The livestream broadcast shined a light on the impact of expanded learning programs with notable expanded learning champion California State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond.
SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Together, California's leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, held its annual Lights On Afterschool virtual event on its YouTube channel on Thursday, Oct. 24. The event, themed Think It. Dream It. Go for Greatness, marks the fourth year Think Together has hosted a virtual statewide celebration.
The broadcast featured highlights from Think Together's expanded learning, afterschool and summer programs, as well as impactful testimonials from students, parents, staff and top policymakers such as:
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U.S. Senator Alex Padilla
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California State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond
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California Department of Education Director of Expanded Learning Michael Funk
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U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
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California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber
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California Department of Justice Attorney General Rob Bonta
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State Senator John Laird
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State Senator Anthony Portantino
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State Senator Dave Cortese
In addition to the virtual broadcast, Think Together hosted over 400 school site celebrations across the state in collaboration with school district partners that have benefited from increased state and federal investments including the formative Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) grants. Celebrations included harvest festivals, art exhibits, and STEM showcases.
"ELO-P offers quality resources for students to engage in enriching activities from academic support to arts to sports programs," said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. "That is why Think Together continues to encourage partners to take advantage of the investment ELO-P provides to ensure students across the state receive quality academic support after the regular school day."
California Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved the 2024-2025 state budget, which not only establishes systems to sustain funding, but it also lays the groundwork for improving data and evaluation of expanded learning programs through the passage of AB-1113.
With AB-1113, the California Department of Education will now track student data for those enrolled in After School Education and Safety (ASES) and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) programs, through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). This new requirement will create benchmark data for improving program effectiveness, expanding access, and promoting equity for students across the state.