Recent news of the Trump Administration withholding $6.8 billion in FY25 federal education funding, including $1.4 billion intended for before- and afterschool programs through Title IV Part B, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), is unacceptable. Communities across Vermont know that afterschool and summer programs are providing invaluable learning opportunities for young people… Read more »
With warmer weather on the way, some youth may be engaging in riskier behaviors with their peers. As many of us know, afterschool and summer programs are a great strategy to support upstream, primary prevention for substance use and support youth in navigating tricky social situations. When I saw this article in Education Week, I… Read more »
I came across this article and this article in Education Week and thought about them for a while—so much of what I hear from program staff is they are seeing really high levels of behavioral needs from multiple students, all at the same time. This article affirms what many of us had suspected for a… Read more »
These past couple of weeks have been overwhelming as executive orders have created uncertainty and caused fear for vulnerable populations. We know many of you, like us, are concerned about what’s happening now, and what may come over the next many months and years. We have struggled to determine the implications of the executive orders,… Read more »
Acknowledging & Validating Quick Training (adapted from The Flourish Lab curriculum) When children are experiencing large feelings, one of the most supportive and effective strategies to help them return to baseline is to acknowledge and validate their emotions. Acknowledgement includes “naming the feeling” and sounds like … What are you feeling? It seems that you… Read more »
I have attended third space programs for as long as I can remember. From the age of 5 to 12, I participated in LA’s Best, a program that caters to under-resourced schools by providing free enrichment opportunities during the academic year and summer, ensuring that youth are active and engaged. During my time in this… Read more »
Imagine being the youngest in the group and having no voice in a decision that affects you—like what you’re doing on the weekend. Well, that’s exactly how youth feel. With having no say in how they spend their time in school and youth programs, youth often feel powerless and detached from these spaces. Thankfully, some… Read more »
We’re THRILLED to announce that the Vermont Agency of Education has awarded $3.5 million in grant funding to 17 supervisory unions and nonprofits in 11 Vermont counties! These grantees across the state will be coordinating with over 73 community partners to expand access to afterschool and summer learning programs, and push Vermont that much closer… Read more »
Vermont Afterschool is proud to be part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through OST programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot is an initiative of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot… Read more »
Vermont Afterschool is proud to be part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through OST programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot is an initiative of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot… Read more »
