Posted 21 October 2011
ESEA Amendment Strengthens 21st CCLC And Supports Community Partners, Local Choice and Expanded Learning Time
The Partnership and CBASS worked closely with Sen. Whitehouse to draft legislation that maintains support for after-school and summer programs, and community partners
Last week the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee introduced a draft ESEA bill that is currently being debated on Capitol Hill. Last night, Oct. 20, 2011, the HELP Committee passed an ESEA reauthorization bill by a vote of 15-7.
We’re pleased to share that the Partnership, as part of an effort by the Collaborative for Building After School Systems (CBASS), worked closely with the office of Senator Whitehouse to introduce an amendment to the HELP bill that supports and strengthens 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) in ESEA reauthorization. There is much work still to be done in the reauthorization process, but this is an important step in maintaining 21st CCLC and supporting out-of-school-time programs as ESEA reauthorization unfolds.
The legislative changes ensure that ESEA supports expanded learning time and high-quality after-school and summer programs that include community partners and local choice. Here are some of the key elements of the amendment in support of 21st CCLC:
- No federal preference or priority on which approach (after-school, summer, expanded learning for some kids, expanded learning for all kids) will be used.
- Support for community partners. The amendment strengthens the community-partner requirement, with only a narrow exception for particular rural communities for whom the requirement would be a significant hardship.
- Clarity on who can be a fiscal agent. The Whitehouse amendment ensures that either the district or nonprofit partner can be the lead fiscal agent.
- Support for quality programs as well as innovation. New language ensures that effective and innovative approaches to programs can be utilized by grantees.
We’ll continue to work to strengthen 21st CCLC as ESEA moves forward. Among the areas on which we and CBASS will focus is clarifying the definition of expanded learning time to make sure it’s inclusive of enrichment activities, community partners and is focused on ELT design, not whole school redesign.
To learn more about our vision for 21st CCLC in ESEA reauthorization, please refer to the CBASS letter of Oct. 13 to Senators Harkin and Enzi in response to the draft HELP bill.
- Download the CBASS response letter >>
Posted 30 September 2011
Watch the New Video, 'Moving Towards Quality'
California Afterschool Network video introduces after-school program providers to the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) tool
This new video, "Moving Towards Quality" offers insight into program improvement for after-school program providers. Watch as Oakland and Black Oak Mine after-school programs utilize and talk about the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) continuous improvement tool.
This video was produced for the California Afterschool Network by the Partnership. Thank you to Community Bridge Video for production services and the William T. Grant Foundation.
Posted 24 September 2011
G.O.P. Senate Bill Threatens 21st CCLC Program
Jennifer Peck and Lucy N. Friedman respond in the Huffington Post to Republicans’ proposed ESEA legislation
On Sept. 14, 2011, a group of Senators introduced five bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that included the "Empowering Local Educational Decision Making Act," sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). The bill eliminates the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program that provides funding for critical after-school and summer-learning programs.
The proposed bill takes away dedicated federal funding for expanded-learning programming. It consolidates the 21st CCLC program into a diffuse block grant with 24 other programs that does not ensure any expanded-learning opportunities.
As Nora Fleming remarks in Education Week, “[m]any after-school and extended-learning advocates are worried the consolidation would pull substantial funding that supports after-school programs to others.” She also notes, “[t]he 21st CCLC program currently funds 8,900 centers that serve roughly 1.5 million students at about $1.1 billion annually.”
Last Friday, Sept. 23, the Partnership’s Jennifer Peck and Lucy N. Friedman of TASC responded to the misguided Republican bill with an informative blog posting on the Huffington Post.
“This block grant proposal comes at a time when organizations, including our coalition, the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems, are proposing to build on a decade's worth of research to strengthen and expand 21st CCLC to ensure that programs can do even more to improve student outcomes,” write Jennifer and Lucy. “Undermining that work turns back progress on reform.”
- Read the Huffington Post article >>
- Also read Nora Fleming’s article in Ed Week >>
The Partnership and TASC will continue to keep you informed of developments regarding this troubling piece of proposed legislation.
Posted 14 February 2011
The Impact of Proposition 49
A Profile of After School Policy and Practice in Oakland and San Francisco
Newly published report by Katie Brackenridge and Sandra Naughton
In 2002, California voters approved $550 million, the largest statewide investment in after school programming in the country, through a voter initiative called Proposition 49 (Prop. 49). When the funding began to flow to local communities in early 2007, the sudden influx of so many grants was chaotic, even for communities with an existing after school infrastructure.
Based on interviews, focus groups and document review, this article analyzes how this influx of new state funding impacted well-established after school fields in two Bay Area cities – Oakland and San Francisco – with a focus on policy changes, programming and practice, and power dynamics between key stakeholders in the cities.
Read this new paper, "The Impact of Prop. 49: A Profile of After School Policy and Practice in Oakland and San Francisco," by Katie Brackenridge, Partnership for Children and Youth, and Sandra Naughton, San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families. The Partnership and DCYF are grateful to the National Institute on Out-of-School Time and the Robert Bowne Foundation for making this paper possible.
- Download a copy of the Prop. 49 report >>
Posted 13 January 2011
Jennifer Peck Appointed Director of Transition Team for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tom Torlakson’s Transition Advisory Team is a bipartisan group of educators, and labor, business and community leaders
Partnership for Children and Youth is excited to share the news that Executive Director Jennifer Peck begins the New Year as Director of the Transition Advisory Team for Tom Torlakson, newly-elected California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mr. Torlakson took office on Jan. 3, 2011. The Transition Team will provide strategic advice on key issues impacting California students, schools, school districts and the California Department of Education.
In addition to her ever-growing responsibilities at the Partnership, Jennifer will devote roughly one day a week to the Superintendent’s office for the next few months. As director of the transition effort, Jennifer is responsible for ensuring that the 50-member Transition Team carries out its work in a timely, efficient and effective manner. She is also uniquely positioned to provide specific recommendations on after school and summer programs, as well as on community schools.
The Transition Team is co-chaired by Professor Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford and David Rattray of UNITE LA.
- Learn more about the Transition Team | CDE news release >>
Jennifer Hicks Joins the Partnership Staff
Jen steps into a newly-created position, technical assistance manager
Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Hicks as the newest staff member here at the Partnership. Jen takes on the role of technical assistance manager, a new position that will provide training, consultation and coaching to after school and summer programs.
After starting with us on Jan. 3 (her birthday, by the way), Jen hit the ground running by taking on a new and innovative strand of the Partnership’s work—providing support for out-of-school-time programs in low-income housing developments.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Jen spent six years working on after school programs with the YMCA of the East Bay. She has also worked in the Oakland Unified School District’s Complementary Learning office.
Posted 26 October 2010
21st CCLC and ELT | Jennifer Peck in Discussion with Sam Piha of Learning In Afterschool
Extended learning time discussed in the context of ESEA reauthorization
Blog post examines 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Posted 26 October 2010
We’re Hiring | Technical Assistance Manager
Position will provide training, coaching and consultation to after-school and summer programs
We’re adding a new position to our team here at Partnership for Children and Youth. Please pass on the Technical Assistance Manager job description to interested friends and colleagues.
About the Job
The Technical Assistance Manager will provide training, coaching and consultation to after-school and summer programs across the nine counties of the Bay Area. Specific areas of focus will include:
- Supporting after-school providers (including residential services providers) in affordable housing projects in improving the quality of their out-of-school-time programs, and where appropriate, building partnerships with other technical assistance providers and networks.
- Supporting summer programs in improving and expanding their programs.
The TA Manager will also participate in developing and implementing other technical-assistance initiatives to strengthen Bay Area after-school and summer programs. When needed, he/she will also participate in the development of targeted low-income communities’ applications for state and federal after-school grants.
To Apply
Please send a resume and cover letter to Beth Zygielbaum at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by mail at 1611 Telegraph Ave., Suite 404, Oakland CA 94612
- Learn more about the TA Manager position | Download the full job description >>
Posted 22 September 2010
Education Week: Federal After-School Funding Bill Divides Community
Article Features Partnership Executive Director Jennifer Peck
Education Week’s September 22, 2010 article discusses the future of 21st Century Community Learning Center program funding in light of the recent proposal by the Senate Appropriations Committee to expand the 21st CCLC allotment.
Excerpt: “Jennifer Peck, the executive director of the Partnership for Children and Youth, in Oakland, Calif., supports expanding the federal program, but she is adamant that language be added to ensure that community organizations participate fully in the CCLC, and that added learning time means added “engaged” time, not simply more time in class. Other groups, including the After-School Corp., based in New York City, make the same point.”
Read the Ed Week article online >> | Download a copy >>
Posted 16 September 2010
Education Week Continues the Discussion on Expanded 21st CCLC Funding
Article Refers to the Partnership's Sign-on Letter in Response to Senate Appropriations
Ed Week's Beyond School blog explores, "...the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program and the appropriations bill in Congress that would allow the initiative to fund extended-learning-time efforts as well as the after-school, before-school, and summer school programs it now supports."
Read the Ed Week article >> | Learn more about the sign-on letter >>
Posted 25 August 2010
SB 798 (DeSaulnier) and AB 2178 (Torlakson) are Headed for the Governor’s Desk
Please send letters of support for these important after-school and summer-learning bills
Two bills that would significantly enhance after-school and summer-learning programs are moving quickly through their respective floor votes and are projected to reach Governor Schwarzenegger within the next few days for consideration.
Please use the attached templates to send letters to the Governor in of support of these bills as soon as possible.
The Fax number for Governor Schwarzenegger is: 916.558.3160 ( new number )
SB 798
Senate Bill 798 (DeSaulnier) would provide much-needed resources for summer learning programs to low-income children through California’s federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program dollars.
- Send a letter of support for SB 798 | Download the SB 798 template letter >>
- Learn more about SB 798 | SB 798 Background >>
AB 2178
Assembly Bill 2178 (Torlakson) would enhance development of after-school programming by allowing school districts to provide student evaluation information to after-school providers. Such information could greatly assist program providers in designing programming that best serves their student populations.
- Send a letter of support for AB 2178 | Download the AB 2178 template letter >>
- Learn more about AB 2178 | AB 2178 Background >>
posted 07 July 2010
AB 1876 (Torlakson) Heads to the Governor’s Desk for Consideration
Please Send Letters of Support ASAP
Assembly Bill 1876 (Torlakson), a bill that would allow ASES programs to use their base grants to provide weekend activities, as well as give competitive priority to successful K-8 21st CCLC programs that re-apply for federal funding, has passed both houses of the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor for consideration.
Please send a letter to the Governor in support of AB 1876 as soon as possible. You can use the following template:
- AB 1876 Letter of Support template | Download >>
Please fax your support letter ASAP: 916.445.4633
More about AB 1876
AB 1876, sponsored by the Partnership for Children and Youth and authored by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson, would accomplish two important things for state and federally funded after-school programs:
Clarify that grants for After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) may be used for weekend activities for students. Weekend activities or field trips have been important incentives in some programs to enhance student participation, but in recent years, the state has disallowed grant funding to be used for this purpose.
Give expiring 21st CCLC grantees who have performed well over their five-year grant period, extra points when they are re-applying for new 21st CCLC grants. Federal law prohibits straight “renewal” of 21st CCLC grants, so this is a way to help strong 21st CCLC grantees continue their programs and services for students.
Read an analysis of AB 1876 >>
Posted: 29 June 2010
AB 346 AND AB 1025 (Conway) Update
New Language included in after-school legislation. Please send letters of support.
AB 346 (Conway), which would address the unintended impacts of AB 1025 (Conway), was passed by the Senate on June 28, and will be sent to the Assembly floor for concurrence on July 1. It will then be immediately sent to the Governor for his consideration. The bill was amended on June 24 to drop the one-year delay provision, and instead include language that is critically important to after-school providers:
E.C. 40924(e) This section does not apply to a candidate who is required by the school district to clear a Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check prior to beginning the paid or volunteer activities described in subdivision (a).
This language would ensure that any persons who have already been cleared by the DOJ and FBI would not be required to additionally obtain an Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The supporters of AB 346 have asked providers to send letters to the Governor in order to help him understand why it is necessary to sign this bill without delay. Please cut and paste this template to your agency letterhead, then sign and fax to (916) 558-3160.
Source: League of California Afterschool Providers
Posted: 02 June 2010
SB 798 (DeSaulnier) and AB 1876 (Torlakson)
Write Letters of Support for After School and Summer Enrichment Legislation
Help us support two pieces of legislation that protect and enhance critical funding streams for after school and summer enrichment programs.
Senate Bill 798 would provide much needed resources for summer learning programs to low-income children.
Assembly Bill 1876 would allow publicly-funded after school providers to use their base grants to pay for program-related activities on weekends and would give priority for federally-funded after school programs that seek a new grant to continue its program.
Here are templates that will help you draft your organization’s letters of support:
- SB 798 Template Letter of Support | Download it >>
- AB 1876 Template Letter of Support | Download it >>
More about the Bills
SB 798, sponsored by Partnership for Children and Youth and authored by Senator Mark DeSaulnier, seeks to dedicate 15% of California’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers dollars for summer learning and enrichment programs, and place more emphasis on year-round programs.
The 21st CCLC program supports before school, after school and summer programs for children attending schools in low-income communities. The original implementation plan for 21st CCLC did not accommodate the range of needs throughout the year, including services during periods when schools are closed (e.g. vacation periods, intersession).
- Learn more about SB 798 >>
AB 1876, also sponsored by the Partnership for Children and Youth and authored by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson, passed the Assembly Education Committee on April 21, 2010. This bill would accomplish two important things for state and federally funded after-school programs:
- Clarify that grants for After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) may be used for weekend activities for students. Weekend activities or field trips have been important incentives in some programs to enhance student participation, but in recent years, the state has disallowed grant funding to be used for this purpose.
- Give expiring 21st CCLC grantees who have performed well over their five-year grant period, extra points when they are re-applying for new 21st CCLC grants. Federal law prohibits straight “renewal” of 21st CCLC grants, so this is a way to help strong 21st CCLC grantees continue their programs and services for students.
Read more about AB 1876 >>
