The Children Learning Experiences Issue Team (Issue Team 9) has done tremendous work and has had impressive impact on building the capacity of those working with young children and school-age youth statewide. We are now in a place where much of that work has been built into the foundations of the system; some as part of Interest Groups and some as a better fit with other Issue Teams. To that end, the decision has been made to discontinue the Children Learning Experiences Issue team in its current form.
To be noted:
- The work of increasing the skills and capacity of adults working with young children and school-age youth is certainly valuable to the state and to Extension. In fact, it is so valuable that much of it has been built into the structure of the on-going Interest Groups.
- Some of you may be nervous about where you will not report your work. Note: Extension staff do not have to be a part of Issue Teams; their work may better fit with Interest Groups or other structures. The important piece is that innovative, impactful work is being done.
- This change also gives each of us the opportunity to see where our work better fits. It may be that there is another Issue Team where our work can be of value. For example, there is some early childhood work that is a good fit with CVI. There is a fit of the school-age out-of-school facilitator prep with the STEM Careers Issue Team. You can all give other examples. Think about this as how we support bigger issues facing Nebraskans across content areas.
- We will continue to report impacts in this area. They may reported as part of other Issue Teams or Interest Groups.
Many thanks to all for being involved in these teams and their leadership. It continues to be valuable work for the system and the state! Questions? Contact Kathleen Lodl at klodl1@unl.edu.