Description:
As part of its vision for public education in Philadelphia, the Board of Education adopted five academic goals and four guardrails or non-negotiable conditions that must exist in each school. Guardrail 2 states that every student will have a well-rounded education with co-curricular opportunities, including arts and athletics, integrated into the school experience.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and through the use of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ARP ESSER), the District seeks to accelerate work to improve student academic outcomes and make progress toward the Board’s Goals and Guardrails by expanding access to after-school enrichment programs, training and resources for teacher-led enrichment programs, and tutoring services that are integrated into the school experience.
To scale after-school enrichment programs for K-12 students, the District will:
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Contract with current Out-of-School-Time (OST) and other existing after-school programs to increase capacity;
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Contract with vendors to provide training and resources to teachers to initiate new teacher-led enrichment programs to further increase after-school enrichment opportunities; and
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Identify new vendors to provide after-school enrichment programs in school communities where there remains a need for programming.
Specifically, after-school enrichment programs will provide:
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Robust opportunities for youth to explore their interests and creativity;
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Age-appropriate programming that is hands-on and aligned with educational standards;
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Learning environments that support social and emotional learning; and
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Emphasis on youth choice, engagement, and making learning fun.
Both vendor-managed and teacher-led models of enrichment programming will provide students with opportunities to explore topics in depth using teaching methods that can differ from what students experience in the traditional classroom setting. This can be achieved through a variety of topics, such as visual and performing arts, music, sports, health and nutrition, STEM/STEAM, and college and career preparation.
In addition to after-school enrichment programs, tutoring services will be provided by vendors and centrally deployed to schools where additional support is needed. Tutoring services will implement a systematic, structured learning experience for small groups of students in grades 3-12 in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies and will:
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Provide students with supports to address skill and concept gaps in learning;
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Strengthen foundational skills and support current learning in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies; and
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Support students in becoming independent learners.
Research has found ample benefits for students who participate in organized enrichment activities, including higher academic achievement, greater likelihood of college attendance, and greater sense of belonging. Additionally, substantial evidence supports tutoring as an effective strategy for increasing student learning, especially for students who are at risk for poor learning outcomes.
The District aims to expand access to these models as students return to physical school buildings in school year 2021-2022 to help create strong school cultures, support student social and emotional health, and accelerate learning. Vendors were selected based on their ability to demonstrate a research-based approach, organizational experience and qualifications, evidence of program efficacy, and ability to scale program capacity. Contracting with these vendors will allow the District to accelerate work to improve student academic outcomes and make progress toward Guardrail 2: Enriching and Well-rounded School Experiences.