FLASH

📰 New Issue Alert! AfterSchool Today Spring 2025 Edition is Hot Off The Press! The wait is over! The spring 2025 edition of AfterSchool Today is out now! As NAA Chief Executive Officer Gina Warner explains in her opening note to readers, the Changemakers issue is shining a spotlight on “the forward-thinking work of state and regional intermediaries, many of them NAA Affiliates, who serve as on-the-ground experts and catalysts for solutions. Whether navigating funding…

NJSACC Advocacy In Action: Latest Blog Post (April 2025) Ensuring Continuity: Advocating for New Jersey’s Child Care Infrastructure Amid HHS Regional Office Closures Click here to read the full blog post WESTFIELD, NJ — The unexpected closure of five regional offices within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—including Region 2, which serves New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—has introduced significant uncertainty into the future of child care…

STEM Next Asset Package: Top Opportunities Coming Up in May 🚀🚀 Genomics Learning Journeys — We are very excited to introduce a new set of Learning Journeys that make it easy for afterschool and summer programs to help youth explore the exciting world of DNA science!   NSF STEM Fest Day – May 8-10 – Join us! STEM Next is teaming up with Teen Science Café Network to host virtual career chats with STEM leaders, moderated by teens…

A Gathering of Over 300 Afterschool Professionals Dedicated To Enhancing Youth Programs Across NJ! ​The 2025 NJSACC Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) Conference, held on April 4–5 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, brought together over 300 professionals dedicated to enhancing youth programs across New Jersey. This annual event featured more than 40 workshops covering topics such as S.T.E.A.M. education, social-emotional learning, grant writing, and youth advocacy to mention a few. Through 2 great days…

Leading For Quality: Building the Next Generation of STEAM Educators In Person: Wednesday, 5/710 AM – 3 PM Virtual: Wednesdays 5/14 and 5/21 1 PM -2:30PM  Target Audience: New Jersey 21st CCLC program staff and non-21st CCLC program coordinators who: Want to develop or strengthen their expertise in STEAM education. Are eager to train and mentor colleagues in delivering high-quality STEAM programs. Seek innovative strategies to engage youth in meaningful, hands-on STEAM experiences. Are interested in building…

Soaring Beyond Expectations: A Statewide Afterschool CelebrationAGENDA IS OUT NOW!! DOWNLOAD BELOW. Presented by New Jersey‘s 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs See a brief agenda Here and download the full pdf below! 9:00 am – 9:45 am ( Welcome ) 9:00am Registration / Breakfast9:30am Welcome / Opening- 21st CCLC Team9:45am Transition To Workshops 10:00 am – 11:15 am ( Session I: Participants choose 1 session ) Boosting Engagement: Proven Strategies for Increasing Enrollment, Attendance, and…

Ready STEM GO: 2 Day Virtual Conference! Ready, STEM, Go! A national alliance of afterschool networks supported by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund are partnering to host a two-day virtual conference, shining a spotlight on resources, strategies and inspiration to boost out-of-school-time (OST) STEM programming.  Sessions will highlight resources and programs that support the unique afterschool STEM program models and provide actionable steps for OST professionals to: ●      Introduce high quality curriculum options…

✨🏕️ Take only memories, leave only footprints at Changemakers 2025! 🏕️✨ Nominate a Changemaker now for our 100% FREE summer camp for high school-age advocates who are ready to transform their communities with groundbreaking initiatives! Applications open until May 1 >> gsequality.org/camp25 This opportunity is available to any New Jersey student entering 10th-12th grade in September 2025, regardless of their identity. Lodging, transportation, food, and programming costs are all covered for participants. Camp runs Aug.…

Brick by Brick: A Leader’s Guide to Building SEL in Schools Dear SEL4NJ Colleague: The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), in collaboration with the Social Emotional and Character Development Lab at Rutgers University looks forward to the release of an upcoming online course, Brick by Brick: A Leader’s Guide to Building SEL in Schools. This asynchronous course includes five modules to support school leaders to implement systemic SEL in schools. Prior to the course launch, the Social Emotional…