January 30, 2026 Trying Together Calls for Presentation Proposals for June UnConference Trying Together invites those interested in presenting at its June 11 UnConference, “Out-of-School Time,” to submit proposals for presentations relating to that topic by Friday, March 6. Learn More Trying Together’s UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format where a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme related to early childhood education. Speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands-on in the workshops. Trying Together, in partnership with APOST and Allegheny County DHS, will host UnConference: Out-of-School-Time, on Thursday, June 11. More details will follow on the location and time. PQAS and Act 48 credits will be available for attendees. Presentation Topics Trying Together is seeking a focused range of topical presentations for the UnConference, which will focus on the topic of out-of-school-time. The audience for the UnConference will be educators, staff, and administrators working with children in summer programs, engaged parents and caregivers, and early childhood education and out-of-school time advocates. Those submitting proposals should design them to fit a 90-minute session. Appropriate topics include – but are not limited to: Mental health and social-emotional well-being Poverty responses Trauma-informed practices for OST programs Positive behavior management Game-based learning strategies Project-based learning for after school and summer programs Managing interpersonal conflict among staff Parent and family engagement for OST programs The importance of play Proposals will be selected based on a variety of criteria, including the extent to which the proposal targets and is relevant to the ECE workforce, experience or expertise of presenters, definition and focus of the topic, ability to engage participants in discussion and hands-on learning experiences, practical application of material and takeaways, and timeliness and importance of the topic. Each workshop proposal should encourage active learning; present culturally inclusive ideas, practices, and/or relevant research aimed at positioning attendees as leaders at the early learning programs in which they work; offer strategies for effective implementation of information acquired; include presenters who have significant expertise in the topic area; and cover a 90-minute block of time. Submitting a Proposal Trying Together will offer a stipend of $250 for any organization or individual whose proposal is chosen to be presented at the UnConference. Proposals will be due on March 6 and, on March 16, applicants will be notified about the status of their proposal. Presentation slides and materials as well as an overview of the presentation will be due on May 28. To submit a proposal, applicants should download the submission form and save it to their desktop. Then, submit the proposal as an attachment to learning@tryingtogether.org with the subject line “June 2026 UnConference Proposal” no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 6. For more information on submitting proposals for Trying Together’s UnConference, check out this flyer. Trying Together recognizes that summer programs may not have hired their summer staff yet. If you know how many staff you plan to send to the UnConference, we strongly encourage you to reserve their spots now. We will follow up later to get staff contact information. To reserve spots for your staff, email Gabby Lisella at gabby@tryingtogether.org.
January 20, 2026 United Way’s Beyond the Classroom Grant Application Process Open Until February 5 Those interested in applying for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Beyond the Classroom grants should do so before the Thursday, February 5 deadline. Learn More The purpose of the grant funding is to alleviate the unexpected needs of out-of-school-time programs that serve children and youth, from birth to age 8. Funding for those who obtain the 2026 multi-year grants would begin in July. For more information on the grants and the application process, a video recording of a November information session is available online. The letter of intent process – which opened on January 5 and runs through February 5 – asks for applicants to discuss their organization’s mission statement, the investment priority if the grant were to be received, and other topics. Those interested in the grant can apply online. The next step in the process – which would being on March 2 – would be that invitations would be sent out to certain applicants to submit a full proposal. Application workshops with PACE would be held in early March and a full proposal would be due on April 2. Those chosen to receive grants would be alerted in June for the funding year beginning July 1.
January 13, 2026 PCCD Announces State Violence Intervention and Prevention Funding Through OST BOOST Grants The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has announced the availability of $11.5 million in state Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) funding. Out-of-school-time programs interested in obtaining the funding must apply for it by the end of the day on Monday, January 26. Learn More The goal of the FY 2025-26 Violence Intervention and Prevention and Building Opportunities Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants is to support a variety of local community violence prevention and intervention strategies, including upstream prevention for at-risk school-age youth. For the current fiscal year, a total of approximately $60 million in state funding for VIP has been directed to the PCCD for providing grants and technical assistance to address community violence. Community violence is defined as intentional interpersonal violence – such as gun violence, group-related violence, or domestic or intimate partner violence – in areas of the state with high rates of firearm-related violent crime or injury. VIP funding is intended to support community violence intervention strategies designed to address violence that is already occurring in communities. Additionally, Act 45 of 2025 (Fiscal Code) directs PCCD to reserve at least $11.5 million of appropriated VIP funds for BOOST grants, which support statewide and local out-of-school time programming for at-risk school-age youth. The maximum award amount under the FY 2025-26 VIP and BOOST solicitation will be $500,000 or no more than 50% of an organization’s annual operating expenditures, whichever is less. The maximum award amount is the total grant amount an applicant can request over the entire 36-month project period, and is not a per-year amount for each year of the project period. For more information, read the PCCD announcement on the funding.
July 23, 2025 Deadline to Submit RFP for DHS Out-of-School Time, Teen Programming is July 31 The deadline to submit an Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) request for proposal (RFP) for additional out-of-school time and teen programming is Thursday, July 31. Learn More The DHS is seeking proposals from qualified proposers to provide on or both of the two following types of youth programming for the 2025-26 school year: Out-of-School Time Programming – The DHS is seeking up to three proposers for additional out-of-school time programs, which offer a safe place for students to go after their school day ends or during the summer. Teen Programming – The DHS is seeking up to three proposers for teen programming for creative programming that occurs outside of traditional school hours for school-age teens. Proposals must be submitted electronically on DHS’s Bonfire Portal by 3 p.m. on July 31. For more information, check out the DHS’s RFP.
APOST Seeking Presenters in Southwest PA to Facilitate OST Workshops Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) is seeking presenters from Southwest Pennsylvania to facilitate workshops on topics relating to out-of-school time (OST) for its 2025 conference. Learn More The conference, which will be held in partnership with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, will be held on Monday, Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. APOST is currently looking for local presenters who are interested in facilitating one-hour workshops on any OST-related topic through the lens of or in connection to “partnerships in OST.” These can include: Interactive learning experiences that are creative in their engagement of the audience What an organization has to offer as a partner to OST organizations (and how the organization has worked in partnerships with others) Multiple organizations presenting together or leading a panel discussion on partnerships in action The deadline to submit a topic is 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. All submitters will be contacted and notified whether their proposed workshop was selected by Aug. 11. APOST will offer a $400 honoraria per workshop. Workshop topics can be submitted online.
June 26, 2025 APOST Strategic Plan to Provide Support to Out-of-School Time Providers A new strategic plan developed by Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) will provide providers of out-of-school time programs in Allegheny County with more focused support. Learn More The recently completed plan positions APOST to both strengthen and celebrate the valuable work of the county’s out-of-school time providers. The strategic plan for 2025-27 involves three priorities: to improve awareness and support of out-of-school time, to support the organizational strength of its providers, and to professionalize the out-of-school time workforce. “Our vision is that every young person in Allegheny County will have access to high-quality out-of-school time learning opportunities,” said Karen Dreyer, APOST’s executive director. “We know that the learning that goes on outside of the school day contributes to educational and social benefits for young people, their families, and the larger community. We also know that availability and quality of such programs are not consistent throughout the county.” Out-of-school time is a valuable part of the educational and workforce development ecosystems, providing positive youth outcomes through safe, creative spaces for young people to learn during the hours out of school. APOST’s role is to be a convener, connector, and collaborator with out-of-school time providers focusing on school-aged youth in Allegheny County. Kathryn Vargas, APOST’s board president, said APOST can affect policies and funding, program quality standards, and the professional growth of workers in the field. She said the plan will keep APOST focused on sustainability and growth of out-of-school time providers in the county. “As we developed the plan, we recognized that many people don’t understand what out-of-school time really is or the contributions these programs make to students, families, and communities,” said Dr. Robert Scherrer, chairman of APOST’s strategic planning committee. “Our first objective is to develop a shared understanding of the definition and value of both out-of-school time and APOST.” APOST has long focused on professional development opportunities for both leaders and front-line workers in out-of-school time programs. For the current year, it also plans to implement professional development initiatives that will elevate program excellence. The strategic plan was developed by APOST staff, board members, and stakeholders over a period of seven months. More information on the plan can be found on the organization’s website.
May 7, 2025 APOST-Pitt Focus Group for Out-of-School Time Professionals The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) will host focus groups with regional out-of-school time professionals on the design phase for an upcoming project. Learn More Pitt Education and APOST are working to increase the capacity of out-of-school time staff and organizations in program evaluation. The two organizations will host focus groups with local out-of-school time providers to gather insights, identify challenges, and shape the design for a cohort of organizations to receive training and tools to strengthen their program evaluation. The input from the project will inform the creation of an evaluation toolkit that will be publicly available in summer 2026. Focus groups will be held on the following dates: May 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., CoLab18 at Nova Place (includes dinner at 6 p.m.) Those interested in taking part in the Program Evaluation Cohort Focus Group should fill out an application.
April 29, 2025 OST Professionals Invited to Take Part in APOST-Pitt Focus Group Regional out-of-school time professionals who are currently evaluating programs for the upcoming year are invited to participate in focus groups on the design phase for an upcoming APOST and Pitt Education project. Learn More The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) are working to increase the capacity of out-of-school time staff and organizations in program evaluation. The two organizations will host focus groups in May with local out-of-school time providers to gather insights, identify challenges, and shape the design for a cohort of organizations to receive training and tools to strengthen their program evaluation. The input from the project will inform the creation of an evaluation toolkit that will be publicly available in summer 2026. Focus groups will be held on the following dates: May 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon, virtual May 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., CoLab18 at Nova Place (includes dinner at 6 p.m.) Those interested in taking part in the Program Evaluation Cohort Focus Group should fill out an application.
April 14, 2025 National Afterschool Association to Celebrate Week Honoring Out-of-School-Hours Professionals The National Afterschool Association is celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week in late April to recognize those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. Learn More The week – which runs from April 21 to 25 – will be marked by celebrations, public relations, and advocacy efforts that encourage appreciation and support for afterschool professionals. According to the National Afterschool Association, approximately 7.8 million young people participate in afterschool programs annually in the United States. More than 850,000 afterschool professionals work with children during out-of-school hours but, the association notes, they are often not recognized or appreciated for their work. Research shows that afterschool programs result in increased social-emotional skills, school attendance, and academic performance, the association said. The association developed articles, flyers, and graphics in a press kit as part of its Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week celebration. Its suggestions on how to show appreciation during the week include: Posting on social media about how research shows that afterschool professionals make an impact on the lives of young people Giving a hand-written card to the afterschool professionals who work with your child Sending an email to an afterschool professional’s supervisor to describe why they are appreciated Making healthy or non-food treats for the staff at your child’s afterschool program For more information, visit the National Afterschool Association’s website celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week.
December 3, 2024 Nominate an Organization for the Engage Every Student Recognition Program Those who benefit from out-of-school time programs can nominate an organization for the 2024-25 Engage Every Student Recognition Program. Learn More In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education and partnering organizations designed the Engage Every Student Recognition Program in regard to the Engage Every Student initiative. The initiative’s aim is to ensure that every student who wants a spot in a high-quality out-of-school time program gets one. High-quality is defined as meeting students’ social, emotional, mental, and physical health as well as their academic needs. Out-of-school programs – which take place after the school day or outside of the regular school year – include everything from comprehensive afterschool or summer-learning and enrichment programs to vacation academies, work-based learning programs, youth development programs, and experiential or service-learning programs. Criteria For an organization to be eligible for a nomination, it must be a: Nonprofit organization working in collaboration with local education agencies City municipality or local government entity working in collaboration with local education agencies Local education agency working with a nonprofit organization or city/municipality or local government entity Additional criteria can be found on the Engage Every Student Recognition Program page. Those interested in nominating an organization must do so by Jan. 31. Eligible entities can self-nominate or be nominated.
