Dr. Phillip Norman Joins VPOST LAC!
Join us in welcoming, Phillip Norman, Ph.D., to our Leadership Advisory Council (LAC)! Phillip currently serves as the Western Regional Manager for Child Care Aware of Virginia. As a member of our LAC, Phillip will be serving on our Development & Sustainability committee. To learn more about Phillip, click here.
Dr. Holly McCartney Joins ECAC!
VPOST Consultant, Holly McCartney, has been appointed to serve on the Virginia Department of Education’s Early Childhood Advisory Committee (“ECAC”). This committee includes 22 representatives spanning the diversity of child care and early education programs, advocacy groups, and child development experts in the Commonwealth.
Read more about Dr. McCartney, here.
Join VPOST in Celebrating Giving Tuesday!
Join us on November 28th for the international celebration of Giving Tuesday! This global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
There are many ways you can support VPOST in our Giving Tuesday Campaign.
- Like and share all VPOST-related Giving Tuesday social media posts.
- Use our donation link on your own personal accounts. You can access our 2023 Giving Tuesday Social Media Toolkit for language and imagery to use.
- Don’t forget to donate! VPOST is strengthened by the support of our partners. You can donate by visiting the link here.
On behalf of everyone at the Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time, we thank you for your support and we hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Virginia Celebrates the 24th Annual Lights on Afterschool!
On October 26th, 2023, VPOST participated alongside the Afterschool Alliance and out-of-school time (OST) programs across the nation to celebrate Lights on Afterschool. This event is the only nationwide celebration of afterschool programs and their important role they play in the lives of children, families, and communities.
Across the Commonwealth, OST programs hosted fundraisers, drives, costume parties, and more family fun to help show the impact of afterschool programming. Check out the celebrations of Boys & Girls Clubs of Blue Ridge, Girls for a Change, NextUpRVA, and On the Road Collaborative to see just a few of the communities shining a light on OST programs.
For more information on Lights on Afterschool, or to see more ways you can support afterschool programming, sign up for our newsletter here!
September 15 – October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month!
During this month, join us in highlighting historic Hispanic Pioneers in STEM! Explore the resources below that share the contributions of Latinx and Hispanic women who have impacted and continue to make their mark in STEM and other fields.
Hispanic Heritage Month’s Official Website
26 Scientists and Engineers to Learn More About
Seeing is Believing – Christine Jones Monaccio’s VPM Science Matters Article
Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month
Join us for the ’23-’24 Season of NBA Math Hoops!
In NBA Math Hoops, participants will learn about opportunities to extend students’ learning through virtual and in-person community events. Educators will immediately gain access to all materials needed to begin implementing with students in their programs and classrooms.
More information on NBA Math Hoops can be found here.
Join us on September 20th at 9:00 AM by registering here.
VPOST Leadership Advisory Council Welcomes Dr. Vaughn Garland!
Please join us in welcoming Mary and Frances Youth Center’s Dr. Vaughn Garland! A project of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Division of Community Management, Vaughn works with youth education, program development, community conversations, and placemaking.
To learn more about Dr. Garland, click here.
VPOST was thrilled to join with the Afterschool Alliance and On the Road Collaborative to present at the Engage Every Student Summit last week in Washington, D.C. about the State of Afterschool in 2023 and the role of American Rescue Plan funding.
The Engage Every Student Summit marked the 1-year anniversary of Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s “bold call to action to provide high-quality out-of-school time learning opportunities for every child who wants to participate.”
Brent Holsinger, VPOST Program Manager, had the opportunity to share how American Rescue Plan funding has led to a major expansion of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program in Virginia, resulting in a $3 million increased investment and an additional 1,000 students to be served in summer and after-school programs during 2023-2024.
We look forward to working with all of our incredible stakeholders to sustain these gains in Virginia and build upon this momentum so we can realize Secretary Cardona’s call to ensure every child who wants to participate in a quality out-of-school time program can.
2023-2024 Youth STEM Ambassadors!
Virginia youth ages 13-18 have applied to represent teens across the Commonwealth who love participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities during afterschool and are excited to share their stories.
VPOST will guide Ambassadors on how to create and tell their unique stories through a series of monthly sessions, virtually, (times to be determined) between June and November 2023 and January-February 2024. Ambassadors will learn about different ways to share their stories and promote more support for Afterschool STEM programs.
To learn more, visit here.
Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies 2023 Pitch Challenge
Youth Entrepreneurship in Virginia has been a focus over the past few years due to the changing workplace landscape. In order to better prepare students for that future, they will need skills related to Youth Entrepreneurship: Critical Thinking, Flexibility, Adaptability, Communication, and more!
Virginia YES Pitch Challenge is a contest for students in Virginia in grades 6-12, participating in out-of-school programs. For information, visit our Pitch Challenge page.
Virginia Budget Includes $4 Million for Out-of-School Programs
VPOST is thrilled to announce that the Virginia General Assembly returned today to pass a budget that includes $4 million in funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers! This is a huge victory for our programs and the children they serve. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reach out to legislators and advocate for this funding. We could not have done it without your help!
VPOST would like to especially thank Senator Jennifer McClellan and Delegate Roxann Robinson, who carried the budget amendments for our funding. The next step is for Governor Youngkin to make any amendments or sign the budget. The legislature will return before July 1 to act on any of the Governor’s potential amendments.
This additional $4 million will be used to fund additional community-based organizations that provide afterschool, before school, and summer learning programs for school-age children attending high-poverty, low-performing schools. These programs are critically needed. In Virginia, for every child enrolled in an afterschool program, there are 4 children on a waitlist. Working parents deserve and need reliable, safe, and high-quality afterschool programs for their children to attend, so they are able to work.
These programs are also able to address the significant learning loss that has occurred as a result of the COVID-19 -pandemic over the last two years. We commend the Virginia General Assembly for prioritizing these programs and expanding access to more children.
