By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador High quality afterschool programs increased positive youth development outcomes of the youth we served. High quality programs delivered safe and structured organizational programs with positive social interactions between youth and staff, provided relevant staff training with ongoing professional development, have a clear and defined purpose or mission, offer […]

By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador There is an adage, “All politics are local.” I remembered this saying as I recently voted on Super Tuesday. This commentary is not about political parties or voting, but about building relationships and sharing our afterschool perspectives on a local landscape. As I voted on Tuesday, I sincerely […]

By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador It has been nearly 14 years since Congress last updated federal education policy. Late 2015, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and, with it, some important new policies affecting afterschool programs in Tennessee and across the nation.  Afterschool programs are […]

Save the date! Hill Day is coming up on February 9. We hope that you will attend, bring staff, bring volunteers, bring partner agencies/colleagues interested in our issues, and promote the day in your community. We are doing the event in conjunction with the United Ways of Tennessee and the League of Women Voters, who […]