Special Commission Convened on May 9

Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Marie St. Fleur, Co-Chairs of the Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time, convened the second meeting of the full commission on Wednesday, May 9 from 4 PM - 6 PM at the State House.

Special Commission members had the opportunity to hear from Priscilla Little, the Associate Director of the Harvard Family Research Project and Dr. Beth Miller of Miller Midzik Research Associates. Both Ms. Little and Dr. Miller talked about the latest research which shows how participation in quality after school programs promotes positive outcomes in children and youth both academically as well as in social/emotional domains.

Their excellent presentations were follwed by an in-depth overview of the investments into afterschool made by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Commissioner Ann Reale of EEC and Associate Commissioner Carole Thomson of DOE and her staff Karen Vigue, Donna Traynham, Karyl Resnick and Allison Ward provided a detailed briefing that allowed Special Commission members to better understand how these two state agencies are supporting a range of afterschool programs statewide and coordinating their efforts to serve the most high-need, at-risk children and youth.

The Special Commission has also scheduled the first meetings of their three work groups to be held later this month.

To-date, the Special Commission has held three public hearings. They have been in Springfield, Pittsfield and Worcester. A public hearing will be held in Framingham on May 29 at a location yet to be determined.

It is hoped that the Commission's blog, as well as its website, 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

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