Virtual Hill Briefing recap: Afterschool and Summer Programs Support Learning and Recovery

On May 26, the Afterschool Alliance hosted our first ever virtual Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and afterschool stakeholders. Afterschool and Summer Programs Support Learning and Recovery focused on the role of afterschool programs in COVID-19 recovery and featured perspectives from education, afterschool programs, research, economic development, and local policymaking. The briefing was one of several events held in partnership with After-School All-Stars, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Every Hour Counts, Girls Inc., MENTOR, National Summer Learning Association, and the Y to educate leaders on the critical role of afterschool and summer learning programs.

Our own Jodi Grant welcomed attendees and set up the conversation as an opportunity to talk about the social-emotional impact on youth of being isolated for two months and about the role afterschool programs play to help. Jodi illustrated how afterschool programs and staff are some of the best-positioned people to help—and the stark reality that the economy can’t reopen and parents can’t return to work without afterschool and summer programs.

Gerard Robinson, former Secretary of Education in Virginia and Florida Education Commissioner (and Afterschool Alliance Board Member), served as the moderator for the briefing. Gerard described the many vectors and perspectives that were brought together: the personal, the professional, the political, and the scientific. He highlighted how afterschool programs provide critical opportunities for people and communities to come together—under both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances—and emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships between afterschool programs and community partners to support children and families. Gerard also cited the long history of research that shows afterschool’s efficacy, particularly when working to promote equity within their communities.

Nicole Hernandez, Youth Development Director at Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota and an Afterschool Ambassador, recounted how the Freedom Schools program in her area are strategizing for summer programming. Working with community partners, the response team identified barriers to high-quality digital learning, including lack of unified access to and proficiency with technology across geography and grade levels; lack of training for parents using distance learning platforms; and kinship families (who provide child care for their grandchildren or other relatives) having an informal status that bars them from certain services that could support youth. As the team works to navigate reopening, Freedom School sites have pivoted to provide in-person learning opportunities that abide by safe distancing requirements as well as resources including meals and activity packets for students. Nicole emphasized that as reopening proceeds, technology, meals, cleaning supplies, and other supports are needed for summer.

 “Every day I have the opportunities to work with afterschool staff and the staff that are planning for summer programming,” Nicole said. “They are committed to dismantling the inequities that are happening in our communities during this time—and in very creative ways.”

Next, Youth Afterschool Ambassador Mila Flowers spoke about the importance of afterschool in her life. She has been enrolled in her program for three years, describing it as a place of belonging which has helped her accomplish things she never thought she was capable of and shown her a pathway to college and career. As part of her summer programming with Facebook’s Engineer for the Week, Mila and her teammates created a chat bot for social good to help people experiencing homelessness access help, food, shelter, and other services. During the pandemic, Mila’s afterschool program is still supporting her via calls and online meetings, and is helping her navigate a stressful final year of high school as she looks ahead to dreams of becoming a broadcast news anchor or reporter – aspirations inspired by her afterschool experience. In her afterschool program she’s met friends for life; staying in touch with them now is an essential part of her high school experience.

Kim Templeman, principal at Central Oak Elementary in Oklahoma City, OK, highlighted the emotional cost of the COVID-19 crisis and shared how afterschool staff are conducting weekly “home visits” over the phone to check in with students and families. Kim and her staff and faculty narrowed the conversation to the essential question—what do our families need?—and sought to support people where they were. The relationships they have with families is critical to every effort. Afterschool staff, often school-day teachers themselves, are part of the school ecosystem helping to navigate the pandemic.

Kim said, “They’re working hard to keep academics at the forefront for students in a way that is also inclusive and relevant to what we’re going through. Having a seamless transition between school-day and afterschool has a huge impact! Even with distance learning, we can still make that happen.”

Dr. Deb Moroney from the American Institute for Research (AIR) shared a research perspective on the role of afterschool programs in supporting the positive development of young people—and how critical that role is today. Her team recently identified the partnerships between schools, families, and communities as the spark to create opportunities for learning and development—ideal conditions for realizing robust equity. “Afterschool programs can double down with partners and communities to provide services, drawing from a long history of doing just this kind of work. Afterschool should be held up as a valuable partner with schools in this moment.”

Finally, Levar Stoney, mayor of Richmond, VA, elevated how important and essential afterschool is for our children. “Richmond’s rebound counts on it. I come here as a champion of afterschool programming!”

Levar described how his city expanded their universal afterschool programming for elementary school to 3 middle schools in the city. During and through the pandemic, afterschool and summer learning continue to be an important part of kids and family’s lives, which is why when facing a budget cut of $40M, his office helped ensure $1.6M was preserved for afterschool. Levar celebrated several youth-serving organizations that are leading the charge in supporting young people during COVID-19, including the YMCA of Greater Richmond and Richmond’s Parks and Recreation, NextUp RVA, and Community in Schools. “We’re wrapping services around our kids so they can learn and grow. We’ll need afterschool programs now more than ever, to ensure family stability and recover. … Hopefully, afterschool programming will be at the center of everything we do!”

A Q&A period followed, with panelists fielding questions about return on investment, research bias, the impact of federal support for afterschool at the local level, and creative thinking about safely reopening and supporting our kids.

The full briefing can be viewed here. Yesterday’s event was a key part in this week’s sprint of advocacy opportunities. Join us tomorrow for national town hall to look ahead at next steps and celebrate the ways afterschool has risen to the moment.