Lights On Afterschool Day – October 26, 2023
Lights On Afterschool is a day of celebration for out-of-school time (OST) programs across the nation. Spearheaded by Afterschool Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to after-school programs, Lights On Afterschool is celebrated in over 8,000 communities by over one million people. The annual day of celebration is on October 26, 2023.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) implements the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III out-of-school time grants. Together, 21st CCLC and ESSER III OST grants fund 213 programs totaling 37 million dollars. With these funds, tens of thousands of students access a wide array of services, including academic supports, enrichment activities, expanded library service hours, career and technical education, and social-emotional learning. Lake Holcombe School is fortunate to be one of the 21st CCLC recipients.
OST programs in Wisconsin provide meaningful access to students to improve their academic achievement, build on their interests and strengths to explore new learning concepts, build strong and healthy relationships with school staff and students, and engage in leadership activities in the programs and the schools. Additionally, OST programs provide safe places for children to be while their parents work to support their households, providing an integral service to working families.