Last week, Elevo joined hundreds of families, students, and community organizations in Sacramento for the annual California Afterschool and Summer Challenge, a grassroots advocacy initiative to highlight the importance and the impact of out-of-school time (OST) programs. Led by the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) and the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3), this event is an important part of the efforts to ensure that the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) received long-term funding support.
Elevo is a proud member of CA3, and we are honored to have recently joined the steering committee of the coalition, which sets the vision and agenda for CA3’s statewide expanded learning advocacy. We have been listening and learning from the educators, community organizations, and program providers who have been advocating for afterschool funding and delivering high quality programs for decades. We believe Elevo is uniquely positioned to contribute in ways that strengthen the collective impact of CA and the efforts to strengthen and grow sustained roots for expanded learning.
Takeaways from the 2025 Challenge
This year’s CA Afterschool and Summer Challenges demonstrated that the ELO-P movement is a powerful one, with supporters and dedicated advocates across the state. Elevo was among more than 450 other advocates from across the state who met at Cesar Chavez plaza and marched to the capitol where a rally was held. Following the rally, we personally visited the offices of four of our legislators where we spoke about the impact of ELO programs on all communities and students and asked them to continue to support the $4 billion already allocated for ELO-P, as well as the additional $435 million in Governor Newsom’s proposed budget. Stories and testimonials that were shared showed how the funding is being used creatively across districts to support all students.
“This annual event is my favorite reminder of what’s at the very heart of the expanded learning movement,” said Dr. Kristen Henry, Elevo SVP of Curriculum & Training. “Listening to the students and families share how their lives have been changed is the greatest evidence of California’s innovation and success. I felt a sense of pride spending time with our legislators, who have emphatically demonstrated their commitment to ELO-P and the communities they serve.”
In light of the recent fires, California’s budget will be impacted and legislators are expecting significant changes from the proposed budget to what is finalized in June. As legislators navigate these budgetary challenges, the importance of advocating for ELO-P could not be more evident. Research has shown that in California and across the country, investing in extended day programs strengthens the economy.
Mapping the Future of Expanded Learning and Out-Of-School Time
Our mission to transform student well-being starts with helping them build relationships and belonging. We see expanded learning as an essential aspect of creating spaces where all students find success within the walls of their school–something that’s unattainable for many students during the schoolday. We’re committed to our partnership with districts across the state to provide high-quality expanded learning programs aligned with CDE’s Quality Standards for Expanded Learning, for all students.
Securing long-term, sustainable funding for ELO-P will provide the foundation for truly reimagining the out-of-school time space. We believe ELO-P can be the vehicle for a new model of out-of-school time programming that truly increases access and impact for underserved students the way Head Start did for early childhood development and education. This belief is what our Expanded Learning programs are built on. From the mentorship-focused role of our Coaches, to the depth of our curriculum, to the comprehensive support we provide with every one of our programs, we are building a model for what expanded learning can look like in California, and across the country.
This week’s experience at the CA Afterschool and Summer Challenge showed the collective power of students, families, educators, providers, and advocates, and was a testament to the present and future impact of out-of-school time. We are dedicated to making that future as bright as possible for all students.
