The Wallace Foundation

State education agencies have taken a role in bolstering local summer learning programs to address pandemic-related learning loss. While each state’s approach is unique, a report from Westat highlights four key ways states can take action and support high-quality summer learning, such as setting a statewide vision and allocating state funding. Read the full report to learn more: https://bit.ly/3EIz98y

Is your state taking advantage of the summer months to promote students' academic and social growth? Learn more about how nine states expanded quality summer learning opportunities for students in Learning Policy Institute’s report. https://bit.ly/4g59MLc

Children’s Funding Project is working to ensure that all youth have access to high-quality out-of-school-time programs. Using strategies such as fiscal mapping and strategic public financing, the organization is helping communities rethink how to finance the services youth need to succeed. Read more about their work from the founder and CEO: https://bit.ly/4hX8X8B

“The point is that this work isn't ever complete. It's getting pieces accomplished and then adding the other pieces on so that we can start to have a full system of support for children and youth from cradle to career.” Learn more about how Children's Funding Project is helping to expand funding and opportunities for high-quality youth programs from our interview with founder and CEO Elizabeth Gaines. https://bit.ly/40Z8w6L

From 2014–2019, Francie Ostrower (University of Texas at Austin) led a study of 25 performing arts organizations participating in Wallace’s Building Audiences for Sustainability initiative. Her research and the subsequent publication are the subject of an American Theatre article, asking the question: is there a secret to arts audience sustainability, and are theatres ready to make the changes necessary to achieve it? https://bit.ly/4gVIesX

The executive director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) shares how some state leaders have prioritized evidence and data to improve learning outcomes and discusses how these efforts can be replicated across the country. Read her article in Forbes: https://bit.ly/41417EF

Across the country, states are navigating their role in bolstering local summer learning programming in unique ways. This report shares the key policy levers states are using to influence summer learning implementation and offers a framework for how states can actively and effectively leverage this new role. Get the framework here: https://bit.ly/3CPFtuv

The Education Recovery Scorecard reveals the average student remains nearly half a grade level behind in math & reading since the pandemic. The report also shows how #summerlearning can help and is worth state and district investment now that federal relief dollars are exhausted. https://nyti.ms/4gxkP04

✓ Funding Allocation ✓ Community Partnerships ✓ Implementation ✓ Evaluation These are the key actions state education agencies have used to support districts in advancing summer learning programming and combatting pandemic-related learning loss. Learn how these steps strengthened summer learning programs in a report from Westat: https://bit.ly/42T4sYq

“What’s most exciting—and impressive—in this effort is the many ways in which the districts have interacted with their communities to gather insight and perspective about the ways in which they perceive that leaders at all levels can center equity as a part of their work.” Hear more about Wallace’s Equity Centered Pipeline Initiative from our vice president of education leadership, Rotunda Floyd-Cooper, Ed. D https://bit.ly/4hkoO1d