Engage Every Student: Building Community Connections to Advance OST

In this Learning Tuesdays webinar, we followed our September 6 briefing on the National Partnership for Student Success with a focus on a second new federal initiative designed to assist schools and communities in accelerating equitable recovery called Engage Every Student. This initiative aims to provide high-quality out-of-school time (OST) learning opportunities for every child who wants to participate by building community connections and providing technical assistance needed to expand access to afterschool and summer learning programs.

Representing the goal of fostering partnerships to expand OST access, Engage Every Student is organized and supported by sector-leading organizations at the national level that were represented in this learning and engagement opportunity, including the National Summer Learning Association, the National League of Cities and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Bryan Joffe of AASA expressed how and why superintendents are invested in partnerships and the success of the initiative:

…for schools it’s really a way to help meet [the] goals that we’ve set out. We’re not going to get to grade-level reading and great attendance and high school graduation and young people learning and thriving without them having opportunities not just for 180 days during the school year but also afterschool great enrichment opportunities. So for our organization, it’s a moment that we need to meet the needs of young people, and we can’t do it without these partners.  

CGLR’s John Gomperts moderated an inspiring and informative conversation with leaders from the organizations listed above, along with executives from the U.S. Department of Education who discussed how the research demonstrating the impact of OST participation on students’ learning and development inspired the Department’s commitment to supporting partnerships on the ground. A panel of national, state and local leaders then shared their excitement about how this federal push will actually help make an impact for the children they serve on a day-to-day basis. Councilwoman Alyia Gaskins of the Alexandria Virginia City Council captured her thoughts on what it means for local elected officials and decision-makers:

It’s an exciting time, because I get to find ways to push resources to the great folks in our community, our nonprofits, our schools, our partners, who are really trying to shape and reimagine how do they create programs that build skills, but also that create spaces for young people to reengage with their peers, to be surrounded by caring adults to be connected to job opportunities. So it’s a time for connection, and that’s something that gets me excited.