Washington

Washington Expanded Learning Opportunities Network

The Washington Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Network is a formal statewide collaboration which serves as the action arm for SOWA and is designed to improve the availability and quality of afterschool, youth development and summer programs in Washington. ELO Network members include a diverse array of systems and organizations providing afterschool and youth development (AYD) services in Washington.

Washington Expanded Learning Opportunities Network
Current Projects and Initiatives: 

Quality & Training

  • School's Out Washington has led the process of building a quality improvement system for expanded learning programs. Offering a wide array of training options from workshops and our annual Bridge Conference, to long-term engagement in quality improvement processes, to support organizations big and small in having the greatest impact on youth.

Policy

  • School’s Out Washington acts as a strong voice for expanded learning opportunities across Washington State and in our nation’s capital. Promoting equitable policies that ensure children and youth continue to learn after school and in the summer in high-quality programs with meals and STEM opportunities.

Grants to Programs

  • School's Out Washington administers grants that allow programs to increase access, improve program quality, and start or expand services. Through Feed Your Brain and the Refugee School Impact Project, SOWA provides resources to programs and communities while emphasizing the importance of increasing program staff's knowledge and competencies.

Racial Equity

  • SOWA is committed to addressing how these disparities impact young people in our communities. Access to high-quality expanded learning opportunities is essential for closing the opportunity gap and challenging inequity.  SOWA strives to increase access to quality programs for youth of color so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
  • In 2013, SOWA received funding from the City of Seattle to develop race-based training opportunities for the staff of expanded learning opportunities. The result of that work was a group of trainings addressing Structural Racism and Cultural Competency.