We were proud to see our conference theme, Together We Rise, resonate through every keynote, workshop, and conversation as hundreds of changemakers from across Washington gathered to celebrate and lean into collective resilience, empowerment, and shared success.
Read more about Lights On Afterschool events held in Washington in 2025, including 5 events sponsored by SOWA.
Request for Qualifications: Program Quality Assessment – King County Youth Program External Assessor The mission of School’s Out Washington (SOWA) is to provide services and guidance for organizations to ensure all young people have safe places to learn and grow when not in school. School’s Out is dedicated to building community systems to support quality afterschool and youth development programs for Washington’s 5- to 18-year-olds through training, advocacy, and leadership. School’s Out Washington is currently seeking professionals to serve as contracted Program Quality Assessment (PQA) External Assessors utilizing the Social Emotional Learning PQA. These External Assessors visit youth programs and … [ ]
On the morning of March 14, 2025, the School’s Out Washington (SOWA) training room buzzed with a deep sense of community and the hum of simultaneous conversations as representatives from nearly all 55 of SOWA’s Best Starts for Kids grantee agencies came together for their second annual Best Starts for Kids Learning Community Meeting (LCM). LCMs are an opportunity for members of a Quality Cohort—a group of youth program providers who come together to engage in a continuous improvement process—to strengthen their programs and youth program quality work through peer learning. After setting the tone for the event with an … [ ]
Request for Qualifications: School-Age Basics Curriculum Review Overview For over 30 years, SOWA has been supporting an equitable ecosystem of expanded learning programs for Washington’s youth by helping after-school, summer, and child care programs become more robust and accessible. Anchored in collaboration, we secure funding, advocate for the youth development sector, and provide tools and trainings to professionals who work with young people, ages 5 to 24. Our efforts benefit communities throughout the state by prioritizing youth most impacted by systemic inequity. Position Summary School’s Out Washington (SOWA) is seeking 6 to 9 reviewers to form a School-Age Basics Curriculum … [ ]
Director of Finance and Administration Overview For over 30 years, SOWA has been supporting an equitable ecosystem of expanded learning programs for Washington’s youth by helping after-school, summer, and child care programs become more robust and accessible. Anchored in collaboration, we secure funding, advocate for the youth development sector, and provide tools and trainings to professionals who work with young people, ages 5 to 24. Our efforts benefit communities throughout the state by prioritizing youth most impacted by systemic inequity. Position Summary SOWA’s Director of Finance and Administration has primary responsibility for the organization’s financial operations, as well as human … [ ]