Building Brighter Futures with ELO-P: Lessons from the ACSA Leadership Summit

Picture this: a room buzzing with energy, laughter, and “aha” moments as education trailblazers gathered at the 2024 ACSA Leadership Summit in sunny San Diego. Esther Garcia of Rowland USD and Dr. April Jacobsen of Simi Valley USD took the stage to share the inspiring work they’re doing with their Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs (ELO-P)—programs that are shaping the future of out-of-school-time learning. With moderation by Dr. Helen Wang of 6crickets, the discussion was a masterclass in innovation, determination, and creativity.

These incredible women are blazing trails to ensure every student has access to quality learning beyond the school bell. They opened up about their challenges, triumphs, and clever strategies for building and sustaining enrichment programming. Ready for the highlights? Let’s dive in!

ELO-P Meets Start-Up Culture

Dr. Wang likened ELO-P to launching a start-up: “No maps, no guarantees, just endless opportunities to innovate.” She also shared her lessons from her PhD advisor Professor Randy Katz of UC Berkeley on how to do research and explore the unknown: design, implementation, and evaluation. This continuous process ensures programs evolve and improve over time, much like a product being iteratively refined for market success.

Dr. April Jacobsen echoed these sentiments, describing the process of building an expanded learning program as creating a prototype: “start with what you have, learn as you go, and keep improving”.

Simi Valley USD: Doing More with Less

As a Rate 2 district, Simi Valley USD faced funding challenges but found success by blending ELO-P-funded and family-paid programs. However, this approach came with its own set of hurdles. “The logistical challenges of enrollment and data management were draining our time and energy,” Dr. Jacobsen shared. “It was unsustainable for our small ELO-P team.”

The solution? Enter the 6crickets platform, which streamlined registration, attendance, reporting, and payments for both district-funded and family-paid programs. This smart outsourcing allowed her team to shift focus back to what truly matters: designing programs that make a meaningful impact on students. “Now, I can dedicate more time to crafting initiatives that directly support student success across all our sites,” Dr. Jacobsen said.

Rowland USD: Investing in the Whole Child

Esther Garcia, Coordinator of Special Projects at Rowland USD, is working with a very different funding landscape. As a Rate 1 school district, Rowland USD receives ample ELO-P funds, opening up a world of possibilities for enriching student experiences. But Esther didn’t stop at just offering programs—she took it a step further.

Rowland USD: Investing in the Whole Child

Recognizing that “crisis doesn’t end at 2:30,” Ms. Garcia saw a need for continued social and emotional support in after-school programs. Her solution? Hiring counsellors dedicated to supporting students in expanded learning programs. The impact was transformational. “When students feel safe, supported, seen, and heard, they can fully engage in learning,” she explained.

And like Dr. Jacobsen, Ms. Garcia embraced the 6crickets platform to streamline logistics, freeing her team to focus on creativity and innovation.

Dream Big, Get Creative

Whether working with a Rate 1 or Rate 2 budget, the message is clear: dream big, embrace innovation, and build programs that support students and communities. How are you using your ELO-P funds to make a difference? Let’s collaborate to shape the next wave of expanded learning excellence!

Yours in Education,

6crickets Team

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