AASA Receives Grant From Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to Bolster U.S. Department of Education’s Engage Every Student Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org

Program will allow more students to access year-round programs to support their academic and mental health needs

Alexandria, Va. – March 17, 2023 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to announce that the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has awarded the organization a grant of $875,000 to expand access to afterschool and summer learning in support of the Engage Every Student Initiative launched by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona last summer.

In addition to AASA, other organizations participating in the program include the Afterschool Alliance, the National League of Cities and the National Summer Learning Association. These groups will create a technical assistance consortium to help cities, schools, superintendents, and afterschool and summer providers to ensure that all children have access to high-quality out-of-school time.

“To advance equity, we must innovate, share promising practices and work together to create the education system that all of our students deserve — a system where students are at the center – while recognizing that, for far too long, we haven’t lived up to that promise,” said Cardona.

To advance equity, we must innovate, share promising practices and work together to create the education system that all of our students deserve — a system where students are at the center – while recognizing that, for far too long, we haven’t lived up to that promise.

Announced on July 14, 2022, the Engage Every Student Initiative seeks to establish an afterschool program spot for every youth who needs one. It was created in response to President Biden’s call for schools to use American Rescue Plan funds to support this effort. The initiative builds on the more than two decades of work to develop and grow the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, which began in 1997 and today supports nearly 1.6 million young people with afterschool and summer learning programs.

Now, through the American Rescue Plan funds, schools and districts are further able to expand access to out-of-school time programs that support student learning and have lasting, positive impacts on youth development. This grant will support AASA and the partner organizations of EES in fulfilling the promise of the initiative through technical assistance, tools, resources and convenings of local leaders.

“Public schools know the considerable value afterschool and summer learning opportunities provide in a learning community,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “This initiative will enhance students with enrichment, tutoring and exposure that will lead to innovative ideas and new ways of learning. It is our duty to create new pathways that will provide new resources for learning as we continue to emerge from the pandemic.”  

“Young people deserve more support and more opportunities, especially as they recover from learning loss caused by the pandemic,” said Ridgway White, Mott Foundation president and CEO. “AASA is a key part of this effort and is poised to help schools and community organizations strengthen partnerships that provide essential services to children and families.”

School districts interested in learning more about the Engage Every Student Initiative are encouraged to contact Bryan Joffe at bjoffe@aasa.org. For additional information about the initiative, visit www.engageeverystudent.org.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.

About the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, established in 1926 in Flint, Michigan, by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the United States and, on a limited basis, internationally. Grantmaking is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Education, Environment and Flint Area. For more information, visit www.mott.org.