Join us Wednesday morning at the Town Hall on the State of Expanded Learning in California – co-hosted by CAN and CDE to discuss how we meet the moment to support our children, youth, families, and communities.

Wednesday, April 27

10:30 AM- 12:15 PM

Expanding Student Success: The State of Expanded Learning in California

Michael Funk, Expanded Learning Division Director, California Department of Education, Heather Williams, Director, Policy & Outreach, California AfterSchool Network; Sacramento, CA

We live in a very different world than the last time we were in person at BOOST. With significant investment into afterschool and summer learning at both the federal and state levels – we will discuss how we meet the moment to support our children, youth, families, and communities. We will share up-to-the-minute updates on state and federal policy and its implications for California’s Expanded Learning systems. This session will host leaders from the field to share their expertise and vision for this opportunity. Join us for an interactive discussion with time for Q&A. Learn and discuss the Expanded Learning plan for the upcoming year. It is filled with promise and possibility!

Audience: ULA, MLA, CB, DS, PK, E, M, H

Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall

Additional Town Halls to Check Out

Thursday, April 28

10:00 AM- 12:00 PM

A Safer Future for Our Youth?

Tremayne Edwards, Education and Engagement Director, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Seattle, WA; Theresa Hardy, Executive Director, BRAVE, Seattle, WA; Guneeta Chadha, Youth Development Executive, King County (Policy & Advocacy), Seattle, WA

The senseless loss of children to firearms is a uniquely American phenomenon. Join us for a Town Hall meeting with some of the country’s dedicated Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) advocates to discuss the state of affairs around the safety of our children in and outside of school. This forum will highlight community solutions, policies/measures that should be strengthened and discuss ongoing work to envision a world where our children are free to learn and play free from violence and fear.

Audience: ULA, MLA, CB, PK, E, M, H, HE

Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality 

1:15 PM- 2:30 PM

Sustaining & Growing Afterschool Program Funding

Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance, Washington, D.C.

Now is the time to start mapping out a path towards a more sustainable investment in afterschool and summer programs. With the threat of a fiscal cliff as a result of American Rescue Plan dollars expiring in 2023, programs can engage partners to think together about what data and testimonials will be needed to make the case for future support; and what funding sources can potentially be created or tapped to ensure sustained opportunities for youth.

Audience: ULA, MLA, CB, PK, E, M, H, HE

Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall

3:45 PM- 5:15 PM

Addressing the Political Polarization of SEL

Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance, Washington, D.C.; Meg Pitman, National Director, Partnership & Collaborations, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Vashon, WA 

Across the country, we are seeing that social-emotional learning, or SEL, has quickly become the next target within America’s education culture wars. The attack on SEL may be confusing – until recently SEL has been somewhat of a unifying idea within education, and championed by both political parties. This comes at a time when skills such as self-awareness and self-management, social awareness, interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, growth mindset, and resiliency, are needed more than ever for our students and staff as we continue to face unprecedented national and global challenges. This Town Hall will dig into the current national landscape and context of the political polarization of SEL and will explore potential strategies for navigating this new, but quickly growing, attack on SEL. This will be an interactive session – come prepared to share your own challenges and success stories.

Audience: PK, E, M, H, ULA, MLA, CB, DS 

Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall

Please see the BOOST Conference Website for additional information.