As we close out 2025, PSAYDN celebrates the incredible dedication of our out-of-school time providers, the resilience and leadership of our youth, and the steadfast support of legislators, community partners, and business and industry leaders across Pennsylvania. Together, you have strengthened opportunities for young people, expanded access to high-quality programs, and advanced policies that elevate the importance of afterschool and summer learning statewide.
Your commitment has fueled extraordinary momentum this year and we are entering 2026 with even greater energy, collaboration, and vision. PSAYDN looks forward to building on this year’s achievements and continuing our shared mission to ensure every young person in Pennsylvania has the support, enrichment, and opportunities they deserve.
Thank you for all you do, 2026 is shaping up to be our most impactful year yet.
Celebrating 50 Years of IDEA: A Milestone for Inclusive Education
This year marks a powerful milestone in education equity: the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Originally passed in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, this landmark legislation opened classroom doors for millions of students with disabilities who had previously been denied access to a public education.
For half a century, IDEA has ensured that every child. regardless of ability, has the right to a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive and most inclusive environment possible. Its impact can be seen in enriched classrooms, more accessible learning environments, and the expanding opportunities now available to students across the country. IDEA has not only changed schools it has changed lives, communities, and our collective understanding of what true inclusion looks like.
As we commemorate this anniversary, we extend our gratitude to the educators, specialists, families, advocates, and, most importantly, the students who continue to lead the way. Their dedication to accessibility, equity, and high expectations has pushed our education system forward and continues to shape a more inclusive future.
Exciting News for Pennsylvania’s Out-of-school Time Community!
Pennsylvania has officially dedicated $11.5 million in the 2025 state budget to support BOOST (Building Opportunities through Out-of-School Time) programming across the Commonwealth. This critical investment expands high-quality opportunities for youth, strengthens support for working families, and reinforces the essential role afterschool and summer programs play in learning, safety and workforce development.
PSAYDN proudly celebrates this milestone and extends our gratitude to partners, advocates, and policymakers whose leadership and commitment helped make this achievement possible. Together, we are advancing the well-being and success of Pennsylvania’s young people.
OST Under Pressure: Insights From Our Budget Impasse Survey
Pennsylvania’s out-of-school time programs felt significant strain from the ongoing state budget delays. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our brief survey—your input helps illuminate the real impact these disruptions have on youth, families, and communities statewide.
Afterschool and summer programs rely on stable, timely funding to remain open and deliver high-quality learning, enrichment, and safety supports. When funding is delayed, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching.
Key Survey Findings:
✔️ 79% of respondents reported reimbursement disruptions, creating financial uncertainty for programs that already operate on thin margins.
✔️ 60% reported lost or reduced partnerships, which weakens the community support network that OST programs depend on.
✔️ 56% experienced staffing cuts or hiring freezes, limiting their ability to provide consistent, high-quality services.
✔️ Most programs can sustain operations for only 1–3 months under continued budget delays—putting essential services at risk.
Big Win for Early Childhood Education in PA!
The 2025-26 state budget makes major strides toward easing the teacher shortage in early education. Key investments include:
A new $25 million recurring fund for child care teacher recruitment and retention across licensed programs.
An additional $9.5 million for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to bolster provider stability and raise teacher wages.
A total increase of $41.7 million for Early Intervention services (infants-to-5), including workforce supports.
According to Pre-K for PA, 92% of responding child care programs reported staffing challenges — more than 3,000 unfilled positions statewide.
This budget is a big step toward ensuring access to high-quality early learning and supporting working families across Pennsylvania.
New Agreement Moves Core Functions of 21st Century Community Learning Centers to Department of Labor
On Nov. 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced six new interagency agreements with the Departments of Labor (DOL), Interior, Health and Human Services, and Department of State to “break up the federal education bureaucracy, ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, activities, and move closer to fulfilling the President’s promise to return education to the states.” This follows prior ED restructuring, including significant layoffs, and the Trump Administration’s March 20, 2025, Executive Order directing the Secretary of Education to take steps toward closing the department.
New Report Highlights the Power of the Youth Workforce
Adults who work with youth beyond the school day, beyond the school year, and outside the classroom are essential to young people’s growth and success. From afterschool and summer learning programs to sports, museums, and libraries—these professionals shape the future every day.
Until now, little was known about who makes up this workforce and what supports they need. The new Power of Us Workforce Survey, conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), changes that—offering insights from more than 7,000 youth-serving professionals and volunteers nationwide.
The report explores:
Career Pathways – How and why staff enter and grow in the field
Professional Learning – Training and supports for success
Well-being – Inclusion, burnout, and workplace conditions
Compensation – Pay and benefits realities
Understanding this data is key to recruiting, supporting, and retaining the dedicated adults who power youth development across the country.
The recently signed Pennsylvania budget ushers in three key reforms for Pennsylvania public education:
The educator workforce is getting a boost — certification processes will be streamlined, fees reduced, and teachers will have greater flexibility across grade spans.
Literacy efforts are being strengthened — early-reading supports are expanded and evidence-based, structured literacy instruction is prioritized statewide.
Cyber-charter school law is being overhauled — districts will save ≈ $178 million via tuition reforms, and cyber schools will face new accountability requirements, including regular wellness checks and camera-based student engagement.
Combined with more than $900 million in new K–12 investments (e.g., $565 million in adequacy funding, $100 million for school safety/mental-health, $125 million for infrastructure) these changes mark a significant commitment to strengthening learning for all Pennsylvania students.
Spotlight on Innovation: How Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) are Preparing Teens for an AI-driven Future
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania are leading the way in preparing youth for an AI-driven future. Their free AI Pathways Institute Activation Camp gives teens hands-on experience with robotics, coding, and creative AI projects expanding access to high-quality STEM learning across the region. Inspiring work happening in PA’s OST community!
Special Joint Publication Highlights Afterschool Advocacy Every Day
A special joint publication from the Afterschool Alliance and NAA, the latest edition brings together the voices of afterschool professionals, youth leaders, researchers, and partners who are raising awareness, driving solutions, and shaping stronger systems for young people and their communities. Through storytelling, data, and on-the-ground examples, AfterSchool Today highlights the many ways advocacy happens every day — both for afterschool and in afterschool.
Inside this issue, you’ll discover:
Powerful stories of youth and adults leading change at local, state, and national levels
Insights from new America After 3PM data that reveal impact, demand, and opportunities for action
Innovative strategies to support and strengthen the OST workforce
A special interview on youth development and childcare as essential building blocks of our social infrastructure
Real examples of organizing, mentorship, civic engagement, and creative expression that elevate voices and inspire community action
Whether you’re a practitioner, system builder, policymaker, partner, or advocate, this issue offers inspiration and practical tools for moving the field forward.
Shut Out: Inequitable Access to Afterschool Programs Grows
More than 22 million U.S. children disproportionately from low-income families and families of color lack access to after-school or summer programs, according to a new report.
While 77% of parents who want afterschool care can’t get it, barriers like cost, availability, and transportation remain steep, and the gap is expected to widen as proposed federal funding cuts threaten critical funding streams.
Mott Million Dollar Challenge: A Pitch Competition for Kids and Teens
Public launch: Dec. 10
Application deadline: Feb. 27, 2026
Coming soon: A national youth pitch competition celebrating youth ideas in social and product innovation—open to K–12 students in all 50 states.
Any young person in the United States, ages 5-19. will be able to upload a 90-second video of their idea. Youth can work on their own or in teams. Up to $1 million in prizes will be distributed for youth.
Check your inbox on Dec. 10 for a PSAYDN Special alert for more details!
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation champions opportunities for young people to grow, discover a strong sense of purpose, and see themselves as leaders in their schools and communities.
As the Foundation celebrates its centennial in 2026, Mott seeks to deepen its commitment to entrepreneurship education as a powerful tool to equip the next generation with the mindset, skills and confidence needed to navigate and shape the future economy.
New Opportunity for Young People Interested in Exploring How They Can Build a Creative Life
Application deadline: Dec. 21
Do you know a young person interested in music, dance, theater, visual arts and more? Have someone in your life that is eager to build a creative life, even if they don't pursue an arts-related path? If so, Roadtrip Nation has an exciting new opportunity to share.
Next year, Roadtrip Nation initiative is sending three young people (18+) out to discover how they can stay creative in life, even if they don’t pursue an arts-related career. They’ll travel across the country to meet inspiring leaders across a wide range of careers whose paths were made possible because of their arts experiences, proving that the arts are vital and important for all of us.
Along the way, these individuals will gain real-world insights, career inspiration, and invaluable mentorship–all while being filmed for Roadtrip Nation’s public television series.
If you know someone who would benefit from this opportunity, please share the application link with them! Applications are open through December 21, 2025.
Highlighting how OST supports STEM learning, PA STEELS alignment, and future skill-building.
Click2Science is a comprehensive professional development tool by which Out-of-School Time professionals can strengthen their skills in delivering age-appropriate, STEM learning experiences in their program. This session will highlight two foundational skills: Asking Purposeful Questions and Exploring a STEM mindset. Strategies include in-person workshops for staff, a train-the-trainer Institute, access to online tools and videos that can be used in staff meetings, and ongoing coaching.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) Community Youth Organization (CYO) Course
Jan. 7-8, 2026 | Virtual
Course for Community Youth Organizations (CYO) provides youth-serving organizations with practical strategies to prevent bullying, reduce incidents of bullying, and enrich peer relationships in out-of-school settings. The CYO Coach Course prepares youth program leaders to train and support a community youth organization with implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Keystone College Learn and Earn Apprenticeship Pathway (LEAP) Program
Are you looking for teachers in Special Education? Ask about Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) Programs like the Learn and Earn Apprenticeship Pathway (LEAP), * a Labor and Industry/PDE grant to support teacher certification.
Through LEAP, tuition is covered by grant funds for eligible students who will earn their teaching certificate through grant funding.
Requirements for candidates for LEAP and the Labor and Industry/PDE Grant:
A bachelor’s degree in any field
Employment in a school district, working as a long-term substitute under an emergency certificate or as a paraprofessional
Passion for teaching, learning, and becoming certified in Special Education (for this grant cycle)
Other details:
The program is based in the classroom in which candidates are employed - a true clinical, apprenticeship design. Candidates do NOT come to campus!
They will learn through their daily work in the classroom as an apprentice, supported by a designated 1:1 onsite coach (a district teacher who will earn a stipend along with other apprenticeship team members working with the grant.)
Candidates’ daily classroom experiences are aligned with coursework as competencies are learned, developed, documented, and achieved.
Candidates will continue to EARN their current salary while LEAP pays for their tuition/certification process.
*LEAP IS A PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROVED PROGRAM OF STUDY
Wellness
Grief Goes to School
Christina Larkin, Youth and Family Group Coordinator, The Center for Loss and Bereavement
Dec. 11, 9 a.m. | Virtual
Gain an introduction to grief theory and common student reactions to grief and loss that may be seen in the educational setting. We will share helpful tips on how to engage grieving students of all ages through discussion and age-appropriate activities that provide support and compassionate care. We will offer the opportunity for dynamic discussion so that professionals can learn how to best advocate for grieving students to ensure they can be successful in their academics.
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:
Time for States to Start Planning for Summer School
Now is the perfect time to start planning for summer learning 2026. According to the recent article from the 74 Million, designing high-quality summer programs is not a “nice to have” — it takes the same kind of thoughtful planning we give to the full school year. Let’s lean into the season of falling leaves to rise up our planning for summer — better programs, better impact, better outcomes for our kids.
Five Ways to Connect Your Child to Careers: New Family Guides for All Grade Levels
Just in time for holiday breaks and chances to connect around the dinner table, STEM Next is excited to introduce new resources designed to help families support career-connected learning at home. Some tips from each grade level guide include:
Elementary School: Ask questions and read books together that inspire curiosity about careers.
Middle School: Help your young person in interviewing friends, coaches, and other family members about their jobs and careers.
High School: Have meaningful discussions about failure and how to overcome it. Start developing a personal profile to help teens create their first resume.
For all interested grant seekers, these live 45-minute webinars include details on eligibility, process, and timeline for each funding opportunity with Q&A at the end of the presentation.
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.
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
