The 67th National Seminar Education Writers AssociationAfternoon Deep Dive on a Timely Topic:
Keeping the Lights on to Keep Kids Learning
BROADENING THE FRAME FOR LEARNING: TIME AND OPPORTUNITYDR. HEATHER B. WEISS
Director, Harvard Family Research ProjectHarvard Graduate School of Education
www.hfrp.org
May 20, 2014 Nashville, Tennessee
• K-12 schools are the only places where and when children learn – this assumption is wrong.
• Research shows economically and otherwise disadvantaged children have less access to non-school learning opportunities.
• This Opportunity Gap substantially undermines learning and school success.
THE EDUCATION PROBLEMBehind Current Education Policy, Funding, and Practice
www.hfrp.org
• Effective schools
• Supportive families
• Early childhood services
• Health and social services
• Out-of-school and summer learning
• Libraries, arts and cultural institutions
• Community schools and other community supports
• Digital media
• Colleges and universities
• Others???
Research says…
LEARNING EQUALS
www.hfrp.org
Time to Change the Conversation…
WHERE DO YOU LEARN? The National Writing Project is bringing students, parents and educators together to answer the question: “Where do you learn?” Join the conversation by tweeting using the hashtag #wherewelearn to share examples of where you learn and your reflections about how you support anywhere, anytime learning.
• Learn more at http://digitalis.nwp.org/site-blog/where-do-you-learn-wherewelearn/6024
• See http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/fine-family-involvement-network-of-educators/fine-newsletter-archive/april-fine-newsletter-making-it-real-connected-learning-in-the-digital-age www.hfrp.org
THE POWER OF AFTERSCHOOL, SUMMER, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
SOURCE: Expanded Learning & Afterschool: Opportunities for Student Successwww.hfrp.org
• A very powerful predictor of school and life success
• Important anywhere, anytime, not only at school but at home, in the community, afterschool, and during the summer
• Critical for helping children and families access ALL learning opportunities
• Important from birth through secondary school and beyond
• Not an event, but an ongoing process
• Lower (and especially important) for families impacted by income, racial, and ethnic inequities and immigrant status
40 YEARS OF RESEARCH TELL US FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS…
www.hfrp.org
AN EXPLOSION OF COMMUNITY INNOVATION:
Connecting Learning & Reducing the Opportunity Gap
Boston
Chicago
Providence
Cambridge
San Francisco
Nashville
Pittsburgh
Others???www.hfrp.org
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