Message From Co-Chairs

Children and youth across the Commonwealth need our help and support to become caring and productive members of our society. As Co-Chairs of this Special Commission, we welcome your input as we work together with our 36 members to craft recommendations on how best to support the healthy development of children and youth when they are in and out of school. In addition to the Commission meetings about this critical issue, we intend to hold at least nine public hearings across the Commonwealth. We are aware that not everyone will be able to attend and and invite you to use this blog to communicate with us about your issues and concerns. We look forward to your comments.

Posting Rules and Etiquette

We welcome and value your feedback and ask that you do the following in order to post your comments to this blog. 1. To provide your first and last name and the town or city in which you live to help us track the feedback statewide. 2. To label your comments so we can direct your feedback to the right Commission Work Group. The Commission's three Work Groups are: 1) Information and Access; 2) Quality, Workforce and Professional Development and 3) Sustainability. If your comments cut across all three Work Groups, please label that as "Crosscutting Issue". 3. To add constructive and professional comments - rude or profane comments will be deleted. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Commission Issues Press Release About Pittsfield Public Hearing

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time Announces Public Hearing

Special Commission to Convene Second Public Hearing in Pittsfield, May 1, 5 PM - 8 PM

Boston, Massachusetts - April 30, 2007
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time announces its second public hearing to be held at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street in Pittsfield on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM in their Main Room. Prior to the public hearing, Commission members will be touring the Conte Community School's afterschool program that focuses on academic and social enrichment activities for children in grades 1 through 5. The Conte Community School is located at 200 West Union Street in Pittsfield.


This Special Commission was created by the Massachusetts Legislature to "study and recommend how to' define and 'better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out of school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts."

Led by Senator Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), the Chair of the Senate's Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), the Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the 36 member Commission has committed to holding at least nine public hearings throughout the state to gather input about the Commonwealth's afterschool system. Youth, parents, community and faith-based providers, law enforcement officials, educators, funders, business and other community leaders are expected to attend and provide testimony.

"We have an historic opportunity to gain a better understanding of the importance of afterschool programs in the lives of children, youth and families," said Senator Thomas McGee. "Since a quality workforce is a linchpin of the afterschool system, we need to identify solutions to strengthen it. We look forward to gathering information from the public hearings and site visits that will help us figure out this and other ways to better serve children and youth when they are not in school."

"Currently, Massachusetts provides afterschool programs to approximately 20% of the Commonwealth's school age population," noted Representative Marie St. Fleur. "It is well documented that the time period between 2PM and 6PM is the most hazardous, if unsupervised, for children of that age. It is clear that we need to closely examine how public/private partnerships can leverage existing resources to serve more children and youth to coordinate and strengthen a system of afterschool and expanded learning that promotes their healthy development. The public hearings and site visit will help us to hear from all stakeholders on this important matter."

1.1 Million School Aged Children and Youth in Massachusetts
There are 1.1 million school aged children and youth ages 5-18 that live in Massachusetts. Of that group, 720,000 are children ages 5-13 and 380,000 are youth ages 14-19. Current state funding serves 205,500 children and youth leaving nearly 80% without access to quality and enriching afterschool and summer opportunities.

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time intends to study this issue more in-depth. In addition to holding the nine public hearings, it will also convene three working groups that will 1) analyze information and access issues; 2) identify quality, workforce and professional development concerns, and 3) determine how the afterschool system in the Commonwealth can be sustained. The Special Commission expects to issue a report in the fall of 2007 that will have recommendations in these areas which will strengthen the Commonwealth's afterschool system.

About The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time has been created 'to study and recommend how to' define and 'better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out-of-school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts."

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time

For More Information Contact:
Debra McLaughlin, Consultant to the Commission
dmclaughlin@kunnusta.com
617.792.3173

Visit Our Blog and
Website

Thursday, April 26, 2007

May 8 Public Hearing Announced

We are pleased to announce that the third public hearing for the Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM in Central Massachusetts at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at their Worcester campus.*

The Worcester Campus of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is located at 19 Foster Street in downtown Worcester. The hearing will be held in the DeBenedictis Building Auditorium 1 located on the left hand side once you enter the building right across from the security desk. Plenty of parking exists in the City Square Garage also known as the Worcester Common outlets. Look for a flyer to be forthcoming that you can distribute to your networks publicizing our third hearing.

We hope to announce other hearing dates and locations in May shortly.

If you are planning to attend the May 8 hearing or have any questions regarding the above, please contact, Debra McLaughlin, Consultant to the Commission at dmclaughlin@kunnusta.com or at 617.792.3173.

Thanks again and we look forward to working with you to ensure the success of our third public hearing.

Sincerely,

Senator Thomas McGee
Representative Marie St. Fleur
Co-Chairs

This link provides information on how to get to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Worcester Campus.

Monday, April 23, 2007

May 1 Public Hearing Location Announced

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time will be holding their second public hearing on May 1 from 5 PM - 8 PM at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, (formerly the site of the Capitol Theater), 330 North Street in Pittsfield, MA.

If you are unable to attend this hearing, we look forward to receiving your comments either in writing or you can post them on-line at the Commission's website .

Thank you.

Debra McLaughlin
Consultant to the Commission

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Next Commission Hearings Scheduled for May 1 and May 8

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time has scheduled two more public hearings. They will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM in Pittsfield and on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM in Central Massachusetts. Hearing locations have yet to be determined.

First Public Hearing in Springfield a Success

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time held its first public hearing at Springfield Technical Community College on Tuesday, April 10.

Led by Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Marie St. Fleur, 12 other Commission members heard testimony from nearly 30 people over a four hour period. There was riveting testimony especially from older youth who talked about the role afterschool programs play in keeping them safe from drugs and gun violence. In all approximately 50 people attended the hearing.

The public hearing was covered by the Springfield Republican and a brief clip about the hearing appeared on Channel 40. Additionally the hearing was taped and we will submit it to air on Springfield's Public Access TV Channel.

In addition to the Co-Chairs, the following Commission members and their representatives attended the hearing:

Erin Craft - Department of Early Education and Care
Donna Traynham - Department of Education
Ben Lummis - Massachusetts 2020
Cathy O'Connor - Department of Public Health
Gerry Ruane - Massachusetts Teachers Association
Debbie Kneeland - MADCA
Mike Cahill - YMCA's of Massachusetts
Berna Mann - PACE
Gwynn Hughes - Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership
Rick Metters - Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs
Susan O'Connor - WestMOST Network
Sharon Scott-Chandler - ABCD Boston

The next public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Pittsfield from 5 PM - 8 PM and for Tuesday, May 8, 2007 in Central Massachusetts at locations to be announced.

Special Commission's Web Site Launched

The Special Commission has launched its website. The Special Commission's vision and purpose, its public hearing schedule and other information are posted for the purposes of sharing information about the Special Commission's efforts. There is also a section where the public can e-mail us their comments regarding the Commission's work as separate mail boxes have been set up to accept testimony in the areas of 1) Information and Access; 2) Quality, Workforce and Professional Development; 3) Sustainability; 4) Crosscutting Issues and 5) Other Issues. We hope that the website, in addition to this blog, will provide another forum for public comment.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Commission Issues Press Release About April 10 Hearing

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time
Announces First Public Hearing

Special Commission to Convene First Public Hearing in Springfield, April 10, 5 PM - 8 PM

Boston, Massachusetts - April 6, 2007 - The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time announces their first public hearing to be held at Springfield Technical Community College on Tuesday, April 10 from 5 PM - 8 PM in their auditorium.

This Special Commission was created by the Massachusetts Legislature to study and recommend how to define and "better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out of school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts."

Led by Senator Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), the Chair of the Senate's Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), the Vice-Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, the 36 member Commission has committed to holding at least nine public hearings throughout the state to gather input about the Commonwealth's afterschool system. Youth, parents, community and faith-based providers, law enforcement officials, educators, funders, business and other community leaders are expected to attend and provide testimony.

"We have an historic opportunity to gain a better understanding of the importance of afterschool programs in the lives of children, youth and families," said Senator Thomas McGee. "Since a quality workforce is a linchpin of the afterschool system, we need to identify solutions to strengthen it. We look forward to gathering information from the public hearings that will help us figure out this and other ways to better serve children and youth when they are not in school."

"Currently, Massachusetts provides afterschool programs to approximately 20% of the Commonwealth's school age population," noted Representative Marie St. Fleur. "It is well documented that the time period between 2PM and 6PM is the most hazardous, if unsupervised, for children of that age. It is clear that we need to closely examine how public/private partnerships can leverage existing resources to serve more children and youth to coordinate and strengthen a system of afterschool and expanded learning that promotes their healthy development. The public hearings will help to hear from all stakeholders on this important matter."

1.1 Million School Aged Children and Youth in Massachusetts
There are 1.1 million school aged children and youth ages 5-18 that live in Massachusetts. Of those, 720,000 are children ages 5-13 and 380,000 are youth ages 14-19. Current state funding serves 205,500 children and youth leaving nearly 80% without access to quality and enriching afterschool and summer opportunities.

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time intends to study this issue more in-depth. In addition to holding the nine public hearings, it will also convene three working groups that will 1) analyze information and access issues; 2) identify quality, workforce and professional development concerns, and 3) determine how the afterschool system in the Commonwealth can be sustained. The Special Commission expects to issue a report in the fall of 2007 that will have recommendations in these areas to strengthen the Commonwealth's afterschool system.

About The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time has been created to study and recommend how to define and better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out-of-school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time
For More Information Contact:
Debra McLaughlin, Consultant to the Commission
dmclaughlin@kunnusta.com
617.792.3173

Visit Our Blog: