June 2024 Newsletter Blog Posts
Rekindling the Flame:
Reignite Students’ Educational Journey in Your OST Program
You know your students have the potential to trek that steep mountain that leads to graduation, and you know your out-of-school time (OST) program can help them summit. But sporadic attendance or chronic absenteeism can keep students from reaping the benefits of full participation. The reasons for poor attendance — transportation issues, family obligations, lack of interest, or other challenges — vary from one student to another. So getting students back in your program on a regular basis and back on the path to graduation requires a proactive, multifaceted approach. Here’s what you can do:
- Cultivate a welcoming environment. Welcoming staff, engaging activities, and an atmosphere of acceptance nurture a sense of belonging, and that can make all the difference. Encourage peer support and positive relationships to foster a community where everyone feels valued and supported.
- Understand and address barriers to regular attendance. Conduct surveys, review available data, and hold discussions to identify the specific hurdles students face in attending regularly. Then work collaboratively with families, schools, and community partners to address those obstacles, whether through providing transportation assistance, offering flexible scheduling options, or connecting families with community resources.
- Engage families and caregivers. Family involvement is a powerful tool in combating chronic absenteeism. Stay in touch with families and caregivers, and keep them informed about their child’s progress, upcoming events, and the importance of regular attendance. Invite them to participate in program activities, workshops, or volunteer opportunities that fit their schedule.
- Personalize learning experiences. Tailor activities to students’ interests, strengths, and needs. Provide a range of activities and options, allowing students to explore their passions and develop new skills. Incorporate student voice and choice into activity planning, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey.
- Monitor and celebrate progress. Regularly track attendance data to identify trends and patterns, and intervene early to prevent absenteeism from escalating. Use incentives or recognition programs to reward consistent attendance and participation, and celebrate student milestones and achievements. Publicly acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of students and families in prioritizing afterschool involvement.
- Collaborate with community partners. Forge partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and agencies to expand resources and support networks for students and families. Leverage community connections to offer additional services, such as tutoring, mentoring, or counseling, to address underlying issues that may contribute to absenteeism. By working together, you can create a more holistic support system for your students.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust your approach as needed. Addressing chronic absenteeism is an ongoing process that requires flexibility and adaptation. Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies, soliciting feedback from students, families, and staff to identify areas for improvement. Be willing to adjust your approach, whether that means refining current practices or trying new ones.
Tackling chronic absenteeism in OST programs demands a collaborative and holistic approach. By ensuring that your program is known as a safe space for students and families — a place where strengths are recognized, growth is encouraged, and students can thrive — you can create a supportive ecosystem where every child feels empowered and motivated to attend regularly. And regular attendance and engagement helps keep them on the path to graduation. Your efforts matter! Thanks for all you do to ensure that 21st CCLC programs fulfill their promise of enriching the lives of the students and families they serve.
From the Ground Up:
Fostering Youth Advocacy & Empowerment
The summer sun is here, school is out, sunglasses and sandals are finally being put to good use, and there’s a feeling of hope in the air. And just like summer, out-of-school time (OST) programs everywhere do wonders to inspire hope in the lives of the young people they serve. Beyond providing a safe space for homework and enriching activities, OST programs have the potential to cultivate the next generation of leaders and change-makers. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this is by fostering youth advocacy and empowerment within these programs.
Youth advocacy refers to the process of empowering young people to speak up for themselves and others on issues that matter to them. OST programs can help develop critical skills and instill a sense of civic responsibility in young people by providing opportunities for them to voice their opinions, take action, and make a difference in their communities. So, how can you inspire the leaders of tomorrow, today?
- Provide leadership opportunities. Empower your students to take on leadership roles in your program. This could involve organizing events, leading discussions, designing your newsletter, or spearheading community service projects. By giving them ownership over initiatives like these, you help build their confidence and decision-making skills.
- Teach advocacy skills. Help your students feel confident about communicating their ideas to influence positive change. Offer mini-workshops or training sessions on advocacy skills such as public speaking, writing letters to elected officials, and organizing grassroots campaigns.
- Focus on issues that matter to them.Take the time to understand the issues that are important to the students in your program and tailor your activities and discussions to reflect their interests and concerns. By addressing topics that resonate with them personally, you can foster deeper engagement and commitment.
- Connect students with mentors and role models. Provide opportunities for students to connect with mentors and role models who are passionate about advocacy and social change. Whether it’s through guest speakers, mentorship programs, or field trips to local organizations, exposure to positive role models can inspire young people to pursue their own advocacy efforts.
- Encourage collaboration and teamwork. Encourage students to work together on advocacy projects. Design experiences that help them pool their talents and resources to achieve common goals. Collaboration not only strengthens advocacy efforts. It also teaches important life lessons about the power of cooperation and solidarity.
- Promote critical thinking and media literacy. Teach young people to critically evaluate information and media sources related to the issues they care about. Help them distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation, empowering them to make informed decisions and advocate effectively.
By empowering young people to become active agents of change, your OST program can create a brighter future for students, communities, and the world at large. Keep hope alive!
Get to Know Dr. La’ Shawndra Scroggins
Dr. La’ Shawndra Scroggins, the 21st CCLC Group Lead at the U.S. Department of Education, stops in for a quick hello and a warm introduction.
What first brought you into the field of education (and out-of-school time, in particular)?
I come from a family of educators. My maternal grandmother was a teacher and principal, my mother taught, and several aunts were teachers and administrators as well. It was not until I graduated and worked at a nonprofit organization that focused on education that I realized it was a field that I wanted to pursue career-wise. As a teacher, I organically became involved in the out-of-school time space. As a teacher, I wanted to make sure my students received all of the support they needed, whether that was during the traditional day or during out-of-school time. I provided direct support to students and families and leadership in before- and afterschool, spring, and summer break programs.
Can you recall a moment that made you feel like you were on the right path?
One of my students was struggling with decoding and reading comprehension and was not making enough progress for him to feel successful. I encouraged him to attend the reading program that I ran before school for the upcoming semester. The reading program allowed both the student and I to track their progress in specific areas where he experienced challenges. He was so excited to see his progress in weekly reports and in his academic classes. This made it very clear to me that providing students with supports in the out-of-school time space was necessary and beneficial.
What do you see as the greatest challenges and opportunities for OST leaders today?
One of the greatest challenges that OST leaders are experiencing today is recruiting and retaining staff. We hear it when we are having discussions with our State educational agency Coordinators, and it shows up in many of the surveys that we administer. One of the greatest opportunities that I see for OST leaders is developing a pipeline for non-teaching staff to become classroom teachers. Utilizing high school students and community college and four-year college students as staff members is an effective way to do this.
What message would you like to make sure every 21st CCLC professional hears?
Thank you for being a part of the 21st CCLC community! Every adult in the life of a child matters. I appreciate the dedication and passion that they put into providing students and families with services and opportunities to advance in academic and non-academic aspects of their lives. As we continue to build upon and create opportunities for 21st CCLC professionals to learn and grow from one another and national experts, the most important voice is yours. We want to hear from you about what works and what content and supports you need more of.
