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.

Friday, March 23, 2007

First Commission Meeting Successfully Held

Greetings.

The first meeting of the Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time was held yesterday at the State House. Convened by Senator Thomas McGee and Representative St. Fleur, the Co-Chairs of the Special Commission, members had their first opportunity to see and comment on the Commission's proposed work plan and time line moving forward.

Key decisions arrived at the meeting include:
  • To rename the proposed 3 working groups to 1) Information & Access; 2) Quality, Workforce and Professional Development; and 3) Sustainability
  • To obtain as much data from Commission members to understand the current funding streams and numbers of children/youth served from other public agencies, municipalities, schools, community-based organizations, parent fees, among others

The first public hearing of the Commission will be held Tuesday, April 10, from 5 PM - 8 PM in Western Massachusetts. Logistical details are still being worked out and will be confirmed shortly.

Additional hearings have been scheduled for May 1 and May 8 from 5 PM - 8 PM likely in the Central and Northeastern regions of the Commonwealth. More information confirming hearing locations will be forthcoming.

It is hoped that the Commission's blog, as well as its forthcoming web site, will serve as additional places for interested parties to provide comments and testimony regarding afterschool and out of school time opportunities.

Please contact me with any questions regarding the above information.

Thanks.

Debra McLaughlin, Consultant to the Commission

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