Expanded Learning Opportunities
Increasing educational opportunities for children and youth requires us to rethink the traditional school day. Community schools utilize innovative approaches that expand learning opportunities before, during, and after school, during the summer and/or by extending the school day and year.
ELO strategies are a core component of community schools and seek to use the school as a vehicle for increasing learning opportunities for students. In essence, community schools are the embodiment of what expanding learning time and opportunities should look like. A school that is open 24/7 – 365 days of the year, serving students and their family’s needs, and that operates with the support of community partners that can tailor their activities to the school’s academic and non-academic goals.
Webinar on Report
The webinar highlighted the Coalition for Community Schools' recent report, The Growing Convergence of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities. The webinar highlighted key findings, best practices and examples from Baltimore, MD and New Haven, CT.
Presenters:
- Reuben Jacobson, Senior Associate for Research & Strategy, Coalition for Community Schools
- Julia Baez, Senior Director of Education Initiatives, Family League of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)
- Laoise King, Vice President of Education Initiatives, United Way of Greater New Haven (New Haven, CT)
ELO Blog Series - Innovations in Expanded Learning Opportunities: The Community Schools Approach
These blogs are also features in the new report, The Growing Convergence of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities. To view all the blogs, click here: http://coalitionforcommunityschools.blogspot.com/
- Overview: Community Schools are Scaling and Sustaining Innovative ELO practices
- Blog 1: School Break - Cincinnati, OH
- Blog 2: After School - New Haven, CT
- Blog 3: Expanded School Week - Hartford, CT
- Blog 4: Summer - Ogden, UT
- Blog 5: Before School - Lehigh Valley, PA
- Blog 6: Intercessions - Tulsa, OK
- Blog 7: Expanded Learning Opportunities - Philadelphia, PA
- Blog 8: Expanded School Year - Des Moines, IA
- Blog 9: Expanded School Day - Boston, MA
- Blog 10: Summer Matters in Oakland, CA
Other Coalition Resources
Important Reports and Initiatives
The 6,000 Hour Learning Gap - The After-School Corporation
By the time they reach 6th grade, middle class kids have likely spent 6,000 more hours learning than kids born into poverty. Sounds like a big gap?
Relevant Coalition Partners
Are you part of a community school initiative with noteworthy expanded learning activities?
Share your story with the Coalition. Email us.
The Coalition for Community Schools work on Expanded Learning Opportunities is supported
by a generous grant from The Wallace Foundation
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