Wisconsin Afterschool Network (WAN)

What is WAN? Calendar of Events How to Join

Partner Profiles Contacts

"There is no greater obligation we have to make sure our kids get a great education...before school, during school, and after school. Let's work together to make this commitment to our kids."
Governor Doyle
Speaking at the 2006 Governor's Summit on After-school Programs

"The bottom line is after-school programs work. They work for students and their academic achievement and safety. They work for families, and they work for our economy. After-school programming helps in our efforts to raise achievement for all students and to close the achievement gap. They are clearly one of the best investments we can make as a state and as a country."
Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin State Superintendent

Funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation, as well as generous contributions by partner organizations, WAN is a public/private partnership whose vision is that all Wisconsin school age youth will have the opportunity to attend a high-quality afterschool program. Dozens of organizations from across the state have joined forces in support of afterschool programs through the Wisconsin Afterschool Network (WAN). New members are always welcome!

Click here to find out how to get involved!

WAN News

Congressman Dave Obey proposes a $125 million increase for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education, under the leadership of 7th district Congressman Dave Obey, has voted to increase 21st Century Community Learning Center funding by $125 million. This would bring it to highest funding level ever for the federal grant program. To learn more about the proposal and how to mobilize in support of the increase visit the Afterschool Alliance web site or contact the Wisconsin Counsel on Children and Families.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

WAN Regional Network Gatherings

WAN regional network events provide opportunities to share best practices, resources, and discuss the needs for training the region. Participants also address issues around program quality resources, developing partnerships, and policy needs and strategies to garner support for afterschool.

For more information contact Kathi Vos, or (608) 262-2496, to get involved.

New Assessment Tools Available!

Measuring Youth Program Quality: A Guide to Assessment Tools
Thanks to growing interest in the subject of youth program quality, many tools are now available to help organizations and systems assess and improve quality. Given the size and diversity of the youth-serving sector, it is unrealistic to expect any one tool or process to fit all programs or circumstances. While diversity in available resources is positive and reflects the evolution of the field, it also makes it important that potential users have access to good information to help guide their decision-making. Measuring Youth Program Quality compares the purpose, history, structure, methodology, content and technical properties of nine different observation tools.

For the full report visit: www.forumfyi.org/Files//Measuring_Youth_Program_Quality.pdf

Building Quality Improvement Systems: Lessons from Three Emerging Efforts in the Youth-Serving Sector
Quality is fast becoming a policy priority in states and localities around the country. As a result, formal and informal networks are seeking or developing resources to help them assess and improve their performance, and public and private funders are helping seed the development of continous improvement systems. Recently Youth Forum took a closer look at emerging quality improvement efforts in three networks: Girls Incorporated, Michigan 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and YouthNet of Greater Kansas City. As works in progress, these three cases shed light on several important questions. What kinds of quality improvement processes are being designed and implemented in the field? What do similarities and differences between those processes tell us about the design choices being made? What might be some of the consequences of different design choices, in terms of both the implementation and results of quality improvement efforts?

For the full report visit: www.forumfyi.org/Files//building_quality_full.pdf

Additional Resources for Afterschool
Resources On Afterschool, the 5th edition of an online tool created by the Collaborative Communications Group and funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation, features selected resources in the areas of: research and evaluation, promising practices, professional development, public awareness and communications, policy, and financing in afterschool.

For questions about this information, contact Alison B. Wineberg (608) 267-3751

Last updated on 9/5/2008 11:27:30 AM