Expanded Learning opportunities help young people find meaning and purpose in their education.
Expanded learning programs are not a simple extension of the school day, but rather they are an expansion of learning opportunities and experiences that complement the school day.
Expanded Learning programs are also referred to as before and afterschool programs, summer learning, and intersession activities.
Initial Implementation Activities
Communications
ASD created Facebook and Twitter accounts to increase accessibility and opportunities to communicate with the field. (Goal 3.1)
The strategic planning process itself directly played a role in increasing communication between ASD and the field and supplying numerous opportunities for the field to provide feedback to the ASD. (Objective 3.3.2)
Integration
ASD has increasingly engaged with and presented to various K-12 entities, both within the California Department of Education as well as within the larger education community, to promote the importance of Expanded Learning and discuss the integral role of Expanded Learning opportunities in a child’s education. (Objective 4.1.2)
Confidence
Parents have expressed gains in confidence in their students and a demonstrated connectedness to the school as a result.
Continuous
Just because the dismissal bell rings after school, it doesn’t mean a student’s needs have ceased.
Engaging
Expanded Learning opportunities focus on developing the academic, social, emotional and physical needs and interests of students through hands-on, engaging learning experiences.
About California’s Expanded Learning Programs
Since 2007, roughly 4,500 schools in California have offered Expanded Learning opportunities.
25% of California students participate in before and after school, summer learning, and intercession programs (CA After 3, 2014).
California’s investment in Expanded Learning Opportunities is nearly $700 million per year when state and federal funding are combined, leading all over states combined.
Governor Brown signed SB1221 (Hancock) into law in 2014, which improves Expanded Learning programs’ impact on students by focusing on summer learning loss and strengthens program quality.
Elementary school students who participated for 3 or more years in LA’s BEST afterschool program were about 20% less likely to drop out of school than similar students who did not attend the program.
By the 8th grade, students who participated in LA’s BEST in elementary school years demonstrated gains in math, science, and history GPAs, as well as standardized test scores.
Participants in 86 Oakland Unified School District afterschool programs increased their school-day attendance by 35,343 days in 2010-11, earning the district close to $1 million in additional revenue.
A southern California high school increased its on-time graduation rate by 28% over 4 years attributed to Expanded Learning opportunities.
