Advisory Committee Minutes January 20, 2026

January 20, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 11:46 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions

Members Present

• Sandy McBrayer
• Chris Meza
• Tiffany Gipson
• Tony Brown
• Julee Brooks
• Brad Lupien
• Cindy Haase
• Olivia Kernen (virtual)
• Diane Ortiz (virtual)

Others Present

• Michael Funk, California Department of Education (CDE) Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) Director
• Frederick Buggs, CDE EXLD Education Program Consultant
• Daniela Solley, CDE EXLD Education Program Consultant
• Jen Taylor, CDE EXLD Education Program Consultant
• Emily Romine, CDE EXLD Staff Services Manager I
• Kindred Bang, CDE EXLD Staff Services Manager I
• Jeff Davis, California Afterschool Network (CAN)
• Rahele Alcantar, Sacramento County Office of Education, Region 3
• Jason Doyle, Director of Expanded Learning, Grass Valley School District

Members Absent

• Tia Dwyer
• Jennifer Cisneros

Commencement

The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:00 a.m. by Chair Sandra McBrayer.

Review of Meeting Materials

• Members reviewed the November 18, 2025 meeting materials.
• All members voted to approve the minutes.

Advisory Committee Chair Report

Legislative Update

• Full implementation of Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO‑P) began in the 2025–26 fiscal year.
• Committee is monitoring proposed legislation, including the ELO-P Tier 2 increase to $1,800.

California AfterSchool Network (CAN) Updates

• CAN is advancing workforce development through apprenticeship standards and planning grants.
• Apprenticeships aim to create career pathways for Front Line Staff and Program Directors.
• Program participation will include community college fee coverage.
• Work begins in July, with multiple regions engaged.
• Similar efforts exist in Los Angeles, where Expanded Learning programs may serve as practicum sites for Wellness Coach certification.

Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) Announcements and Updates

Grant Updates (Emily Romine & Kindred Bang)

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–26 Grant Award Notifications were emailed in December 2025.
• 21st Century Community One‑Time grants funded 909 sites, with a Free and Reduced Meal Program (FRPM) cutoff of 91.11%.
• After School Education and Safety program (ASES) Universal Round 2 (25–26) Request for Application (RFA) released Nov 3–Dec 2025; funding determinations underway.
• ASES Renewal Cycle B due January 9, 2026.
• ASES Universal RFA 25–26 posted January 13, 2026, due February 24, 2026.

Division Update (Michael Funk)

• High funding requests reflect unmet need and large numbers of youth are still not served.
• 29 states now publicly fund afterschool programs.
• National spending has increased above pre‑pandemic levels.
• Of 1,608 LEAs, 1,380 used 100% of their Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO‑P) allocation, while 63 spent none.
• Local education agencies (LEAs) not spending funds often also lack ASES and/or 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and generally do not run their funding streams as a coordinated program.
• Determining ASES Frontier Transportation Grant eligibility is complex due to varying population density calculations. Frontier designation for a school site means less than 11 people per square mile.
• California Department of Education (CDE) recalibrated criteria using a most generous interpretation and is working toward a closed application process for eligible grantees.

Region 3 Update (Jen Taylor, Paul Simpson‑Jones, Rahele Alcantar)

• Region covers Sacramento, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Yolo, Yuba, Sutter, Alpine, Sierra, and Colusa counties.
• Region 3 provides a comprehensive System of Support, including Transitional Kindergarten (TK)–High School training and application assistance.

Special Presentations

Jason Doyle – Grass Valley School District

• Brings 28.5 years of educational experience.
• Supports students, families, and community needs.
• Grass Valley includes nine independent school districts with Gold Rush roots.
• Operates three ASES programs, serving approximately 25% of students.
• Key priorities: communication, staffing, space, and alignment with the regular school day.
• Rural staffing challenges persist; recruitment strengthened through relationships with Instructional Aide classified staff.
• Certificated teachers are fairly compensated.
• The district values creativity and learning from setbacks.

Emerging Issues and Opportunities – Open Discussion

• Unspent Funds: Request for data across all grant programs (Brad Lupien).
• Campus Safety: Concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering non‑public school areas without warrants; afterschool programs not fully integrated into safety plans (Sandra McBrayer).
• Older Youth: Need for increased After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) funding and focus on older youth programming (Brad Lupien & Tiffany Gipson).

Next Meeting Topics

• Unspent funds and percentages.
• Older youth programming and needs.
• Audit trends (Michael Funk).

Public Comment

• Older‑youth ELO‑P audit findings disproportionately high compared to regular school day.
• Request for virtual presentation options.
• Public encouraged to follow CDE/CAN Fireside Chats and CAN Office Hours (not recorded).
• Immigration concerns noted, along with challenges for community‑based organizations accessing funding.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 11:46 a.m. by Chair Sandra McBrayer.

Next Meeting
April 21, 2026 — 10:00 a.m.