Below is a synopsis of a recent conference hosted by one of our major funders.
The 21st CCLC program represents more than 1 billion dollars of federal investment in academic enrichment for children, particularly those students that attend high-poverty, low-performing schools. The 2009 Summer Institute met its primary objective to provide its participants with a professional development opportunity that will assist them in the design and implementation of high-quality afterschool programs for America's children.
Sylvia E. Lyles, Ph.D
Program Director
Academic Improvement Programs Group.
The Summer Institute kicked off with an all-day Management Preconference Session for State Coordinators and 21st CCLC Program Directors. Day two included a panel discussion and community forum where infusing service learning activities in 21st CCLC programs was discussed. During the general session, Elizabeth Warner, Chair, IES, U.S. Department of Education, Robert Granger, President of the William T. Grant Foundation, Fred Doolittle, Vice President of MDRC and Robert Stonehill, Chief Program Officer at Learning Point Associates, spoke to a crowd of over 2200 afterschool professionals on Expanded Program Knowledge through Research. Afterwards, Black Violin and ReadNex Poetry Squad, reminded us of the 21st CCLC mission through the power of the spoken word and music.
The day culminated with a wonderful networking reception, emceed by Felicia Watson, Director of the NY 21st CCLC Statewide TAC where seven 2009 Afterschool Student Ambassadors were named. Coordinator and organizer of the student ambassador piece, Monique McDowell of the Bronx, NY, worked with the Department of Education, students and their families for weeks leading up to the Summer Institute. The Department of Education will track the students for 1 year and will solicit their ideas and feedback on improvements to the program. The student ambassadors represented California, Kansas, Montana, New York, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas. Congratulations!
Day three began with a discussion on inclusion: "Where Everyone Belongs". Experts, such as Keith Jones, President of SoulTouchin' Experience in Somerville, MA; Viviana Hernandez, Program Specialist at Primetime Program in San Diego, CA; and, Mary Shea, Project Consultant with Kids Included Together in San Diego, CA. stressed the importance on including ALL children in afterschool. Establishing and Sustaining Effective Partnerships with the Community and Public Sector was the topic of a panel headed by Lisa K. Proctor of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund in Plano, Texas.The Summer Institute culminated with a panel discussion on The Future of Early Childhood Education with experts from the Department of Education of Washington, DC; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN; the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta in Atlanta, GA; Topeka Public Schools of Topeka, KS; and, The Center for Teacher Education at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE.
According to Sylvia E. Lyles, all conference/presentation materials were very intentional to show where the Department of Education is heading. Service learning, research, inclusion, partnerships/collaboration and early childhood were the salient topics throughout the conference.
