NJSACC’s 2026-2027 Professional Development Opportunities Looking for a year of quality support at no cost to your program? Applications are now open for the Quality Support for Afterschool (QSA) program! What is QSA?QSA is a year-long quality improvement opportunity designed to help afterschool programs strengthen their practices through individualized coaching, professional learning, assessment, and goal-setting. Who should apply?Licensed and subsidized school-age child care programs throughout New Jersey. What will your program receive?✓ Support from a…

NJSACC’s Quality Team News NJSACC’s Quality Team has two big announcements to share this summer. First, congratulations to our own Patricia Pugliese who has been promoted to the newly created Senior Quality Specialist position in recognition of her expertise, leadership, & years with NJSACC’s Quality Team. Second, please join us in welcoming Kyle Vandenberg to NJSACC’s Quality Team as a Quality Specialist. Kyle’s many years in the OST field and very active engagement with NJSACC’s professional development made him the perfect choice among…

NJSACC Celebrates French-American Heritage Month. You can too. French-American Heritage Month takes place in July and is a month to celebrate the contributions French-Americans have made to American history, society and culture. SOME French-American Heritage Month Resources Bastille Day Activities for Kids France Lesson for Kids: History & Facts France Lesson Plan for Elementary School French Art Activities for Kids The French-American Cultural Foundation’s History and Resources NJSACC staff has taken full advantage of this…

5 Strategies for Sustaining Summer Learning Programs Strategies for Sustainability OST professionals understand that summer learning programs face various hurdles. From funding fluctuations to staffing issues and beyond, these challenges underscore the importance of long-term planning and sustainability. Podcast guests covered helpful strategies, starting with creating a sense of ownership among stakeholders. Actively engage stakeholders so that they’re invested. Cultivate a positive culture. Develop mindset shifts in adapting to changing circumstances. Incorporate enrichment into summer learning, something that may be…

🎆 Reflecting on Independence: Afterschool and the American Spirit As we celebrate the Fourth of July, we’re reminded that independence is not just a historical milestone—it’s a shared value we nurture every day. In afterschool programs across the country, young people are exploring their voices, building confidence, and learning how to contribute meaningfully to their communities. This holiday offers a chance to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the responsibilities we carry to ensure…

Share Your Afterschool Story Every program has something to share and we want to hear your Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) stories! We want to hear how your Afterschool or Summer program is making a difference in the lives of students and their families. Submit an article, media clip, or your own story (brief narrative) about classes, events and personal stories of success.  Submissions will be reviewed and posted in a timely fashion. Please answer…

🥽 Dive into the July-September Quarterly Asset Package!  Boost Your Summer Programming The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) works to ensure all of America’s students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from a high-quality summer learning experience every year. Check out Discover Summer and the STEM Next + NSLA 2026 Summer Planning Bootcamp Resources.    Challenge Based Learning Activities    Challenge Based Learning, or CBL, is a flexible framework that…

💟 We Hope This Message Finds You Well We are reaching out to inform you that we are implementing a new Single Sign-On (SSO) feature in NJCCIS beginning Monday 06/22/2026 to help streamline access to system tools as part of the e-Child Care system integration into NJCCIS.     Attached in this email you will find a PDF named “NJCCIS System Upgrades.” Outlined in this document provides instructions for completing your one-time account activation. These steps must be taken…

📖 New National Park Stories Are Here Get kids moving and learning with The Walking Classroom’s new episodes, including the Black Heritage Trail, part of Boston’s African American National Historic Site. All episodes produced in partnership with the National Park Foundation Open OutDoors for Kids program are available in both English and Spanish to support diverse learners. The Walking Classroom episodes blend storytelling, literacy, and physical activity, helping students build knowledge while they move. Whether you’re fitting in a quick…