Category: News

Mastery Based Learning Collaborative Opportunity for Washington Schools

The Mastery Based Learning Collaborative is a community of schools across Washington State that choose to focus on mastery-based learning (also called competency-based) and culturally responsive-sustaining practices, with educational equity as their guiding value. In its first year, SOWA provided advice, training, site visits, and resources to support schools in the Collaborative to foster relationships and partnerships with community-based organizations, youth and families as they work to implement mastery-based learning (MBL) in a culturally responsive-sustaining manner. The State Board of Education is now preparing to launch the second cohort of the Mastery-based Learning Collaborative (MBLC)! Participating schools receive funding and … [ ]

Apply to be a workshop presenter at Bridge Conference 2023

Our 2023 Bridge Conference workshop request for proposals process is now open! We are seeking proposals that offer a high-quality and compelling workshops, conference alignment and relevance, and racial equity alignment.  Our goal is to bring together presenters and participants of different identities, perspectives, and backgrounds from the expanded learning opportunities field. We welcome and encourage people who speak multiple languages to participate.  This is an opportunity to reflect on your strengths and expertise and present ideas to the youth development field. We are seeking presenters to lead engaging presentations and/or interactive workshops. We welcome and encourage people who speak multiple languages to participate.  … [ ]

Why BSK and the Quality Improvement Pathways Model just makes sense

By School's Out Washington

School’s Out Washington (SOWA) works hard as an intermediary organization to support youth development both at the institutional and local level. A large part of our work is focused in supporting youth-serving organizations across Washington state in moving through cycles of continuous program quality improvement, using the Forum for Youth Investment’s Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) model. In this research-backed model, programs move through a high-touch experience of assessing their programs, setting goals, and then making intentional improvements before starting the cycle again with another assessment, which we refer to as the Assess-Plan-Improve (API) cycle.    Knowing that the needs … [ ]

Check out what’s new on Elevate Washington

By Gloria Jordan

Last year, SOWA worked to enhance the Elevate Washington data platform. If you’re not already familiar, Elevate is SOWA’s youth program data system and public directory. Providers can create and manage information profiles that are searchable via the program directory. The directory is a free, statewide resource that features camps, classes, and support programs for children and young people (ages 5 to 24). Providers who join also gain early access to information about funding opportunities and other resources for expanded learning professionals from SOWA and its partners—including funding. So what’s new? A more user friendly search tool and program detail … [ ]

Best Starts for Kids sees early impact in King County

By School's Out Washington

The Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Expanded Learning initiative is underway! School’s Out Washington has received our first round of data from grantees. We’re excited to share the impact of this investment so far, alongside what we’re hearing from their perspectives in the field.   After contracts were signed in July and August 2022, the 56 Expanded Learning grantees focused on launching programming, navigating new partnerships, new sites, and/or new curriculum in addition to diving into the Youth Program Quality Initiative.   Despite the busy start to the school year, the BSK Expanded Learning cohort reached 3,848 youth from July-December 2022, with … [ ]

2023 legislative session update: A setback and forward momentum

By Gloria Jordan

2023 legislative session update: A setback and forward momentum Our two bills (Senate Bill 5601 and House Bill 1386) passed out of their policy committees but did not receive a vote in their respective budget committees. In addition to $50M in grants for program providers, our ask included small but critical, state infrastructure investment to help the field deepen and sustain equitable outcomes for our youth. While we experienced overwhelming engagement from both lawmakers and community advocates, we now understand that budget constraints stemming from a decrease in state revenue collections resulted in the end of our bills this session. … [ ]