SEEC's Afterschool Network and Child Care Aware programs partnered with the GA Group to complete a comprehensive assessment of the status of child care funding and programs in advance of the 69th Legislative Assembly. Investing in Out-of-School Time Programs and expanding quality support beyond ages 0 - 5 was identified as a stability and infrastructure solution. Check out the full report here: https://ndafterschoolnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ND-Child-Care-Assessment-Report-2024-12-13-24.pdf
about 1 month ago, South East Education Cooperative
Workforce Solutions Child care: ND legislative solutions During the 2023 ND Legislative Session, lawmakers passed historic legislation to address availability, affordability, and quality in child care. The resulting initiatives made important strides, especially in supporting low-income families and increasing infrastructure needs. However, further adjustments are required to effectively address affordabiltiy for middle-income families, expand access to quality care, and engage more providers in quality improvement programs. Significant opportunities exist to refine child care strategies by focusing resources on proven initiatives and leveraging insights gained to date. The following solutions are recommended based on comprehensive analysis of 2023-2025 Biennium child care related appropriations and multiple surveys issued to child care providers, education leaders, families, and business and economic development stakeholders to guage where challenges still exist within the child care ecosystem. Stability & Infrastructure Solutions Access full report: www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com/afterschool-policy/Provide Additional Infrastructure Funding to increase quality child care slots 0 - 12 years old across the state. Criminal History Background Checks: Continue to monitor progress, streamline, and reduce approval wait time. Invest in Out-of-School Time Programs and expand quality support beyond ages 0 - 5.Program Stabilization Funding to increase capacity and stabilize costs allowing programs to recruit and retain a quality workforce. Expand Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) support to middle-income families. Boost Business Engagement with clear communication to increase awareness of programs like the Working Parents Child Care Relief Program (WPCCR).Tax Incentives for Business Community Involvement in Child CareExpand the ND Shared Services Alliance to save providers time, improve cash flow and revenue, support and manage staff, and improve communication. Child Care Aware of North Dakota, Keely Ihry, 701-997-2472, keely.ihry@k12.nd.us, www.ndchildcare.org, North Dakota Afterschool Network, Kristin Knorr, 701-997-2614, kristin.knorr@k12.nd.us, www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com
The ND Legislative Session is right around the corner! Significant opportunities exist to refine child care strategies by focusing resources on proven initiatives and leveraging insights gained to date. The following solutions are recommended based on comprehensive analysis of 2023-2025 Biennium child care related appropriations and multiple surveys issued to child care providers, education leaders, families, and business and economic development stakeholders to gauge where challenges still exist within the child care ecosystem. Read more here: https://ndafterschoolnetwork.com/afterschool-policy/
about 1 month ago, South East Education Cooperative
Workforce Solutions Child care: ND legislative solutions During the 2023 ND Legislative Session, lawmakers passed historic legislation to address availability, affordability, and quality in child care. The resulting initiatives made important strides, especially in supporting low-income families and increasing infrastructure needs. However, further adjustments are required to effectively address affordabiltiy for middle-income families, expand access to quality care, and engage more providers in quality improvement programs. Significant opportunities exist to refine child care strategies by focusing resources on proven initiatives and leveraging insights gained to date. The following solutions are recommended based on comprehensive analysis of 2023-2025 Biennium child care related appropriations and multiple surveys issued to child care providers, education leaders, families, and business and economic development stakeholders to guage where challenges still exist within the child care ecosystem. Stability & Infrastructure Solutions Access full report: www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com/afterschool-policy/Provide Additional Infrastructure Funding to increase quality child care slots 0 - 12 years old across the state. Criminal History Background Checks: Continue to monitor progress, streamline, and reduce approval wait time. Invest in Out-of-School Time Programs and expand quality support beyond ages 0 - 5.Program Stabilization Funding to increase capacity and stabilize costs allowing programs to recruit and retain a quality workforce. Expand Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) support to middle-income families. Boost Business Engagement with clear communication to increase awareness of programs like the Working Parents Child Care Relief Program (WPCCR).Tax Incentives for Business Community Involvement in Child CareExpand the ND Shared Services Alliance to save providers time, improve cash flow and revenue, support and manage staff, and improve communication. Child Care Aware of North Dakota, Keely Ihry, 701-997-2472, keely.ihry@k12.nd.us, www.ndchildcare.org, North Dakota Afterschool Network, Kristin Knorr, 701-997-2614, kristin.knorr@k12.nd.us, www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com
You may have seen this Reading Corps tutor before on our page! Kathryn was featured in some of our videos last year. Check out one of the videos here: https://youtu.be/HwgYT1G_knQ?si=DmceWGRUZREGbcR5
about 1 month ago, South East Education Cooperative
Reading Corps, AmeriCorps Tutor Spotlight Kathryn Byrd, Ed Clapp Elementary. Favorite part of tutoring - Definitely the relationships you build with the students! I love seeing the kids I worked with last year and getting hugs in the hallway. I wish everyone knew how rewarding of a job it is!
Remember to consider safety this holiday season! Safe Kids Grand Forks put together some winter holiday safety tips. Check them out here: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fivci9edbb.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001Mm1FPTokYAq4eqp2JUQStBkmu4Hvy5YK-xaLfFUVr3uO30PcctHOAfd5S1QY9l7GkK5HMkIQ73LpwB6PXepFDYlOtm7aieCdfxnGWy8-Er9cxk8juV6GBTkSyDa_huSgnSspWtMft85p4LOoUgBhHZLQ1FAOvtjDOzMi3EDl9JlLCbVV8OtsRMXxLAjcakzVCczOMezNxqkhuqD_udRRzCdYTWFPfHIolouKtg2Y3Qg%3D%26c%3DblOSLdTxerzmwTJEAbtlMs0LIgBDhkm0U5WSRe-B_gllB6HN7bHIqw%3D%3D%26ch%3DnaXEZPWfx7auZiOQA4MuZ536SbWr3zvVDPxkWhUm9tTvN3ab8jaLdg%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7CKatlyn.Balstad%40k12.nd.us%7Cf96b45f2c02a4484e31908dd1879403e%7Cdbbf782acef14af186c81f9201061db6%7C0%7C0%7C638693631242509089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cObbUKh99cMyYjdCIKjy3G%2FVGG4NJaiLu4mal3ZyoQU%3D&reserved=0
about 1 month ago, South East Education Cooperative
"Winter holiday safety Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season. Winter Holiday Safety Holiday decoraTiNg Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect. Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. Keep decorations away from windows and doors. Holiday eNTerTaiNiNg Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan. Keep children and pets away from lit candles. Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. Before going out or to bed Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.• Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles. • Nearly half of decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source. Safe Kids Grand Forks. 701.780.1489 or safekids@altru.org"
We had another great month of in-person LETRS® trainings and are so thankful for all of our dedicated North Dakota educators currently in LETRS ® training and those who have completed it!
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
"Since the 2020-2021 school year, North Dakota has had 617 educators* have complete LETRS volume 1 Avg. Pretest Score 64% Avg. Posttest Score 94% Since the 2021-2022 school year, North Dakota has had 333 educators* complete LETRS volume 2 average pretest score 74%, average posttest score 97% *participants in state sponsored cohort"
group of people writing at tables
Sign up to receive emails focused on early childhood and school-age policy as we enter the 2025 ND Legislative Session! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ArAfkve
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Sign up to stay informed, receive emails focused on early childhood and school-age policy (North Dakota Afterschool Network and ChildCare Aware of North Dakota)
Sign up to receive emails focused on early childhood and school-age policy as we enter the 2025 ND Legislative Session! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ArAfkve
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Sign up to stay informed, receive emails focused on early childhood and school-age policy (North Dakota Afterschool Network and ChildCare Aware of North Dakota)
We're so glad Angie gets to celebrate students as a Reading Corps tutor!
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Tutor Spotlight Angie Waletzko Lisbon Elementary Favorite Part of Tutoring My favorite moments are the daily affirmations being a tutor gives me each and every day. I hear kids express their pride in their accomplishments. I am there to celebrate their wins. I witness first hand their excitement when they reach their goals and graduate. It is such a rewarding job! I Wish Everyone Knew Reading one-one-one with a child makes such an impact! Students develop skills and relationships for life. They feel valued and proud of their accomplishments. Every school should have a Reading Corps tutor!
Our latest newsletter is FULL of great information from funding opportunities and professional learning to how Arts in Afterschool funding is helping the Minot 21CCLC provide new opportunities! Check out the newsletter here: https://conta.cc/3ZELLWA
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
snapshot of the December newsletter
With the help of Reading Corps tutors like Mary, more North Dakota students are having "I get it now" moments!
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Tutor Spotlight Mary Hawkins John Hoeven Elementary Favorite Part of Tutoring Working together as a team of excellent coaches, teachers, tutors, and parents to find the perfect intervention to help each individual student in their journey of learning to read! Reading opens up many unseen doors of opportunity of learning and searching! I Wish Everyone Knew Reading Corps is there to help the student to have an "I get it now!" moment, no matter how long it may take! picture of Mary Hawkins
Afterschool Day on the Hill is a great way to show legislators and state agency representatives the impact your program has on the youth of North Dakota! Register today: https://fs29.formsite.com/1jusg9/DayonHIll/index
about 2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
afterschool Day on the hill North Dakota january 23, 2025 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM Kristin.Knorr@k12.nd.us | www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com The North Dakota Afterschool Network invites out-of-school time programs working with youth ages 5 - 18 to Afterschool Day on the Hill! Showcase your program to legislators and state agency representatives by sharing the ways you are positively impacting youth, families, and communities across ND. No cost lunch available 11:30 AM until gone. january 23, 2025 Booth spaces to showcase your program available on a first come, first served basis. Find more details and register now at: https://fs29.formsite.com/1jusg9/DayonHIll/index ND State Capitol Building Bismarck, ND 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM Memorial hall
Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all afterschool programs and those who help them to succeed!
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Happy Thanksgiving! This year, we’re especially thankful for all our wonderful ND afterschool programs! With your help, we have helped impact over 19,000 students across North Dakota over the last four years! picture of North Dakota afterschool network logo
Happy Thanksgiving from the team at SEEC! Our office will be closed today and tomorrow.
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Friends & Family Good Weather Health Holiday Movies Food Security Football Uninterrupted Car Time Cats (Specifically Theo) Hot Coffee Heated Steering Wheels Great Coworkers A Good Book Early Childhood Educators Having Driven Children Visiting Family for Thanksgiving All Educators and Administrators Opportunities to Travel Soup! Popcorn Machines Diet Coke A Warm Home Community Events Podcasts Volunteers Conversation at Lunch Tutors Trivia Kids Home from College Concerts Taylor Swift This year, the SEEC team is thankful for... And so much more! Our Office Will Be Closed Thursday and Friday
The Afterschool Network Leadership Team met last Friday for a mini strategic planning meeting and to discuss overall goals of the program! The Network Leadership Team guides planning and implementation of Network activities within our three goal areas: Quality, Policy, and Sustainability. Members are comprised of diverse stakeholders including afterschool programs, K-12, higher education, business &industry, policymakers, and others who represent the needs and opportunities of afterschool programs, professionals, and youth. Be on the lookout as we start to spotlight individual Leadership Team members!
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
picture of the leadersihp team comprising of 7 women and 2 men
Are you looking to build your afterschool program? Check out the ND Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs! These quality standards are designed to acknowledge the work you do, help take your program to the next level, and guide discussions on improving program quality. They will provide timely and meaningful feedback on program quality and help you determine program priorities. Access the standards here: https://ndafterschoolnetwork.com/quality-standards/
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
picture of ND Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs, North Dakota's Guide to Best Practices for Effective Youth Programs from the North Dakota Afterschool Network booklet with a viney plant
We love seeing AmeriCorps tutoring programs in action! Laurynn Lauer, an Early Learning Corps tutor at YMCA of the Northern Sky – Schlossman Branch, works hard to build a meaningful sign-in experience routine for the children in her classroom. She is committed to giving students the opportunity to write their names every day, and this photo shows just how powerful a daily sign-in routine can be!
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
picture showing vast improvement in spelling the name Joseph from september 3rd to November 13th
There's snow in the forecast, so we wanted to share some sunshine today with a Math Corps tutor spotlight! Thank you, Michelle, for shining your light with the students of Medina!
2 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Tutor Spotlight Michelle Lytle Medina Public School Favorite Part of Tutoring My favorite aspect of being a Math Corps tutor is working with the kids on skills that help them be more confident in the classroom. It's fun to watch them engage in activities in a small group setting and know that they are learning skills that will help them during their day. I Wish Everyone Knew You are supported every step of the way. From putting in your application, to training, and then implementing the interventions--someone is there to guide you and answer all of your questions. The Math Corps team has been so positive and supportive!
Exciting scholarship opportunity alert for students planning to major in Social Work or Special Education! The Arc of Cass County wants to support students in southeastern North Dakota who plan to major in Social Work or Special Education by offering the Janel Ness Academic Scholarship! Award amounts range from $500-$2000! Scholarship awards can be used for tuition, books, or supplies at any higher learning institution. Be sure to share this opportunity with students! https://www.arccassnd.org/scholarship-program/
3 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
picture of scholarship information: Janell Ness Academic Scholarship The Arc of Cass County recognizes the need for exemplary Special Education Teachers and Human Service Professionals in our community. With that in mind, The Arc of Cass County wants to support students in southeastern North Dakota who plan to major in Social Work, Special Education or who intend to use their degree to pursue a career in Human Services. This award is named for The Arc of Cass County’s longtime former Executive Director, Janell Ness. Janell is a prime example of what an achieving and dedicated human service professional should be. We will be giving out scholarships annually in her honor. Scholarship awards can be used for tuition, books, or supplies at a higher learning institution. The amount and size of awards given each year will be based on individual merit and funds available. Funds must be used within one calendar year of receipt. Awards range from $500-$2,000. Criteria Individuals 17 years of age or older attending college or postsecondary school Intend on going into Special Education, Social Work, or similar Human Service field Resident of, or attending school in one of the following ND counties: Cass, Ransom, Richland , Sargent, Steele or Traill
This is your reminder that the ND Afterschool Learning Platforms: Cypherworx & The Flourish Lab are available for FREE for all out-of-school time programs across North Dakota! Check out the information session recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJWH8i2bJPk) to learn about how your program can access the trainings, suggested learning pathways based on staff roles, alignment with ND Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs, and opportunities to join communities of practice to connect with peers across the state. Contact Kristin.Knorr@k12.nd.us for information on how to access the training platforms!
3 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
Poster with the following text: The Flourish Lab Flyer 2024-2025 by South East Education Cooperative “The Flourish Lab is an experiential, social-emotional online learning series designed to positively shift the way adults show up for young people. This hands-on curriculum takes a refreshingly human look at creating positive afterschool environments, while supporting social and emotional growth in young people.” The flourish lab e-learning platform for ND ost programs Planning Info Session 10 - 10:45am CT: Learn more about the 4 core modules, suggested learning timelines, and how to support learning outcomes in your program. Presence The message young people get with each well-thought- out lesson plan, choice of materials, or age- appropriate option, is that they matter. relationships Being truly present means consciously choosing to show up with a heightened level of awareness. And it matters big time! Positive or negative - the choice is always ours - but either way, count on a ripple effect. ignite To understand how best to work with youth, we look for ways to practice showing up as our best. What results is a powerful roadmap for positive impact that begins with you. community of practice For site coordinators, supervisors, and direct staff, join this series to support implementation of The Flourish Lab eLearning platform into your program, connect with other OST leaders, practice strategies, reflect on shared experiences and collaboratively problem solve. www.ndafterschoolnetwork.com August 22 Aug - Sept 45 minute onboarding call with The Flourish Lab support team Sept - May In-depth learning! Your program will have access to the platform, with the Network available for guidance and support Virtual sessions from 1 - 2:30pm October 16 January 15 March 5 April 23 We believe relationships are built (or broken) in a series of moments, and that fostering a sense of belonging is essential for all to thrive. core modules: 2024 - 2025 www.theflourishlab.org
November is National Gratitude Month, but we are thankful for our tutors year-round! Today we thank DeAnn for her work at Medina Public School!
3 months ago, South East Education Cooperative
"Picture of tutor, DeAnn with the following text: Tutor Spotlight DeAnn Ruff Medina Public School Favorite Part of Tutoring My most fulfilling moment was during my first year as a tutor (last school year) , I had one student who reached his goal towards the end of the school year, it was very rewarding to hear his love for reading and books and knowing it was because of this amazing program. I Wish Everyone Knew That it’s even beneficial for average readers not just beginning readers. It can help them work on fluency and help them notice and cut down on their errors while reading. includes the reading corps americorps logos"