
Registration is now open to become a Training Partner with the Collaborative for Advancing Healthy Experiences in Out-of-School Time (CAHE-OST)! This free professional learning opportunity is for organizations that provide training and technical assistance to out-of-school time (OST) professionals. Training Partners will receive everything needed to facilitate CAHE-OST trainings focused on building staff knowledge and confidence to create healthy, supportive OST environments for youth and the adults who work with them.
On-Going Offering: Self-Paced Professional Development on Change Up Learning
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.
With over 50 topics and a growing library, consider one of these areas relevant to your role:
Youth Development: Ages + Stages: Child + Youth Development; Boosting Engagement & Belonging; Equitable and Inclusive Approaches to SEL
Curriculum and Lesson Planning: Curriculum + Lesson Plans; Culturally Responsive Practice; Educational and Fun Project-Based Learning
Leadership and Staff Development: Communication for Managers; Activating Leadership Skills; Effective Program Management
Equity and Inclusion: Introduction to Equity and Inclusion; Antiracism in Organizations; Understanding LGBTQ+ Inclusion
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
Lights On Afterschool
Join more than 8,000 communities and 1 million Americans in celebrating afterschool programs for this year's Lights On Afterschool! This nationwide event, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open. The Network is proud to be a Lights On Afterschool partner.
We encourage you to hold a Lights On Afterschool celebration to showcase the great things happening in your program and help call attention to this important issue. All who register to be part of Lights On Afterschool will receive free posters and planning tips, and events will be promoted to the media and the public.
Everything you need to plan a successful event, from case studies to sample materials, is available in the Lights On Afterschool Planning Kit.
To learn more about Lights On Afterschool, register an event, access event planning tools, or find out what’s going on in your area, visit afterschoolalliance.org. Lights On Afterschool is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs.
Official Launch of Tech Unlimited's LEV: A Free, Neurodiverse-First Lesson Platform for Educators
LEV (Learning. Exploration. Versatility.), is a free, ready-to-use Library of project-based technology lessons designed to help educators create more inclusive, engaging, and student-centered learning experiences. Built with neurodiverse learners in mind and grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and social-emotional learning (SEL) principles, LEV provides flexible learning experiences that help students build digital fluency, collaboration skills, and confidence.
Attend free live sessions to meet LEV:
October 15 - Best Practices: LEV's Secret Sauce
October 27 - LEV: A Teaching Artists Perspective
November 17 - LEV: A Social Workers Perspective
December 3 - LEV in Session: Swap Seats with Your Students
SEE DETAILS - Registration Opens September 29th
Affordable Broadband Act
New York State's Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), enacted in 2025, requires certain internet providers to offer reduced-cost broadband service to eligible low-income households.
Eligible households can access broadband plans starting at $20 per month.
By calling 211, families can speak with trained specialists who can explain how to access ABA plans through the ISPs serving their area and provide support navigating the enrollment process.
To learn more, families can call 211, scan the QR code on the flyer, or visit the New York State 211 website. Flyers for distribution are available for download on the website.
Schools are encouraged to share information about affordable broadband options with students and families.
Questions can be directed to the Office of Student Support Services at StudentSupportServices@nysed.gov.
New York State STEM Incentive Program
The 2027-2028 NYS STEM Incentive Program application is now open for NYS students who plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY college.
To be eligible, students must:
Rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class at a NYS high school. (HESC does not round class rank; a rank of 10.4% is not eligible.)
Apply in their high school senior year.
Enroll in an undergraduate program in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics full-time.
Commit to living and working in a STEM occupation in New York State for five years.
Students who don't meet citizenship or residency requirements may still qualify for New York State financial aid through alternate pathways, like the NYS DREAM Act or the Alternate Eligibility Path. Visit the Applying for Aid webpage to learn more.
The application deadline for the 2027-2028 academic year is August 15, 2027.
For more information, contact the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
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Program Spotlights
A Star in Jamestown!
We had a very special guest come to visit our summer programs this summer! Natalie Merchant is a native of Jamestown and loves to work with children. She came and sang songs with our students and talked about the importance of music and movement. What a special treat for our students and staff!
-Submitted by Heather Meyer, Jamestown’s Program Director
Hispanic Heritage Dance CREWS at NYC Lyons!
Hispanic Heritage Dance CREWS: We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and our students are learning to dance merengue, cumbia, bomba, and salsa. Our students are creating different Latinx/Hispanic country passports on culture, food, dance, arts, and more. Our students are learning to celebrate all cultures and communities that keep us rooted here.
-Submitted by Rose Mejia, Community School Director
Bring Your Father to School at Madiba Prep!
Earlier this school year, St. Nicks Alliance and Madiba Prep collaborated for a Bring Your Father to School breakfast event. Student afterschool ambassadors assisted with recruitment and event support.
-Submitted by Latoya Charles, Program Director
To be featured in an upcoming newsletter, submit your stories and photos here.
Evaluators' Corner
2025-26 AER Due Date: October 30
The new templates can be downloaded from the Evaluation tab on the TARC website.
Contact MI with any questions or concerns. 21ceval@measinc.com
Here are some highlights from an analysis of the 2024-25 AER academic performance
indicators. Read the full report here.
MI analyzed the evaluation outcomes for NYSED 21CCLC Objective 2.1:
Students regularly participating in the program will show continuous improvement in
achievement through measures such as test scores, grades, and/or teacher reports.
458 Total Performance Indicators (PIs)
136 Subgrantees Represented
ELA, math, and social-emotional learning goals were the content areas addressed most
frequently in PIs.
Across all PIs, 67% were able to be assessed:
29% were met, 14% were partially met, and 24% were not met.
Of the remaining 33% (n=150), 131 (29%) were waiting for data, and 19 (4%) were
unmeasurable for other reasons.
*An individual performance indicator may address multiple content areas. Areas addressed by 1% or fewer PIs (i.e., 6 or fewer PIs): college or career readiness, earning high school or college credits, promotion to the next grade or school, postsecondary plan, non-student program goal, ESL, social studies/history/civics, Advisory Board goal, students will take a specified action as a result of 21CCLC participation.
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