Best Starts for Kids’ deep dive into training series
READ MOREWe are proud to present our 2023-2026 strategic plan, which has been deeply informed by School’s Out Washington’s community and...
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Investing in Rural Youth: The Impact of School-Community Partnerships
Corey Belser knows firsthand how activities outside of the classroom can open doors of possibility for young people. His career...
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Spotlight: Hilltop Children’s Center’s Commitment to Continuous Growth and Improvement
School’s Out Washington (SOWA) supports youth programs on their program quality improvement journey. One program that has shown commitment to...
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Advocating at the Capitol: Recap of 2026 Advocacy Day
We know that high-quality youth development programs transform lives and build stronger communities—but Washington still hasn’t caught up with the...
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Spotlight: International Rescue Committee
Resettling one’s family in an unfamiliar country is not an easy feat. Having survived violence and persecution in their countries...
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School’s Out Washington works to break down barriers to funding for on-the-ground organizations and create opportunities for community-led programming.
School’s Out Washington partners with public and private entities to invest resources in communities where inequities are most pervasive. Through grant facilitation and other initiatives, we help expand access to and improve quality for expanded learning programs that predominantly serve BIPOC, LGBTQ, migrant/immigrant, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth in poverty.
Our grant-making efforts and special initiatives are rooted in the belief that these programs—and the dedicated people who run them—have the knowledge to best support youth in their communities. Our role at SOWA is to elevate their work and support their leadership through funding and quality improvement services.
Investing in youth programs that are grounded in community.
The King County Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Expanded Learning Initiative channels resources to providers in communities across King County that are working to improve their practices and provide afterschool and summer programming for Black, Indigenous and youth of color (BIPOC) and youth in poverty to flourish outside of the school day.
The Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP) is a federal grant administered by SOWA that provides funding and support to school districts serving refugee populations in Washington.
RSIP fosters partnerships between community organizations and school districts to better serve refugee students.
Learn more