Reopening Together: How Afterschool Can Partner with Schools

Posted on July 30, 2020 by - Reopening

Afterschool programs are essential for meeting students’ needs during the COVID-19 crisis and throughout recovery. As districts release guidelines and schedules for the upcoming school year, principals and superintendents will drive decisions about how schools reopen and how they work with their afterschool partners. Collaboration between out-of-school time and in-school time is more important than ever.

We know that this–figuring out how to run afterschool programs in a global pandemic–is not normal and that you are concerned and overwhelmed. But we also know that this field is innovative and has grit.  Let’s continue to rely on one another as a community and support each other as we navigate fall and school reopening.  Here are some resources for you to use and we hope that you’ll share them widely with your staff and contacts.  

Weekly Reopening Field Calls

Join us to discuss how afterschool can fit into planning and what we can offer schools, as well as how programs can reopen safely. These calls are open to anyone who runs organized activities and programs with youth in grades K-12 in the out-of-school time hours.

  • Reopening Field Forums | Wednesdays, 1-2pm. These broad, open calls will focus on big topics relating to reopening. Please register in advance and the Zoom link will be sent to you. All calls will be recorded and can be viewed on our YouTube channel here. 
    • Wednesday 8/5 Topic: Health & Safety, Licensing
    • Wednesday 8/12 Topic: Connecting with Schools
    • Wednesday 8/22 Topic: Mental Health
  • Roundtable reopening discussions | Tuesdays 1-2pm. These interactive and facilitated calls will focus on planning, problem-solving, and creative strategies. Learn from each other! Please register in advance and the Zoom link will be sent to you.
    • Tuesday 8/4 Special Topic: Staffing strategies
    • Tuesday 8/11 Special Topic: Creative spaces

Local Level Outreach

  • Sample email/letter you can use to send to school leaders on partnering together
  • Grid on “menu of options” how afterschool programs can partner with different school schedules

Take Action

Reopening Framing