New initiative will boost middle school education

Middle school is a critical period in the lives of young students, as they begin to explore challenging academic material and develop their personal interests. To reach their greatest potential during this important educational phase, many middle school students participate in expanded and out-of-school-time learning programs. 71 percent who participate in expanded learning opportunities graduate from high school on time, compared to 59 percent of non-participants, and 61 percent of participants enroll in college, compared to 41 percent of non-participants.

These demonstrated successes have led 20 education-based organizations, in collaboration with the Afterschool Alliance and Citizen Schools, to pledge more than $620 million to enhance learning for more than 1.3 million fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders through the new Expanded Learning Middle School Initiative. The initiative was announced on Tuesday at the White House’s Next Gen High School Summit, a national conversation on transforming high school to better serve 21st century students.

“Afterschool programs are a great investment, providing opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on learning, participate in healthy activities and be introduced to ideas that will help them succeed in school and in the workforce," said Director of the Afterschool Alliance Jodi Grant, who attended the Next Gen High School Summit. "This is particularly true for our middle school students, far too many of whom are unsupervised after school rather than engaged in positive learning activities. Our 2014 America After 3PM household survey found that 4 million middle school students would enroll in an afterschool program if one were available to them—nearly double the number currently served.”

The $620 million investment over the next five years is supported by corporate and philanthropic donations, including funding from foundations, individual supporters, and some existing public grants. But the consortium of organizations notes that public funding is necessary to scale evidence-based practices and programs to ensure all middle school children are fully prepared to participate in a true 21st century high school experience.

In collaboration with the Afterschool Alliance, the consortium includes:

• After-School All Stars
• Aim High
• Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL)
• Citizen Schools
• Classroom, Inc.
• Every Hour Counts
• ExpandED Schools
• Family League of Baltimore
• Harlem RBI
• High Jump
• Higher Achievement
• Horizons National
• Middle Grades Partnership
• STEMconnector® / MillionWomenMentors®
• National Center on Time & Learning
• Partnership for Children & Youth
• Spark
• Sprockets
• YMCA