The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence is dedicated to the enhancement of child and youth development and educational achievement through quality afterschool programming.  

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'Young Minds Keep Learning Even After the School Day Ends' -- Survey Report Now Available
The Arizona Afterschool Survey Report, 'Young Minds Keep Learning Even After the School Day Ends', was released by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence, Valley of the Sun United Way and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in January 2012.  Conducted and compiled in partnership with ASU's Morrison Institute on Public Policy, the Report highlights results of a 2011 survey of 681 afterschool and out-of school time program sites in Maricopa and Pima counties.  

Contact us at 602.496.3307 or mmcclintock@azafterschool.org if you or your organization would like a presentation or explanation of the key findings and what they mean for Arizona's youth.  We look forward to working with you to build a meaningful afterschool youth development system for all Arizona's youth! 

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Announcing the Winners of the
2011 Afterschool Awards of Excellence
Winners of the 2011 Afterschool Awards of Excellence were recognized at the Spotlight on Afterschool: Awards of Excellence Luncheon on Wednesday, November 9th in the Grand Ballroom of the Arizona Biltmore Resort.  
View the winners here>>

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Voices of Afterschool:
an Arizona Centennial Writing Project
In Spring of 2011, we asked afterschool programs in Arizona to participate in Voices of Afterschool, a writing project for K-12 youth aimed at celebrating Arizona’s upcoming centennial while highlighting the value of creative writing and expression in quality afterschool programs. The Project, which received official Centennial Legacy Project designation from the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, garnered over 1,100 essays from programs across the state.AzCASE reviewed the essays and 100 were selected that represent the diversity of youth views and perceptions across the state for inclusion in a published piece.  This publication showcases children’s voices and will help build awareness about the strength and value of Arizona’s afterschool programs.  Participating programs and the 100 authors will receive copies of the publication and additional hard copies of Voices of Afterschool: An Arizona Centennial Writing Project are available for purchase at $3.00/booklet + shipping. Contact info@azafterschool.org or 602.496.3308 to purchase your copy!

OR You may download a low-res PDF of the Voices of Afterschool booklet here>>
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2011 Arizona Afterschool Conference
This year's Afterschool Conference, Discovering Each Child's Passion & Potential, featured 35 workshops, jam-packed with fresh ideas and resources for afterschool programs covering everything from art to science, literacy, drama, global citizenship, handling daily conflicts and much more.   Administrators had the benefit of thought provoking workshops on integrating school and afterschool, building positive communication in the workplace, and advocating for their profession.  Keynote speaker, Dr. Gale Gorke of Kids Kan, kicked things off with a compelling presentation on the important role that afterschool programming plays in providing experiential learning opportunities and providing hands-on ideas to engage children with a variety of learning styles and interests.  Thank you to all of you who came out for the day - especially those who traveled great distances!  Click here for more information.

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Afterschool Action Agenda
 
AzCASE and the Valley of the Sun United Way have partnered in convening community leaders from education, nonprofit, government and business to create an action plan that will help strengthen the afterschool system serving youth in Maricopa County.   The planning committee focused on four key areas:  awareness, access, coordination & quality. 

Read the Afterschool Action Agenda here.

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Quality Afterschool Program Checklist
Choosing the right afterschool program means more than finding a safe place for children to wait for their parents when the regular school day ends.  Quality afterschool programming is a vital component to a child’s overall development and should be an extension of the regular school day or a place a child can experience new ways of thinking that reflects intentional programming.  We have created a comprehensive checklist for parents that breaks the decision-making process into logical categories.  The checklist poses questions that help parents gather key facts and information that include: Afterschool Program Basics, Physical Space Requirements, Social and Emotional Development, Academic Enrichment and Staff.  Knowing the questions to ask can really result in tremendous insight for parents who want to be sure that their children are not only safe, but are engaged in thought-provoking, active and fun activities.
View the full Quality Afterschool Program Checklist here>>

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