As we close out another vibrant summer of learning, enrichment and connection, I want to celebrate YOU— the dedicated providers, staff and partners who have shown steadfast commitment to engaging students and families across our Commonwealth.
In a year filled with conversations about potential cuts to 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21stCCLC) funding, your steadfast presence and tireless efforts have been a powerful reminder of why these programs matter. You have not only kept the lights on for young people, but have ignited curiosity, built skills, and created joyful spaces that will ripple into the school year ahead.
Your work this summer has been nothing short of inspiring, and it strengthens our resolve to protect and expand access to quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities for every child in Pennsylvania. Together, we are not only weathering challenges we are proving the impact, value and necessity of out-of-school time (OST) programs.
Let’s carry this momentum forward into the fall, united and determined to ensure these opportunities remain strong for generations to come.
Featured Stories
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances FY 2026 Education Bill, Preserves Afterschool Funding and Increases DOE Budget
On July 31, 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan FY 2026 education spending bill, allocating $79 billion to the Department of Education, an amount higher than both the prior year and the administration’s proposal. The bill preserves $1.329 billion in funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), rejecting efforts to cut afterschool and summer programs.
The bill also includes new provisions (Sec 313 and Sec 314) mandating that Education Department formula grants be released on time and that staffing levels support timely execution, a response to earlier controversies over withheld FY 2025 funds. The measure now moves to the full Senate, followed by reconciliation with a significantly leaner House proposal that had proposed deeper cuts, before finalizing federal education funding for FY 2026.
New 2025–2026 Guidelines Expand Youth Access to Free and Reduced School Meals
Starting July 1, 2025, Pennsylvania schools will use updated USDA income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and milk throughout the 2025–2026 school year. These adjustments increase access to the National School Lunch, Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs statewide, helping more students fuel up for learning. Families receiving SNAP or TANF only need to include their case number on the application, while households with WIC or Medicaid should complete the standard meal benefit form via COMPASS. The initiative builds on Pennsylvania’s universal free breakfast policy, ensuring no student begins their school day hungry.
Pennsylvania 4-H by Penn State Extension membership, Aug. 1 - Sept. 30
Penn State Extension is offering an exciting opportunity for youth in Pennsylvania: from Aug.1 to Sept. 30, kids ages 5–18 can join 4‑H for free and explore everything the program offers, from STEM and animal care to sewing, woodworking and community service. This two-month trial is a great chance for families and young people to dive into hands-on learning, leadership-building, and mentorship from caring adult volunteers with no commitment required. Best of all, it's perfect timing to discover if 4‑H is the right fit before the official program year starts in October!
PSAYDN is excited to launch our 2025–2026 Education and Awareness Campaign to elevate the importance of afterschool and summer learning opportunities across the Commonwealth. Through this campaign, we will host monthly virtual sessions focused on building knowledge, capacity and collective voice in support of out-of-school time (OST) programs statewide.
We invite you to join us for our kickoff session on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. We are honored to welcome Chris Neitzey from the Afterschool Alliance, who will provide key updates on recent national advocacy efforts and wins that are helping to strengthen the OST field.
Your participation in these monthly sessions will play a critical role in sustaining and expanding support for high-quality OST programs in Pennsylvania. Together, we can ensure that every child has access to safe, engaging, and enriching learning opportunities beyond the school day.
Join Temescal Associates and the How Kids Learn Foundation for a powerful webinar on supporting neurodiverse youth in out-of-school time programs. Designed for OST educators, leaders, funders and policymakers, this session will introduce key concepts around neurodiversity and offer practical strategies to create inclusive, supportive environments. Featuring expert speakers Meeta Sharma-Holt, MSW and Dr. Niki Elliott, the $25 registration includes event access, resources and a recording.
School’s Out for Summer. Parents Need Support With Youth Mental Health
A recent article from The 74 highlights an urgent challenge: while school may be out for summer, youth mental health struggles remain and often worsen without daily access to supportive adults, routines and services. With nearly 60% of parents rating their children's mental health as poor and only a quarter feeling hopeful about improvement, the need for OST programs to step up is clear. This piece is a compelling call to action for the OST community. Summer programs aren't just about fun, they are a vital lifeline offering connection, stability and care during a time when many young people feel isolated or overwhelmed.
Back-to-school Safety Preparedness: Training and Drills for K-12 Schools
Aug. 28, 3 - 4 p.m. EDT | Virtual
Please join the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) School Safety on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 3 - 4 p.m. for a virtual training on back-to-school safety and emergency preparedness for K-12 schools.
This interactive session will offer practical strategies for integrating drills, trainings and exercises into daily operations, along with guidance on updating and practicing crisis response and reunification plans. Attendees will also receive tools to support developmentally-appropriate preparedness efforts throughout the school year.
Looking for a free, easy way to bring STEM learning into your program? Try these engaging K–8 STEM activity packs, from STEM Coding Lab perfect for out-of-school-time settings. They're completely free to use and include a short survey at the end. Your feedback will help to improve future resources!
Dates available in September and October | In-person and Virtual
Join PHEAA as they explore the opportunities and application procedures for federal and state financial aid. Understand changes and timely issues that affect you as you work with students who are pursuing their postsecondary options. Save the date!
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
