Monday, December 17, 2012

School Readiness is a Birth to 8 Issue


School readiness is birth to eight-year-old issue. The following are some staggering facts: If a child cannot read by the third grade, that child has little or no chance to succeed. Forty four percent of all Florida 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. This shortfall is most pronounced with low-income children. Failure to read proficiently by the end of third grade is linked to higher rates of school dropouts, suppressing individual earning potential as well as the state’s competitiveness and general productivity.

Unfortunately, School Readiness Funding has remained level for more than a decade, while over the past four years, state and federal funding allocations for afterschool services have decreased by 46%.  Studies by the Legislative Office of Program Policy Analysis & Governmental Analysis (OPPAGA), the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and Florida TaxWatch have found elementary and middle school students in quality afterschool programs performed better on standardized reading and math assessments at grade level. What does this mean? We need more afterschool programs.

The Florida Afterschool Network, along with their partners, is asking the Florida Legislator to consider the above facts and amend Chapter 411.01, F.S. the School Readiness Act, to include reading by third grade as a priority for readiness. FAN is also asking to maintain eligibility for children ages 5-12 for the School Readiness Program, fully fund the School Readiness program and ensure that any program receiving public funding is of the high quality.

FAN is asking everyone to call, write or email their representative and let them know you support the efforts of FAN and that you want them to amend the School Readiness Act.
FAN is joined in their fight by the Children’s Movement of Florida, the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, the United Way of Florida, FCTA, Florida’s First CCLC, Bright House, the Children’s Forum, the Children’s Trust, First Baptist Leesburg, Florida Afterschool Alliance, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, Primetime Palm Beach County, St. Lucie Public Schools, The Family CafĂ©, Casper, Computer Mentors Group, Children Services Council, United Way, Communities in School and the Jacksonville Children’s Commission.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Guest Blogger: Judy Rice, Executive Director of Fly to Learn


I was delighted to have received a call from Larry Pintacuda, FAN CEO!  Larry shared with me Florida Afterschool Network’s (FAN)  two major focus for the promotion of STEM curricula and activities into afterschool programs.  Visiting the FAN web site exudes the ‘ah-ah’ moments of excitement produced by afterschool programs.

Perfect!  Fly To Learn, Powered by X-Plane, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education through aviation! 

Students learn STEM skills through the design, construction, flight, and performance evaluation of their own realistic virtual airplanes, engaging in academically rigorous material that is not only fun to learn, but easy for educators to impart.  Fly To Learn is an inquiry-based, flexible afterschool educational instrument that enriches the learning environment for educators and students at all levels.

The program provides instructors and students a unique, cost-effective, results-driven tool designed to increase dedication to STEM education and to improve effective implementation of STEM concepts.  Fly to Learn meets and exceeds the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) curriculum of standards for science education. 

In addition, participating educators and students are eligible to enter an exciting annual virtual event where Fly To Learn teams use what they learn in the program to design, build and fly an aircraft delivering the maximum payload as quickly and efficiently as possible.  The winning team will receive international recognition as the 2013 Fly To Learn inaugural Team.  The educator will be award an engraved iPad with X-Plane 10 and a beautiful engraved plaque; and each student will receive a trophy recognizing their accomplishments

FAN staff and audience know, there is no greater time for our Nation to focus on STEM education, especially before, after, and out of school.  For exciting, STEM, real world application visit www.flytolearn.com  or contact Fly To Learn Executive Director, Judy Rice at jrice@flytolearn.com

Join the excitement as together, we building future engineers one student at a time!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Guest Blogger: Shelley Puckett from the Science Center of Pinellas


As you know, one of the two areas of major focus for the Florida Afterschool Network is the promotion of STEM curricula and activities into afterschool programs. We believe that quality afterschool programs offer a perfect setting for kids to get excited about science, math, engineering and technology.

On Monday October 29th, I (Larry Pintacuda, FAN CEO) had the good fortune to visit the Science Center of Pinellas County. I was astounded by the breath and knowledge of the staff and their commitment to helping kids get an appreciation for the sciences. So impressed that I asked Shelly Puckett, Director of Business Development for the Center to do a guest blog. It is my pleasure to introduce Shelly Puckett.

“There has never been a greater time for our Nation to focus on STEM education especially before/after/out of school.  The Science Center of Pinellas has been educating, exciting and engaging students with hands on programs for over 53 years.   

Students in grades K-12 experience the “ah ha” moment of excitement with programs that include:  Rocketry, Lego Robotics, CSI Forensics, Mouse Trap Mechanics, Weather, Petrology and much more.  After school and during the summer, students participate in programs that provide a real world application in science, technology, engineering and math.  The center has also built relationships with local organizations who provide industry experts as guest speakers to our students in the fields of engineering, technology, medical, forensics, manufacturing and more.  

Giving these students an opportunity to apply STEM in real world environments will encourage confidence in these disciplines, creating that “ah ha” moment."

For more information on the Science Center of Pinellas County, please visit http://www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Lights of Afterschool A Success!


On October 18th, 792 afterschool programs in Florida participated in Lights on Afterschool – a 58% increase from 2011. Organizations across the nation hosted programs to shine a light on the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. After all the programs were counted, Florida finished an impressive third in total programs, only California and Texas hosted more events.

The Florida Afterschool Network would like to thank all the organizations that participated in Lights on Afterschool. By putting focus on the benefits of afterschool programs, we hope to receive more funding in order to serve more school age children. Mark your calendars for next year as we plan for Florida to finish first in total number of programs!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Celebrate Lights on Afterschool October 18th


Each October more than one million Americans and thousands of communities nationwide celebrate Lights on Afterschool to shine a light on the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. By hosting a program, organizations are celebrating the good works of afterschool programs. This year’s Lights on Afterschool will occur on October 18th.  In Florida, more than 400 afterschool programs plan to participate and have registered celebrations with the Afterschool Alliance.

For the seventh year, the Florida Afterschool Network in partnership with Bright House Networks has provided $10,000 in funding grants to eight deserving afterschool programs. Awarded through a competitive RFP process, each organizations was asked to provide details on the event and why they were deserving of the grant.
Recipients of the grants include the Boys and Girls Club of Citrus County, the Science Center of Pinellas County, Brevard Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Club of Martin County, the City of Hialeah, Pasco County Schools, Prime Time Palm Beach County and the YMCA of Northwest Florida.
Why are these events important? In Florida, 750,000 kids in grades K-12 are responsible for taking care of themselves after school. By shining light on the benefits of afterschool programs, we hope to receive more funding in order to serve more school age children. The Florida Afterschool Network and Bright House Networks encourage all afterschool providers to help celebrate Lights on Afterschool on October 18th.
Florida Afterschool Network (FAN)

The mission of the Florida Afterschool Network is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide. The Florida Afterschool Network joined a national initiative dedicated to afterschool programs with funding in 2005 by the Charles S. Mott Foundation.

Bright House Network

Bright House Networks has long been a supporter of organizations that provide services to children and families, and recognized as being a good corporate citizen. Bright House employees take great pride in working, mentoring and serving the needs of others in their communities. Bright House is privileged to partner with FAN in celebrating Lights on Afterschool.
 
Lights on Afterschool

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event that recognizes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families and communities. It is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, the only organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for more afterschool investments. The Afterschool Alliance works with the Administration, the U.S. Congress, governors, mayors and advocates across the country. Today the Afterschool Alliance boasts more than 25,000 afterschool program partners and their publications reach more than 65,000 interested individuals every month. More information on the Alliance and Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Mark Your Calendars for September 22: FAN to be featured on American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen

Please mark your calendars for September 22, 2012 and tune into your local public television station for the airing of a critically important program, titled American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen. The Florida Afterschool Network will be featured at 5:53 p.m.

American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen is a multi-year public media initiative, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to help local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. We know that Public Broadcasting has a long history improving educational outcomes for high-need students and communities. The dropout crisis demands attention now, and Public Broadcasting has risen to the challenge to address this national problem.
In Tallahassee, WFSU will showcase 10 local organizations and the work it is doing on a community level to help students stay in school until graduation. In addition to the Florida Afterschool Network, others in the include Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend, 211 Big Bend, 50 Large of Leon County, The United Way of the Big Bend, Communities in Schools, The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend, Distinguished Young Gentlemen, The Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend and Take Stock in Children program.  Each of these organizations strives to engage children and families with the goal of helping them live successful productive lives.  In order to do that, these organizations need ongoing community support whether it be financial or volunteer and mentoring.

Kim Kelling-Engstrom, Director of Educational Services, WFSU TV, and a Florida Afterschool Network Champion, was kind enough to include (FAN) as a partner agency. The FAN segment will air at 5:53. Please take some time out of your day to watch this important and timely program.
With special guests including Michael Powell, representing America’s Promise Alliance, and PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Ray Suarez, the national television broadcast will air live on public television stations from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST on Sept. 22 on WFSU-TV.  The event will feature 20 national organizations that are working with local public media stations to help young people stay in school and on track for on-time graduation, segments about local community groups, compelling stories from students themselves, and highlights from PBS national and local content – from PBS NewsHour and Need to Know to Jim Glassman’s Ideas in Action and Tavis Smiley Reports: Too Important To Fail. The broadcast will also include the premiere of a new student film from Reel Works New York and a preview of the upcoming FRONTLINE documentary, Dropout Nation.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Dont' miss the chance to vote!

If you support children being our state’s highest priority, then the
most powerful tool you have in making that possible is your vote!

So, to ensure that each of us speaks up on behalf of all children, The
Children’s Movement has partnered with TurboVote, an online platform
that makes voter registration “as easy as renting a DVD from Netflix.”

Please know that The Children’s Movement and TurboVote are fully
non-partisan, and the platform complies with all election laws.

Here’s how it all works:
  • If you’re not yet registered to vote - Complete the forms online
  • If you’re already registered - Sign up for election reminders
  • If you want to vote from home - Request an absentee ballot. If you
    register, re-register or request an absentee ballot, you will then
    receive a completed registration form along with a pre-addressed
    envelope with the correct postage.  Then, just sign it and mail it.
It’s that simple!

So, click here to sign up. And once you see how simple TurboVote is to
use, please be sure to share this with your family and friends.
Remember: Kids can’t vote, but we can.

Friday, August 31, 2012

FAN's CEO Interviewed for "American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen"

On August 29, Florida Afterschool Chief Executive Officer Larry Pintacuda participated in “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen”, a national public initiative and television program. His topic was the positive impact on quality afterschool programming as it relates to improved academic performance of kids.

Armed with strong facts documenting the importance of afterschool programs, Larry represented all the FAN Champions and Board Members in expressing why these programs are crucial to the development of our children. The program is scheduled to be aired during the week of September 22nd, and Larry’s portion was 4-5 minutes.

FAN would like to thank Kim Kelling Engstrom, Director of Educational Services for WFSU TV and a FAN Champion, for her efforts in getting represented in this wonderful program.  This is not the first time Kim and WFSU TV has addressed and promoted the importance of quality
afterschool. It was her efforts that brought national television show “Electric Company” to Florida to provide training for afterschool practitioners.

 The exact date and time the program will be aired will be posted as soon as it is released.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

There is still time to apply for LOA mini-grant

The Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) and Bright House Networks are pleased to announce the 7th Annual Lights On Afterschool (LOA) Mini Grants.  These mini-grants are offered to support local afterschool programs in helping off-set event costs. 

Programs are invited to submit a request for funds to assist in covering expenses that would help increase the profile of their event, or to help make the event more attractive to media and policymakers.  Funding is allocated through a competitive grant process open to all afterschool providers including school board operated and private provider operated sites. 

The total fund amount is $10,000 for LOA mini-grants. There are two levels of scholarship. $2,500 will be available for multiple program community collaborative events, and $1,000 for individual (school or agency events). All public or private organizations are eligible to apply. Examples of agencies and organizations include, but are not limited to “For profit” and “not for profit” agencies, City or county government agencies, individual schools and Faith-based organizations.

All LOA funded programs must meet at a minimum the Florida Standards for Quality Afterschool Programs developed by FAN. These standards focus on positive youth development principles with developmentally age appropriate activities, and have appropriate staff to student ratios. Programs must exhibit a high degree of coordination and involvement with schools and other community partners. The funded programs must provide deliverables to FAN.
FAN and Brighthouse are very excited to be offering these mini-grants. Groups interested in applying can view the requirements and submission information at www.myfan.org. There is still time to apply. The deadline is THIS Friday, August 17th.

About FAN, Brighthouse and LOA


The mission of the Florida Afterschool Network is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.  The Florida Afterschool Network joined a national initiative dedicated to afterschool programs with funding in 2005 by the Charles S. Mott Foundation.

Bright House Networks has long been a supporter of organizations that provide services to children and families, and recognized as being a good corporate citizen. Bright House employees take great pride in working, mentoring and serving the needs of others in their communities. Bright House is privileged to partner with FAN in celebrating Lights on Afterschool.

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event that recognizes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families and communities.  It is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, the only organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for more afterschool investments.  The Afterschool Alliance works with the Administration, the U.S. Congress, governors, mayors and advocates across the country. Today the Afterschool Alliance boasts more than 25,000 afterschool program partners and their publications reach more than 65,000 interested individuals every month.  More information on the Alliance and Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.





Monday, June 18, 2012

Missed the Afterschool Stakeholder Summit? Watch it here!

The Florida Afterschool Network is very pleased to be able to share video highlights from the inaugural Afterschool Stakeholder Summit.  We would like to thank Broward College and specifically, Greg Haile, for arranging the Summit to be recorded and enabling us to share the valuable conversation and discussions with those who were unable to attend.  Additional thanks to Travis Jordan, also from Broward College, for being an outstanding videographer. Also, thanks again to the Children’s Services Council of Broward County (our co-host) and to everyone who was able to attend. 

Please click on the links below to access each segment of the Summit.

Opening Remarks Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVquziU4zXs&feature=youtu.be
 

Opening Remarks Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5cyoQywxc&feature=youtu.be


Panel 1 (What’s Working):

http://youtu.be/uX0PaclG_WE


Panel 2 (Role of Afterschool):

http://youtu.be/ykVq2Y5kwpI


Panel 3 (Roadmap discussion): 

http://youtu.be/dwgUc75zP_w


Wrap up with audience participation:

http://youtu.be/3YKmnM4eYQY


We would love to have your feedback, and we look forward to follow up events in the near future! Additionally, this information can be found on our FAN website at http://myfan.org/news.html.  Please feel free to share with other stakeholders and help to spread the word that afterschool is accelerating student achievement.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Inaugural Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit a Success

On June 6th, the Florida Afterschool Network partnered with the Children's Services Council of Broward County and Broward College to host the inaugural Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit: The Power of Afterschool.  The summit’s purpose was to promote the powerful impact of afterschool programs and establish the guiding principles to ensure that afterschool programs will be a part of the educational landscape in Florida’s future.

Nearly 90 participants, including stakeholders from throughout Florida, attended the event to discuss important topics related to afterschool programs, including best practices and the future of afterschool programs.  In addition to getting input from the state’s most well respected afterschool champions, there was a great youth perspective. What we learned from Breon Callins is that we need to listen and hear from kids more. We are not just giving lip service to seek their input – be assured as we move forward with other afterschool summits FAN will do just that

It was evident from the summit that there is a strong support for professional development for afterschool programs, as well as support for maintaining and increasing funding streams.  Additionally it was agreed that it is necessary to increase the visibility of afterschool programs at both the local and state levels.

Afterschool programs are imperative to the success of our students. We hope that these types of meetings happen more often to help promote discussion and build support.

The speakers and panelists included some of the biggest advocates for the Florida afterschool programs:

·        Linda Lanier, Chair, Board of Directors, Florida Afterschool Network

·        Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President & CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County

·         Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed r

·        Mike Lannon, Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie County

·        Dean Aline Sarria, Broward College, Superintendent

·        Ken Scubbs, Genesis Center 21st CCLC Program

·        Todd Rosenbaum, CEO, YMCA of Florida

·        Michael Skolnick, President of Community After School

·        Donna Lavalle, Co-Director of Smith Community Mental Health

·        Cynthia Reynoso, Program Specialist at CSC of Broward County

·        Suzette Harvey, Executive Director, PrimeTime Palm Beach County Inc.

·        Anne McKenzie, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Martin County

·        Greg Haile, Vice President, Governmental Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Broward College

·        Lesley Fletcher, Deputy Division Chief of Education, NASA

·        Sharon Carie, President, Afterschool Alliance,

·        James Griffin Principal, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Florida Principal of the Year

·        Student Breon Callins

·        Glenn Gilzean, Executive Director, Educate Today, and Pinellas County School Board member

·        Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, CEO, The Children’s Trust of Miami/Dade County

·        Art O’Hara Executive Director, R’Club Child Care Inc.

·        FAN CEO Larry Pintacuda and COO Joe Davis

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Florida’s Afterschool Stakeholder Summit - June 6

Today the Florida Afterschool Network, Children's Services Council of Broward County and Broward College will host the Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit: The Power of Afterschool at Broward College.

The purpose of the summit is to promote the powerful impact that expanded learning and afterschool programs are having in accelerating student achievement and establish the guiding principles to ensure that afterschool programs will be a part of the educational landscape in Florida’s future.

Topics include a National conversation relating to afterschool and expanding learning to increase student achievement; What’s Working Panel Discussion highlighting best practices in afterschool programs from 21st CCLC, Children’s Services Councils and Community-based and Faith-based programs; What Role Will Afterschool Play in Florida’s Future?; Panel Discussion on student’s needs and obstacles; and Florida’s Afterschool Roadmap.

The speakers will include some of the biggest advocates for the Florida afterschool programs, include FAN CEO Larry Pintacuda and COO Joe Davis; Linda Lanier, Chair, Board of Directors, Florida Afterschool Network; Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President & CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County; Dean Aline Sarria, Broward College, Superintendent; Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed; Daniel Lyons, President and CEO, Florida Boys and Girls Clubs; Ken Scubbs, Genesis Center 21st CCLC Program, Todd Rosenbaum, CEO, YMCA of Florida; Michael Skolnick, President of Community After School; Donna Lavalle, Co-Director of Smith Community Mental Health; Cynthia Reynoso, Program Specialist at CSC of Broward County; Suzette Harvey, Executive Director, PrimeTime Palm Beach County Inc.; Greg Haile, Vice President, Governmental Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Broward College; Lesley Fletcher, Deputy Division Chief of Education, NASA; Sharon Carie, President, Afterschool Alliance,; James Griffin Principal, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Florida Principal of the Year; Aline Sarria, Dean, Teacher Education programs, Broward College; Glenn Gilzean, Executive Director, Educate Today, and Pinellas County School Board member; Mike Lannon, Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie County; Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, CEO, The Children’s Trust of Miami/Dade County; Art O’Hara Executive Director, R’Club Child Care Inc.

A full report of the summit will follow.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Board Member Spotlight: Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez

Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez was appointed president and CEO of The Children's Trust in 2003. He served as director of the Miami-Dade County Children's Services Council (CSC) for 12 years before joining The Children's Trust.

During the course of more than 30 years of public service, Mr. Abety-Gutierrez has also served as executive assistant to the Director of the County's Community Action Agency and Head Start Program, director of Social Services for the County's Public Housing Authority; Special Project's Officer on Community Development, Housing and Homelessness at the United States Conference of Mayors, and as a community organizer and social worker with a variety of organizations and agencies serving the poor, aged and distressed families.
He serves on the boards of the Juvenile Justice Board, the Policy Group for Florida's Children and Families and The Florida Children's Services Council.

Mr. Abety-Gutierrez holds a Master in Public Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College/City University of New York and his Bachelor Degree in Sociology from Florida State University.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

June 21 is National Summer Learning Day


June 21, 2012 is the Sixth Annual National Summer Learning Day. Summer Learning Day is a time for communities to celebrate the importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities in the lives of young people and their families. A wide array of public agencies, non-profit organizations, schools, universities, museums, libraries, and summer camps across the country will celebrate the sixth annual Summer Learning Day on June 21st.

As in past years, we hope that many of Florida’s Afterschool programs will host events that showcase summer programs and raise awareness about how these programs. These programs send young people back to school ready to learn, support working families and keep kids safe and productive.

Each year, Florida is one of the leaders nationwide in the number of summer learning day events. Let’s continue that tradition. For more information, please visit
www.summerlearning.org.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

No Time to Rest



On Friday April 20th, Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed HB 5103.  In terms of children in afterschool programs, this means the current eligibility criteria for school readiness remain as is. This is a great relief.

However, some version of HB 5103 will be brought up next legislative session. Because of that, we must begin now with our education efforts to legislators and legislative candidates of the importance of quality afterschool programs, particularly as these programs impact academic achievement.

We need to take immediately as we head full steam into the 2012 election season. Now is not the time to sit back and relax. Now is the time for us to get moving so we can avoid what almost happened this year. It is critical that legislators hear from you directly on this important issue that will negatively impact so many children and families throughout Florida.

Please visit www.myfan.org for important data and facts you can use. If you need additional information from FAN, all you have to do is ask.

We thank you for your support!


Larry Pintacuda
Chief Executive Officer
Florida Afterschool Network