Program Highlights and Outcomes - Expanded Learning
Homework Club
Programs Offered: 113 sessions 2-hour sessions (226 hours)
Participants: 1,862 students (206 unique participants), 209 volunteer coaches
Outcomes:
- Scored 87% on the Youth Program Quality Assessment (Youth PQA): Academic Skill-Building Supplement.
- Scored highly on “Warm Welcome” and “Session Flow.” Areas of growth include training volunteer tutors in specific teaching best practices such as “Scaffolding” and “High-Order Thinking” as well as more standardized student recognition and team-building activities.
- Year in Review video
- Student and Parent testimonial video
SJ Learns
Programs Offered: 19 schools across 5 Local Education Agencies: Alum Rock Union School District, Campbell School District, Franklin-McKinley School District, Luther Burbank School District, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District
Participants: 998 Students (55% English Language Learners, 74% Students served from Low Socio-economic status households, 13% Student with Individualized Education Plans)
Outcomes:
- 69% of in-person learning pod student attendees who completed a baseline and final assessment demonstrated growth on academic assessments.
- 10 Community of Practice (CoP) meetings were held that included districts, community-based partners, and two additional funders provided a vehicle for deepening alignment with the expanded learning quality standards; sourcing ideas to enhance the pipeline of expanded learning instructors and teachers; and sharing promising practices and tips to support academic achievement and socio-emotional wellness in a distance learning environment.
Class Visits
Programs Offered: 171 classrooms
Participants: 4,250 students
Outcomes:
- Virtual class visits provide teachers and their classes direct access to a Librarian and ‘in-person’ library services and:
- Promote Active and Engaged Learning with students in their virtual classrooms and their teachers.
- Promote Diversity, Access, and Equity by providing programming, free resources, and connections to the library.
- Build Collaborative Partnerships with Local Education Agencies.
- Maintains and promotes Quality Staff.
- 98% of teachers surveyed said they would recommend the program to other educators.
R.O.C.K ‘n’ Learn
Programs Offered: 44 classrooms across 21 locations, including community centers, parks and libraries, and 17 school districts
Participants: 717 unduplicated youth
Outcomes:
- Eligible families were provided a full scholarship. A total of $2,524,295.40 was awarded in scholarships.
- Worked with school districts to provide free lunches to youth daily. Distributed 96,793 meals and snacks.
- Active and Engaged Learning: Students participated in activities such as Lights On Afterschool and Read Across America Day.
- Youth Voice and Leadership: Students participated in activities with PRNS Senior Nutrition Program.
- Diversity, Access and Equity, Quality: PRNS provided staff a series of virtual trainings on behavior management and inclusion.
- Safe and Supportive Environments / Clear Vision, Mission and Purpose: Ongoing training and support to staff on health and safety guidelines, concussion protocols, first-aid, etc.
- Assessed RNL programs using the ELQ Site Evaluation Tool.
ASES
Programs Offered: 4 virtual locations across 4 locations in 3 school districts
Participants: 99 unduplicated youth
Outcomes:
- Grant-funded afterschool program operated by PRNS at four school sites in partnership with Berryessa and Alum Rock School Districts and ACE Charter Schools.
- Students are provided a safe and supervised space to participate in distance learning in in low-income COVID impacted neighborhoods while families needed to return to work.
Numbers are from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Data will be updated annually.
More About Expanded Learning
Expanded learning programs for young people serve many critical functions: bolstering skills needed for academic success, supporting workforce development, keeping our youth safe, and increasing civic engagement.
The Education and Digital Literacy strategy identified the need for network wide collaboration related to program quality standards, access to high-qualify available programming, and student supportive resources.
Expanded Learning Quality Standards
The City, primarily through PRNS and Library Departments, provides several programs designed to enhance learning outside of the school day. On an annual basis, PRNS serves more than 4,200 unduplicated students through programs such as Recreation of City Kids (R.O.C.K.) at 26 afterschool sites; After School Education and Safety (ASES) at four sites; 12 teen centers; and a variety of camps throughout the year. Similarly, SJPL offers more than 9,600 free programs and activities designed for afterschool and summer at all 25 library locations throughout San José with a total attendance of 133,630 in program participation each year.
Upon conducting analysis and research of existing standards, the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning (ELQS) emerged as the choice for Citywide adoption and implementation. Created by the California Department of Education and already utilized by a vast majority of afterschool providers, including all ASES funded programs as well as PRNS, the Expanded Learning Quality Standards provided a common language and easily understood baseline for the San José Expanded Learning ecosystem.
Quality Improvement Implementation & Outcomes
Beginning in fiscal year 2019-2020, City departments will begin (or continue) efforts to ensure that all City-provided, -funded, -sponsored, or -partnered programs for Expanded Learning are in compliance with the Expanded Learning Quality Standards. Programs will be identified, assessed, and which programs need additional improvements.
Additional Expanded Learning Programs for the Community
- SJ Learns: Grant Program expanding promising and innovative out of school programs for students in transitional kindergarten through third grade.
- InPlay: Discover out-of-school time activities and scholarships.
Archived Information
On September 21, 2020, SJPL hosted a SJ Access Schools-City Collaborative – Connectivity Forum (Agenda PDF)