Afterschool Accessibility Prioritized by US Dept. of Education
This month the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona launched Engage Every Student, a new initiative supported by five coordinating partners and more than 20 allied organizations to ensure any child who wants to be in afterschool will have the opportunity.
Out-of-school time (OST) programs provide development opportunities that not only improve the quality of life for individual students but also their interpersonal interactions, communities, and more. This is especially important right now in a political atmosphere that discourages social understanding, accountability, and change.
IN CREATIVE ACTION AFTERSCHOOL:
- 82% of middle schoolers said they were more likely to help others in a bullying situation.
- 86% of middle schoolers said they were more confident speaking up about someone acting inappropriately towards them.
- 72% of students demonstrated increased social awareness.
See more of our impact here.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, for every child in afterschool, 3 are waiting for a spot to open up. This initiative hopes to address issues like this and promote equity in OST learning. Learn more about Engage Every Student or catch up on the U.S. Department of Education’s press release. And please consider pledging to work toward afterschool and summer camp for all.
