Early this week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that $20M in federal dollars will go toward restoring our state’s childcare foundation in addition to other educational resources for children. Following passage of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) earlier in March, this funding became available with a $3.5B appropriation to the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). Read more about how these funds will be approximately allocated.
Blog Archives
CARES Act Allocates Funds to Childcare and Educational Initiatives
Tagged with: beyond school bells, child well being, communities for kids, dhhs, early childhood, early childhood education, Rooted in Relationships, sixpence
Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events
Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events
Children of the Trees: Communities, Nonprofits, and Public Institutions Unite on Behalf of Nebraska-Tree-A-Thon
On Arbor Day weekend, April 24-26, youth and their communities across Nebraska participated in a statewide Tree-A-Thon to plant and celebrate trees.
BSB kicked off the Tree-A-Thon alongside Arbor Day Foundation, Natural Resource Districts, Audubon Nebraska, Nebraska Forest Service, and The University of Nebraska. As with any major initiative, this project constituted more than just tree-planting; BSB and its partners had a larger mission in mind.
Afterschool Programs are Here to Stay: Beyond School Bells Launches New Toolkit for Any Stage in the Creation Process
Whether you’re contemplating, starting, improving, or sustaining a high quality afterschool or summer learning experience, the process takes work. Beyond School Bells has launched its new Toolkit to help. For those thinking about creating an Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO), the toolkit provides planning guidelines and funding structures. To start a program, this resource contains hiring and leadership strategies. To improve an ELO, explore curricular ideas and career-readiness best practices. Finally, sustain your ELO with resources for partnerships, advocacy, and messaging.
Tagged with: after school programs, afterschool, afterschool program, beyond school bells, middle childhood, STEM, STEM learning, summer learning, summer school
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Beyond School Bells Join Forces to Bring STEM to Underserved Areas
Beyond School Bells was awarded a one-year grant to participate in the Million Girl Moonshot. This initiative intends to increase the number of underserved youth in high-quality afterschool and summer STEM programs. With this STEMNext grant, BSB will join ten other statewide afterschool networks to launch this decade-long national initiative.
Afterschool and Summer Learning Network Beyond School Bells and Partnership Coalition Grow the Good Life: Statewide Youth Tree-A-Thon Planned for Arbor Day Weekend and 2020
On Friday, March 13, Beyond School Bells, Nebraska’s afterschool and summer learning network announced its statewide challenge for youth and their communities across the state to collectively plant over 20,000 trees on Arbor Day weekend, April 24-26.
The coalition recognizes the extenuating circumstances due to the Coronavirus and will stay updated on the most current information regarding the virus and whether a postponement of the Arbor Day events will be necessary to a fall planting.
Tagged with: afterschool, afterschool program, arbor day, beyond school bells, elo, fundraising, STEM, summer learning, summer school
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
Afterschool and Summer Programs: Beyond School Bells Thinks Outside of the Box and Beyond School Hours
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.
Find out what Beyond School Bells has in store this spring and summer, including a Tree-A-Thon and more!
Tagged with: after school programs, afterschool, afterschool program, beyond school bells, education, middle childhood, STEM, STEM learning, summer school
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Afterschool Program Success: What Happens When Beyond Schools Bells’ Teams Up with Five Communities to Create Initiatives from Scratch?
Five communities previously considered “Afterschool Deserts” without existing afterschool programs, were selected to participate in the ELO Design Challenge. These communities include Auburn Public Schools, Beatrice Public Schools, Boone Central Public Schools, Centura Public School, Grand Island Public Schools. Anna Wishart, Beyond School Bells’ Director of Partnerships, also pointed out that each location was unique in terms of location and demographic. Recent results contain MANY stories and stats of success.
Tagged with: afterschool, afterschool program, beyond school bells, STEM, STEM learning, think make create, Think Make Create Labs
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
Afterschool and Summer Programs Matter – and So Do Their Partnerships
When the coalition of 8 ELO communities launched in 2013, Jennifer Jones was there to help them develop and grow partnerships. Since then the communities have grown their partners, presence, and promotional strategies. Jennifer describes her experience working directly with those communities.
Tagged with: after school program, after school programs, afterschool, beyond school bells, middle childhood, STEM, STEM learning
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
After School and Summer Programs: Beyond School Bells’ Mission Rings True
Just like its name, Beyond School Bells goes beyond simply supporting quality afterschool programs. Throughout the past 17 years, this program’s driving force has been to facilitate state and local policies and practices to engage youth in hands-on learning experiences, support their families, and create safer and stronger communities across Nebraska.
Beyond School Bells Holds Annual Conference for 30 Afterschool and Summer Program Professionals
On February 10-11, Beyond School Bells hosted a meeting of 30 afterschool and summer program professionals from across Nebraska to discuss emerging trends and opportunities in our field. This annual meeting once again provided opportunities for Nebraska’s ELO leaders to come together and learn from one another and meet with their elected representatives at an informal breakfast event.
Tagged with: afterschool program, beyond school bells, elo, middle childhood, STEM, STEM learning
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events
Growing the Good Life 