High Quality Career Readiness through Out-of-School-Time Programs Presented by: Nora Niedzielski-Eichner Agenda About NYSAN College and Career Readiness: The Roles of Afterschool and Summer Programs Program Examples Assessing and Supporting Quality Programming Facilitating Partnerships Questions New York State Afterschool Network (NYSAN) NYSAN is a statewide public-private partnership dedicated to promoting young people's safety, learning and healthy development outside the traditional classroom. NYSAN defines afterschool broadly, to include structured activities that take place in school and community-based settings, and are offered before school, afterschool and during summer and holiday breaks. NYSAN Partners Public Partners Nonprofit Partners Regional Networks Association of NYS Youth Bureaus AfterSchool Works! New York After School Network of Western New York NYC Department of Education The Children’s Aid Society Central New York Out-ofSchool Time Network NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Cornell University Cooperative Extension Expanded Learning Network of the Southern Tier NYS Education Department NYU Metro Center for Urban Education Greater Rochester After School Alliance NYS Office of Children and Family Services Partnership for After School Education Hudson Valley Afterschool Network NYS Student Support Services Center TASC (The After-School Corporation) Long Island Partnership for After School Education NYS 21st CCLC Technical Assistance Resource Center Alliance of New York State YMCAs North Country Afterschool Network NYS Center for School Safety Liaison to Private Funders Upper Hudson Afterschool Network 4 COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS: THE ROLES OF AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS Potential Roles of Afterschool and Summer College- and Career-Aligned Content High School Credit and Credit Recovery Career Engagement College Engagement “Soft” Skills and Character Development Direct Employment College- and CareerAligned Content Science, Techology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Global Learning Common Core Alignment High School Credit and Credit Recovery Students have the opportunity to get HS credit for work done in afterschool or summer programs Can include credit for internships Substantial oversight be accredited teachers in the subject area is required Principals must approve Other states, like NH and RI, have gone much farther than New York. Career Engagement Career Counseling Job Shadowing Mentorships Internships College Engagement College visits Recent graduate return visits to share college experiences College application support College financial aid support “Soft” Skills and “Character” Development Noncognitive skills How Children Succeed, Paul Tough Employability skills http://cte.ed.gov/employabilityskills/ Direct Employment Summer Youth Employment Junior Counselors/Staff Building Career Ladders Questions? PROGRAM EXAMPLES Child and Adolescent Treatment Services SYEP Location: Buffalo Funding Source: 21st CCLC, ESD/SVP, private, SYEP Partners: Buffalo School District, other summer programs Workforce Activities: Credit Recovery for SYEP participants Supplemental orientation on working with younger children and other work skills Attend 2.5 hours of summer program based on credits needed for approved credit recovery Receive lunch and hold small group discussion on job successes and challenges Work for 3-4 hours at placement in a summer camp Mentoring in Medicine Location: New York City Funding Source: Private Partners: NYC DOE, Montefiore Workforce Activities: Afterschool program disadvantaged high school students to generate interest and skills for pursuing a health career Human biology curriculum Visits to local health professionals Trips to local colleges and hospital labs Service-learning projects about health careers Website: www.medicalmentor.org Business Institute in Utica Location: Utica Funding Source: 21stCCLC Partners: Utica School District Workforce Activities: Jobs & Life Skills Training Comprehensive job readiness and life skills curriculum Part-time job placement afterschool and on weekends Completion of NYS Career Portfolios for future use Recently expanded to Special Education students NYAS/SUNY Afterschool STEM Mentoring Location: New York City, Albany, Utica Funding Source: National Science Foundation Partners: New York Academy of Sciences, SUNY, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, local afterschool programs Workforce Activities: New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Mentoring program SUNY graduate and postdoctoral fellows volunteer to mentor middle school students in STEM at local afterschool programs Website: http://www.nyas.org/landing/afterschool.aspx Girls, Inc. STEM Program Location: Albany Funding Source: Private Partners: College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at University of Albany, State Employees Federal Credit Union Workforce Activities: Eureka!, a 5 year program for girls, starting in 8th grade, centered on nanoscience. STEM Programs Sports Workshops Volunteer Opportunities Earn Eureka! Credits Website: http://www.girlsinccapitalregion.org/ Corporate Campus Academic Mentoring Program Location: Syracuse Funding Source: Private Partners: SRC Inc., Syracuse City School District Workforce Activities: Corporate Campus Academic Mentoring Program One-to-one academic mentoring for 8th grade students from corporate volunteers Students improve academic performance in math and science Students set long-term goals for college and career Program follows 8th grade students through graduation Hudson Bluehawk Nation Afterschool Counselors in Training Location: Hudson Funding Source: Advantage After School, 21st CCLC, ESD Partners: Hudson School District Workforce Activities: Counselor in Training (CIT) program for former afterschool participants in 9th grade Guidance from Site Coordinators On-site training in job readiness and professionalism Mock job interviews 35% of staff members are former CITs ExpandED Options Location: New York Funding Source: Pinkerton Foundation, New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, RCN-Becom,Inc., Summer Workforce Development Grants Partners: NYC DOE, local businesses Workforce Activities: Afterschool and summer internship and credit recovery program for high school students Apprenticeships to prepare for internships College and Career Fair, including resume review and mock interviewing GST BOCES College and Career Programs Location: Southern Tier Funding Source: 21st CCLC Partners: Local Businesses Workforce Activities: Career and College programs for Middle School Students Career speakers College/career related field trips Mock interviews through Career Development Council Website: http://www.gstboces.org Questions? ASSESSING AND SUPPORTING QUALITY PROGRAMMING Program Self-Assessment Why Self-Assessment? It helps program providers to understand overall program quality and to identify steps needed for improvement. It is a low-stakes process. It gathers best practices guidance into an interactive, action-oriented resources for providers. What is the NYSAN QSA Tool? The QSA Tool is organized around 10 elements of quality. It uses a set of indicators to help program providers determine their strengths and areas in need of improvement. It is structured to lead to an action plan for increasing program quality. The tool was developed by experienced program and TA providers to be relevant and reasonable. What is Program Quality? Ten Essential Elements of a Quality Afterschool Program Environment/Climate Administration/Organization Relationships Staffing/Professional Development Programming/Activities Linkages Between Day- and After- School Youth Participation/Engagement Parent/Family/Community Partnerships Program Sustainability/Growth Measuring Outcomes/Evaluation NYSAN QSA Tool is not an Evaluation Formal Evaluation: NYSAN QSA Tool: provides structure for dialogues around outcomes and quality; strengthens communication between stakeholders; helps build a collective vision; uses data gathered to inform practice and build capacity; and is often facilitated by program staff and/or other stakeholders. uses observation tools, survey instruments, and other data to assess programs and determine what outcomes they are producing; often uses data gathered for accountability and compliance; has higher stakes and fewer gray areas; and is often facilitated by an external observer. Benefits of Using QSA Tool Self-assessment helps develop consensus and strengthens buy-in from stakeholders. Self-assessment directly drives quality improvement by developing consensus on an action plan and professional development plan. Funders recognize and/or require use of selfassessment tools. Prepares programs for meeting expectations of funders, which are generally increasing. Cycle of Improvement QSA Tool and User’s Guide QSA Tool Structure Performance Levels 4: Excellent / Exceeds Standards Is prepared to help and work with others in this area. 3: Satisfactory / Meets Standards Needs help to prepare staff to work with others in this area. 2: Some Progress Made / Approaching Standard Could use additional focused assistance in this area. 1: Must Address and Improve / Standard Not Met Needs significant support in this area. • Organizations are expected to strive for a Satisfactory level (3) and, over time, continue to strive for an Excellent level (4). QSA Supports Indiana Afterschool Specialty StandardsCollege and Career Readiness Access at: www.indianaafterschool.org under Afterschool Standards Elements: Program Culture and Environment Staff Development and Expectations Staff/volunteers receive support and training to deliver college and career readiness programming Program Focus Positive college and career-going culture Builds partnerships focused on college and career readiness Supports academic preparation and success Engages youth in college and career exploration Helps youth and families prepare financially for college and careers Develops college and workforce skills Data Collection and Impact Utilizes a variety of data to measure impact of college and career readiness programming Indiana Afterschool Specialty StandardsSTEM Access at: www.indianaafterschool.org under Afterschool Standards Elements: Program Culture and Environment Staff Development and Expectations Staff/volunteers receive professional development that increases their confidence and ability to facilitate quality STEM learning Program Focus Creates inspiring STEM learning environment for all youth Resources, equipment, and supplies support STEM learning Engages families, schools and community Inspires and engages youth in STEM learning Provides opportunities for youth to learn STEM content, skills, and knowledge Data Collection and Impact Utilizes a variety of data to measure impact of STEM programming Asia Society’s Partnership for Global Learning with NYSAN- Global Learning Access at: www.nysan.org under Quality Assurance Sample Domains: Vision, Mission, Culture, and Environment Program Planning Clear vision, mission, and goals around global learning Global content is infused throughout the program Staff and participants respect and value learning about diverse cultures Offers a range of global learning options and opportunities that incorporate development of academic, social, and emotional skills Offers language instruction, field trips, and service learning to promote global competence Youth Development and Outcomes Supports youth to investigate the world around them Supports youth to apply cross-cultural thinking Supports youth to take action on global issues Developing an Action Plan Cycle of Improvement Continuous Improvement Programs should know: Staff skill sets What other skills do they need? PD can be offered through a variety of venues: program observations; peer mentoring/coaching; supervision; staff meetings; conferences; networking events; and higher education courses. RESOURCE: PASE Professional Development Planning Tool PASE Professional Development Planning Tool Access to the QSA Tool and User’s Guide Quality Assurance menu http://nysan.org/section/quality Includes links to program quality resources and detailed definitions of the performance levels Download User’s Guide and Tool as PDFs Multiple languages available Questions? FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS Finding OST Partners Use NYSAN’s map of government-funded and state-licensed programs: http://nysan.org/section/policy/maps Contact your Regional Network: http://nysan.org/section/networks Contact NYSAN Finding Workforce Partners Contact your local Workforce Investment Board Contact NYATEP Other ideas? Identifying Needs What are the growth industries in your community? Where are jobs going unfilled? What do your students say they want to learn or be when they grow up? What are parents asking for their children to study? http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/ Identifying Needs What jobs are your businesses having trouble filling? What skills are students and applicants missing? What industries do you expect to grow in the next 5 to 10 years? Which employers see investment in the local workforce as an good business investment? Planning Partnerships What activities would attract potentially interested students? What activities would develop the necessary skill sets? How long would the program need to work with students to create effective outcomes? What age students would it be most effective to reach? Planning Partnerships Can this program be part of a larger, existing program? What other stakeholders (e.g. school districts) should be involved? What staff/volunteers would be needed and who might be able to pay for or volunteer the time? How often and how long should it meet? Best Practices Use the QSA Tool to help facilitate the planning process. The Indiana Afterschool Specialty Standards and the Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment can also help guide the plans. Bringing partners together around these standards will help clarify expectations and ensure a quality program from the start. Suppers and Snacks Do you know that programs that provide enrichment and educational activities to lowincome students after school, on weekends and over the summer likely qualify for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): At-Risk Afterschool Snack and Supper Program? http://www.nysan.org/content/document/de tail/3810 Final Questions? Nora Niedzielski-Eichner Executive Director [t] 646.943.8670 [f] 646.943.8800 neichner@nysan.org