Weekly Media Roundup: August 12, 2020

Safe Spaces: Back-To-School Options For Cleveland's Working Parents, Idea Stream (Ohio)

This fall, when Cleveland schools open remotely, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio is planning to serve more than 500 students with enriching all-day, in-person programming. To do so, the Club will create distance learning ‘pods’ where students will stay socially distanced while learning virtually, with support from staff. The Cleveland Clergy Coalition, the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, and other youth-serving organizations also plan programs to support students during this time. “The biggest thing we learned is that you can have all the decision trees and protocols and documentation of protocols in place that you want, but it still comes down to people working with people,” Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio President and CEO Jeff Scott told Idea Stream.

Back-to-School: The Approach Congress Should Support, The Hill

In an opinion piece in the Hill, Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant writes that out-of-school time programs can play a key role in keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn and giving working parents peace of mind as schools opt for virtual instruction or operate on altered schedules due to the pandemic. Grant calls on Congress to provide $6.2 billion in emergency funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative to support programs as they adapt to serve students not just during traditional afterschool hours, but also when schools are closed or using altered schedules. “Many afterschool programs have already stepped up, expanding hours and services during the pandemic…To support parents returning to work and help children continue learning during the COVID-19 emergency, we need to expand the 21st CCLC initiative,” Grant writes.

Camp Fire After-School Program Begins September 8, Times Record News (Kansas)

Students from 21 schools will benefit from robust afterschool programming from Camp Fire in Wichita Falls, Texas this fall. Students will receive hot meals, get help with homework, and explore their interests through fun activities including crafts, fishing, service projects, sports, and more. “This has been a very difficult time for everyone, and we cannot wait until school begins and get our Camp Fire kids to Harrell Park and have all the fun activities for them,” Director Bettye Ricks told the Times Record News.

Summer Learning Program In Baltimore Aims To Make Meaningful Connections Through The Arts, CBS Baltimore (Maryland)

For five weeks this summer, nearly 1,500 students in Baltimore, Maryland worked with local artists and teachers to develop their creativity and literacy and math skills through online arts instruction. The Young Audiences’ Summer Arts and Learning Academy (SALA) aims to keep students engaged and combat learning loss while giving them opportunities to express themselves through art. The free virtual program distributed supplies to students each week so they could work on art projects at home. “I think this is a great way for kids who are not traditional learners, [especially] if they’re artsy and they like artsy activities. They’re learning at the same time,” parent Veronica Washington told CBS Baltimore.