John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Educational Talent Search program is hosting two free summer programs for low income, first generation students with an GPA of 80 and above. The Summer Enrichment Program for 8th and 9th graders includes classes in math, English, computer application, dance, swimming, etc. The Space Jams program for 9th and 10th graders includes PSAT prep and multimedia classes. Both programs begin on July 6th and run through the month. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements. Deadline to apply is June 23, 2015. For information and for an application packet, please contact the Educational Talent Search Program at 212-237-8268 or etsp@jjay.cuny.edu.

CodeNow has partnered with Bloomberg to host free computer programming workshop for New York City’s high school youth. The three-day workshop is designed for students with little or no programming experience and will provide them with the opportunity to build fun interactive games using Ruby and learn from top software engineers. The workshop takes place in New York City on July 11, 12 & 25 at a local tech company. Deadline for applications is June 26, 2015.

The Robert Bowne Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance are partnering for the tenth year to sponsor 2014-15 Afterschool Ambassadors chosen from out-of-school time program staff in the NYC area. Afterschool Ambassadors work in their local communities and states to build awareness of the need for afterschool, and to act as a voice for individual programs and for the afterschool movement. Ambassadors’ principal objectives are to reach out to decision makers at all levels to underscore the need to fund afterschool programs, increase media and public awareness of the benefits of afterschool, and encourage allies from the education, business, government, religious, and other communities to speak out in support of afterschool. Ambassadors receive ongoing, intensive technical assistance throughout their term, as well as a $1,500 stipend. For more information or to request an application, email Matthew Freeman at matt@prsolutionsdc.com.

The New York Community Trust's Hive Digital Media Learning Fund has released a request for proposals for three types of grants: Innovator, Catalyst, and Planning for Spread & Scale for a portfolio of innovative digital media learning programs for teens. Applications are due by noon on August 17, 2015. Pre-approved Hive NYC members are eligible to apply for all three categories. Recognizing that the capacity and expertise needed to bring projects to scale may exist outside of the Network, the Fund also accepts Catalyst grant applications from tax-exempt, New York City-based nonprofits seeking to adopt, adapt, or remix previously-funded projects created by Hive NYC members, and distribute them to wider audiences. Previous or current affiliation with Hive NYC is not required. The Fund will hold an Information Session for prospective applicants on June 19, 2015 from 9:00 am - 11:00 pm. Contact hive@nyct-cfi.org, if you plan to attend.

Accelerating Achievement Through Summer Learning is the latest publication by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA). This report is a resource for program providers, education leaders, policymakers, and funders who are making important decisions about whether and how to strengthen and expand summer learning programs as a way to accelerate student achievement. Profiling thirteen diverse and promising models, the report demonstrates how high-quality summer learning programs address a variety of K-12 education priorities to deliver strong outcomes for children, youth, and educators. Accelerating Achievement draws on a growing body of research led by The Wallace Foundation and the RAND Corporation.

The 2015 CASEL Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs—Middle and High School Edition provides a systematic framework for evaluating the quality of social and emotional programs and applies this framework to identify and rate well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs with potential for broad dissemination to schools across the United States. The Guide also shares best-practice guidelines for district and school teams on how to select and implement SEL programs. Finally, it offers recommendations for future priorities to advance SEL research and practice.

The 2015 edition of Education Week’s Diplomas Count report, Next Steps: Life After Special Education, explores the experiences of students with disabilities, who are coming of age at a time when they, like all high school students, are increasingly expected to perform to high academic standards and to prepare for further education or training and a productive role in the workplace. This tenth installment of the annual report highlights the challenges and opportunities awaiting these students as they transition from the K-12 education system to a more independent adult life. The full report and interactive tools include customized reports for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia featuring the latest high school graduation rates for students as a whole and specific subgroups.