Beyond School Bells, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Middle Childhood team has had a busy, productive, and transformative year. This initiative has long promoted our mission to create a Nebraska where all children, youth, and families thrive – through quality afterschool and summer programs.
Beyond School Bells (BSB) work shows how quality afterschool and summer programs are alive, well, and thriving in our state, which is how we envision every child’s life.
Earlier this year, BSB hosted its annual community-partners gathering, which included a Breakfast Briefing hosted by Senator Lynn Walz and attended by senators and legislative staff.
Late last year, BSB co-hosted alongside NE Dept of Education and Nebraska Extension, the 2019 GetConnected Conference, Nebraska’s largest gathering of afterschool and summer learning professionals.
BSB continues to undergo major growth, including supporting successful afterschool programs in more and more communities across the state. To keep you up-to-speed on this rapidly growing afterschool initiative, we’ve highlighted some important upcoming events.
Afterschool and Summer Learning: What’s Happening Next for Nebraska?
Beyond School Bells is proud to announce the launch of the Nebraska Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) Innovation Network, a nationally unique partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) to enhance learning across our state. This initiative’s goal is to connect, support, and enhance Nebraska’s growing ELO community.
The ELO Innovation Network will provide support to new and existing afterschool and summer programs and promote innovative new ELO programming options. This new Network is funded through proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery by way of a one-year grant to BSB from NDE and leveraged from local and national funders.
The Nebraska ELO Innovation Network will consist of two new grant opportunities:
(1) ELO Incubator Grants – these one-year grants are intended to help jump-start new or recently launched afterschool and summer programs in underserved communities that, when supplemented by local resources, can become locally sustainable.
(2) Centers of ELO Excellence Grants – these one-year grants support the existing school and community-based ELO programs. This initiative showcases and shares best practices in programming, staffing, and partnership development. Centers of Excellence grants are intended to build capacity and grow statewide ELO programs’ abilities to offer regular PD and coaching opportunities that present ELO Innovations to statewide audiences.
We are very excited about this new opportunity that supports ELO programs in Nebraska. Click here to visit our website for a full overview, requirements, and applications for the Nebraska ELO Innovation Network grant program.
Afterschool Programs Grow the Good Life with Tree-A-Thon
Through working alongside students from UNL’s School of Natural Resources, BSB developed an easy-to-implement, action-oriented afterschool curriculum. This program may either facilitate eight-week clubs or one-day deep dives to prepare youth for this tree-planting opportunity. The event presents a chance for youth to positively impact their communities, raise awareness about the importance of afterschool, and initiate programs that resonate with young people across Nebraska.
In addition to engaging local experts to support the planting events, participating communities will receive a grant to pay for staff time, tree purchases, curriculum, and other supplies to support this endeavor.
Please email Anna Wishart at awishart@nebraskachildren.org to register your program to participate.
Learn more about Beyond School Bells
Nebraska Children's mission is to maximize the potential of Nebraska’s children, youth, and families through collaboration and community-centered impact.
Growing the Good Life 
Leave a Reply