U.S. Senators join OST & youth leaders to support new investments in summer learning

As anticipation for a post-COVID world continues to build, it will become all that much more important to remember that the deep, pervasive inequities in our education system exposed by the pandemic will not disappear with the virus.

This was the main focus of last week’s briefing on summer learning and afterschool programs hosted by the National Summer Learning Association. As NSLA CEO Aaron Dworkin stated in his opening remarks, “When we're talking about summer learning and afterschool learning, we're talking about equity for all children."

Joining NSLA, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Michael Bennet (Colo.) and other national out-of-school time leaders, as well as Afterschool Alliance Youth Ambassador Javonna Grimes and Board Member Marcus Goodwin, spoke during the briefing to the importance of investing now in afterschool and summer learning programs to help students thrive through COVID-19 recovery.

A long-time afterschool and summer learning champion, Senator Murphy echoed the important role out-of-school time programs play, emphasizing how afterschool and summer learning programs are uniquely positioned to help meet students’ social and emotional needs – in addition to giving youth opportunities to just have fun. “We need to make sure that kids are learning, and that they have fun! It's okay for us to say that as policymakers!” Senator Murphy stressed, “It's okay for that to be our goal: that kids have a really great experience this summer."

Senator Bennet joined the chorus of leaders emphasizing the critical importance of focusing on and supporting youth’s social and emotional needs. In his remarks, Senator Bennet described calls from parents, teachers, and community leaders that ended in tears because they were seeing their kids struggle through mental health crises. As such, Senator Bennet spoke to the urgency for afterschool and summer learning programs to play a role in helping students rebuild their communities and support networks, saying, “This summer is our next and best opportunity to reconnect to their school communities. This is our last window to reactivate those connections."

The Alliance was also proud to have Board Member Marcus Goodwin and Afterschool Youth Ambassador Javonna Grimes join the panel of speakers, which also included Boys & Girls Club CEO of Ridgefield, Mike Flynn; Executive Director of Horizons at Colorado Academy, Daniella Meltzer; Dr. James Kim of Harvard Graduate School of Education; and Assistant Coordinator of STEAM and Summer Programming, Consolidated School District of New Britain, Jennifer Wright.

Following last week’s briefing, the Senate voted to pass the American Rescue Plan over the weekend on March 6. If signed into law, the Senate bill could make $8.4 billion available at the state level for afterschool and summer programs and $21.9 billion available at the local level, specifically apportioned to be used to promote learning recovery through evidence-based interventions that respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. Read more about what the American Rescue Plan could mean for OST providers and the youth they serve.

Watch the full National Virtual Briefing on Summer Enrichment Funding, hosted by NSLA.