This blog was published in 2021 and updated on July 24th, 2023.

Whether in-person or hybrid, it can be difficult to keep children engaged and ensure they are enjoying their summer camp experience.

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), more than 5,000-day camps and 7,000 overnight camps are running across the country every year. Many church and school-based summer camps operate annually as well.  

To help summer camps boost participation, we’ve compiled a list of 5 effective strategies to keep summer hybrid campers engaged.

21CCLC data management and 21APR accuracy

Grant coordinators collect a daunting amount of data to maintain the federal funds that help operate after-school programs. It is especially true when their program participates in the U.S. Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, which promotes the creation of after-school learning centers and other academic enrichment efforts. 

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) program awards grants to programs to fund after-school enrichment. Every state has different requirements regarding data collection, and this year is even more confusing for K-12 Grant Administrators as new government reporting requirements took effect July 1.

AfterSchool21 (AS21) by TransACT simplifies the reporting and data collection process by allowing program administrators and grant administrators to track, manage, and compile data, easing federal or state reporting burden.

Significant changes for grant-funded programs under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requirements called for more comprehensive reports in many areas. Program administrators have to pull data from new sources to show progress towards their goals. Current AS21 subscribers have access to a reporting system and automated calculations updated for GPRA changes. State Departments of Education and after-school programs across the country are already planning for these changes. AS21 provides a complete picture of a program in an easy-to-access online system: 

Out-of-school-time (OST) programs benefit from community support, and engaging with community partners is a critical part of any program's funding sustainability plan.  

New government reporting mandates go into effect in July 2021, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC)-funded after-school and OST programs will be significantly impacted by the changes.  

AfterSchool21 (AS21) keeps parents and out-of-school-time (OST) program staff safe while preserving the accuracy of attendance records with new user-friendly, mobile drop-off/sign-in and sign-out functionality.     

After-school and out-of-school-time (OST) program directors faced a considerable challenge with changes to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) in July of 2021. GPRA requires that 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) grant-funded programs update their regular reporting to provide more precise and diverse performance measurements and reporting intended to capture a clearer picture of how well they serve students. The GPRA also requires grantees to evaluate their program’s effectiveness and submit progress reports annually. Performance data is shared with Congress, federal managers, and the public.

This blog summarizes the high-level requirements for responding to GPRA, as well as actionable next steps for after-school programs.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act are pandemic relief funding packages that include funding for K-12 education. The CARES Act provided over $13 billion in Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER I) funding, The CRRSA Act provided over $54 billion in ESSER II funding, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act includes over $122 billion in ESSER III funding. The total amount of ESSER funding provided in these three funding packages is approximately $190 billion. This is a staggering amount of non-recurring (one-time) funding.

AfterSchool21 (AS21) is used by more 21CCLC programs than any other after-school program data management software. AS21 supports in-person, hybrid, and virtual programs by streamlining attendance, tracking outcomes, collecting evidence of participation, and simplifying reporting for the 21APR (now with customizable dashboards). Our software is used by fee-based programs to track attendance and manage fees. Programs can track both fee-based and grant-funded programs in a single system with AfterSchool21. All licenses come with training, product updates, and free, live US-based customer service.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) program awards grants to programs to fund after-school enrichment. Research overwhelmingly shows that after-school support, particularly for underprivileged kids and those who would otherwise be alone at home, offers numerous benefits. These programs provide more equitable access to educational resources, support learners who may be struggling, improve engagement with the day school, and may reduce problem behaviors. For some children, after-school programs are a primary or even sole source of support outside of school.

Administrators of OST (out of school time) programs that receive 21CCLC funding must submit data to the federal 21APR to be eligible to reapply for funding at the end of the term. While 21CCLC data provides critical information about program performance, the process of compiling, submitting, and tracking data taxes administrative resources and may take staff away from core duties. The right 21CCLC data management tools can improve outcomes, support student success, and provide resource flexibility.

TransACT Communications (transact.com) has acquired App-Garden (app-garden.com), a leader in K-12 transportation and operations administrative software. The App-Garden team has over 27 years of experience in developing easy-to-use administrative software to support school bus routing, field trip management, event scheduling and facilities management, volunteer operations, virtual substitute teacher training, and more. Working together, TransACT and The App-Garden are proud to offer K12 administrators cost effective software and outstanding customer service to help improve operations and service delivery in school district operations.