The work of this committee supports several key objectives in the California Expanded Learning Strategic Plan 2.0. Details about the committee, including commitment and responsibilities, are outlined below.

Purpose

The Sustainability Work Group will support the Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) in identifying, documenting and sharing promising sustainability practices with the expanded learning field. As identified in Strategic Plan 2.0, these practices include securing a diverse set of funding sources and clearly communicating the value of expanded learning programs for district and school Local Control Accountability Plan goals.

Scope and Context

  • The cost of operating afterschool and summer programs has risen every year, and has accelerated with the passage of higher minimum wage laws statewide and in many communities.
  • At the same time, state funding for expanded learning has only increased once – thanks to successful field-led advocacy campaigns – and has not kept pace with increasing costs.
  • While advocacy for state funding will continue, the expanded learning field needs to embrace a broader set of strategies to sustain and improve its programming.
  • Many organizations have already successfully diversified their funding sources and can share effective practices, models and lessons learned with other programs.
  • As the driving force behind the funding campaign, the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3) has gathered helpful information and insights about sustainability and can be a resource and partner for the Sustainability Work Group.
  • The expanded learning stakeholders that developed Strategic Plan 2.0 defined the following 3 objectives related to sustainability: 
  1. Objective 2.2a: Identify statewide promising practices and create grantee guidance materials that describe a variety of sustainability strategies.
  2. Objective 3.2b: Highlight the role that Expanded Learning programs could play in supporting districts’ community input process for Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs).
  3. Objective 3.3c: Document and promote the role that Expanded Learning partners play in advancing district LCAP goals around student engagement, student achievement, and school climate and culture.
  • The Work Group has the option to broaden its scope beyond these objectives in order to further build the expanded learning field’s capacity to sustain its programs.

The Work Group will be led my Michael Funk with subcommittee leadership determined at a later date.

Commitment

  • 9 months
  • Up to 10 hours per month
  • 2 in person full day meetings
  • 4 to 6 subgroup meetings – virtual or in-person as determined by the group
  • Tasks as assigned between meetings

Full Work Group Meetings

We are anticipating that there will be two in person, full day meetings for the full Work Group over the 9-month period. The first meeting will likely be held in mid to late November or December of 2019. A doodle poll will be sent out to team members to determine the exact date. The timing of the second in-person meeting will be determined by the Work Group at the first meeting. The meetings are likely to be located in Sacramento/ Northern California, but this could change depending on the needs of the Work Group. At our first meeting, we will discuss preferences for the second meeting (days, times, locations, etc.) There may be virtual check-ins as needed for the Full Work Group.

Subgroup Meetings

The content, membership, timing and location of subgroup meetings will be determined at the first full Work Group meeting. We are anticipating that the subgroups will meet 4 to 6 times over the 9-month period.

Travel Expenses

Work Group members will travel at their own expense.

Key Responsibilities

All Work Group members will:

  • Participate in orientation activities, in person & virtual meetings.
  • Complete tasks as needed to advance the Work Group’s plan.
  • Use online document sharing, networking, and communications tools provided.

Applications

Applications are now closed.