This October, PSAYDN joins partners across the nation in recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reaffirm our collective commitment to the well-being of youth, families and out-of-school time professionals.
As we continue to build supportive and inclusive environments for young people, it’s vital to remember that mental health is health. From afterschool programs to summer learning spaces, our work provides safe places for youth to connect, express and thrive. This month’s Digest highlights resources that help strengthen resilience and promote emotional wellness in the OST community.
Together, let’s continue to nurture hope, reduce stigma, and create spaces where every young person feels seen, supported and empowered.
Special Announcements
DOE Finalizes Literacy Priority Rule
The U.S. Department of Education has finalized a rule establishing literacy as a national priority in future grant programs.
The rule expands the definition of literacy to include writing and oral language.
Afterschool and summer programs are recognized as important spaces for implementing evidence-based literacy efforts outside the regular school day.
This update opens new opportunities for OST programs to align literacy-focused proposals with federal priorities.
New Educational Tax Credit: A Potential Boost for Afterschool Programs
A new federal tax credit scholarship program (Sec. 25F), introduced in the 2025 reconciliation bill, could open fresh opportunities for afterschool and summer learning.
Individuals can contribute up to $1,700 to nonprofit Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit.
The scholarships may be used for a wide range of educational expenses—including wraparound supports like afterschool and summer programs—if state and federal rules allow it.
Many policy details are still to come via U.S. Treasury rulemaking ahead of the program’s proposed launch in the 2027 tax year.
Why Afterschool and Summer Learning Policy Matters
The Riley Institute at Furman University recently hosted 16 professionals from across the country for its White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Afterschool Policy Fellowship, training them to advance state and national policies that support afterschool and summer learning opportunities. PSAYDN Director Contrell Armor is one of the 16 fellows.
Research led by Dr. Deborah Vandell confirms what out-of-school time (OST) professionals already know—students who participate in afterschool programs show higher academic achievement, stronger social confidence, and greater long-term success into adulthood. Yet, despite overwhelming parental and voter support, millions of children still lack access due to cost, transportation, and limited availability.
The WRP Fellowship equips leaders to bridge that gap by focusing on building cross-sector partnerships, engaging bipartisan legislative champions, and identifying sustainable funding sources such as 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and Title I. These fellows will spend the next year developing policy projects aimed at expanding access and investment in high-quality afterschool and summer programs nationwide.
Afterschool STEM: Turning curiosity into careers and citizenship
Afterschool STEM programs are helping young people turn curiosity into meaningful career and civic opportunities by connecting hands-on learning to real-world community challenges. These programs especially benefit girls and underserved youth who often lose access to engaging STEM experiences during the school day. However, proposed cuts to 21st Century Community Learning Centers, NASA, and NSF funding threaten the sustainability of such efforts. Advocates urge continued investment and youth-led design to ensure all students can explore STEM pathways that build skills, confidence, and civic impact.
How did you celebrate Lights on Afterschool in PA? Submit the best photo from your event for a chance to win $200.00 to go towards providing a thank you lunch to your staff. Five winners will be selected from programs across Pennsylvania. The winning photos will be showcased in publications advocating for the importance of out of school time programs throughout the year.
Lights on Afterschool is an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance. This photo contest is sponsored by PENN SACCA to highlight the events across Pennsylvania.
Complete your FAFSA in minutes at StudentAid.gov to unlock grants, scholarships, loans, work-study funds, and other financial aid for college or technical school.
Ashley Wallace, associate director, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), will share ways you can build connections with state legislators and legislative staff. Gain an overview of some hot education topics legislatures may be tackling in 2026 legislative sessions and what that might mean for the afterschool field.
Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention, and Child Exploitation Awareness Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of School Climate and Well-being has youth suicide awareness and child exploitation awareness resources to assist educators in all grade levels, including:
With Lights On Afterschool season underway, now is the perfect time to remind policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels how afterschool works. Seeing programs firsthand is one of the very best ways to build support for afterschool.
On Oct. 15, the Afterschool Alliance will release America After 3PM, the nation's most comprehensive survey of how children spend the critical hours after school. The report includes national findings as well as state-level data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
More than $1 Million Available for Environmental Education Grants
Application deadline: Nov. 14
2026 Environmental Education Grants are open to schools, businesses, county conservation districts, and non-profit organizations Multiple grant tiers are available for all sizes of projects.
More than $1 million is available for projects that provide meaningful environmental education projects through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Environmental Education Grants Program. Grant applications will be accepted through Nov. 14, 2025.
Pennsylvania Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) is an initiative of Center for Schools and Communities, division of Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
275 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200, Camp Hill,PA,17011
