New results from the state’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Quality Initiative, co-funded by the Raikes Foundation, show that our state is on the right path to creating a first-in-the-nation quality expanded learning system for K-12 students. Working with 50 expanded learning programs across King, Pierce, Spokane, and Walla Walla counties, the initiative demonstrated that when we support afterschool and summer learning programs with the right resources and training, they can deliver high-quality, transformative programming to young people.Read More

Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings.Read More

Since 2011, the Raikes Foundation in collaboration with School’s Out Washington (SOWA) has worked to improve the quality of out-of-school time programs serving youth in Washington state. During this time, we’ve partnered with organizations to establish a clear, measurable definition of quality, a continuous improvement process to help programs achieve quality, and professional development opportunities to empower front-line staff interacting with youth. More recently, the tools have been adapted to meet the specific needs of summer learning OST programs.Read More

Yesterday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee took an historic step to improve the lives of young people in our state. The governor issued an executive order to begin the process of creating a Department of Children and Families in our state. Such a change would ensure that Governor Inslee, and future Washington governors, hear frequently and directly about issues affecting our most vulnerable children and families.Read More

For the 13th year, School’s Out Washington hosted the Bridge Conference for afterschool and youth development professionals on October 19th-20th. Nearly 450 participants came to learn about the newest research and topics in the out-of-school time field and to reflect on how to facilitate learning and inspire curiosity in the young people they serve.Read More

Editor's Note: The Woodland Park Zoo participated in the Youth Program Quality Initiative to build a hands-on summer program that keeps kids learning beyond the classroom. Eli Weiss, youth programs supervisor at the zoo, explains the unique approach they take to engage young people with STEM-related content.Read More

Quality doesn’t happen by accident, especially when it comes to education.Read More

Quality afterschool programming is one way to give youth hands-on experiences that target multiple domains of learning. In Washington, the Raikes Foundation has been supporting youth development programs to use the Weikart Center’s Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI).Read More

The Raikes Foundation expects to double its giving in the years ahead as we set our sights on increasingly ambitious goals to empower young people to transform their lives. But dollars alone don’t create the kind of impact that we strive for. For that, we need smart, passionate and talented people. In less than three years, the foundation has more than doubled its team from four to nine, and that trend is continuing in 2015. Indeed, we recently welcomed two new program officers to the foundation and we expect to add three more team members later this year.Read More

On the plane coming back from a rich learning experience at the Every Hour Counts West Coast convening in Oakland, I reflected on all of the things we have going right for youth programs in King County, and the areas we still have so much room to grow to create the ecosystem of supports all kids need to be successful in school and in life. Washington state was represented by four teams at the convening, all of which are working to foster a system of high-quality afterschool and summer programs in their region.Read More