PASE Network News

Are you looking for language to explain the value and overarching goals of expanded learning to partners and stakeholders? Check out Afterschool Alliance’s updated brief, Key Principles of Expanded Learning Programs: How to Accelerate Learning and Help Young People Succeed. Despite the array of programs available serving students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade and beyond, open before school, after school, on weekends, and during the summer, there is a core set of principles that are essential to ensure quality and consistency across all learning opportunities.  This brief walks through 10 principles that can help think through the best ways in which to support young people during the hours outside of the school-day, as well as guide expanded learning policy and implementation at the local, state, and federal levels.   

In May 2025, SeaChange published a field note outlining how nonprofits can prepare for mission-driven retrenchment amid political and financial instability. The guide offers strategies to assess risk, plan for worst-case scenarios, and build organizational flexibility. It also highlights the role funders can play in supporting smart, ethical restructuring. Check out the full field note online. 

Findings are now available from the Power of Us survey, a first-of-its-kind national study that provided insights into the youth fields workforce. Over 10,000 youth professionals participated in this survey, which was created by The American Institutes of Research (AIR) and supported by The Wallace Foundation to set a baseline understanding of the youth workforce that could inform policy, practice, and future research. Findings span four areas: career pathways, professional learning, professional wellbeing, and compensation. Access the full report and supplemental materials on The Wallace Foundation website. 

The Wallace Foundation, University of Pittsburgh, and the Forum for Youth Investment recently released "Well-being and Well-becoming Through the Arts: A Picture of Mattering for Youth of Color," a new report identifying seven key elements of "culture-centered, community-based" youth arts programs that can provide a sense of belonging, identity affirmation, and skill development. The report defines culture-centered, community-based youth arts (CCYA) programs as those that integrate high-quality arts learning experiences with community-based youth development practices and culturally sustaining approaches. Through interviews, the researchers identified key elements of these programs and highlighted recommendations, including increased funding to teaching artists. The report comes with a companion practitioners’ guide, and you can join a March 31, 2025 webinar from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM to learn more about takeaways and actionable insights from the report.