American Rescue Plan: A Focus on Afterschool & Summer Learning
With new support from the American Rescue Plan, schools have the opportunity to leverage support from afterschool and summer programs to help students re-engage, re-connect and recover.
Throughout the pandemic, schools teamed up with community partners to support families, from providing distance learning help and enrichment to meals and well-being check-ins. These partnerships draw on decades of research that show afterschool and summer programs boost academic, social, and emotional learning. They need help sustaining and rebuilding relationships, talking about their experiences and emotions, developing as leaders and agents of change, and re-engaging with their interests.
Because they’re rooted in local partnerships, summer and afterschool programs are able to leverage resources and space from libraries, parks, museums, churches, businesses and other community organizations. Join us to hear from national and state leaders on the ways that summer and afterschool programs are proven to accelerate learning gains and to support positive mental health. Learn how federal COVID relief dollars can provide resources to support afterschool and summer programs.
Your Input is Important!
This is a once in a generation opportunity to secure impactful investments in afterschool & OST programs for our state! You – as OST program staff, site leaders, educators, and administrators – are the experts of the field that can provide the best insight and experience to help guide the use of these funds. Make sure to keep an eye out for future opportunities to provide your feedback on state and school district plans!