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

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May 20, 2014 Nashville, Tennessee

Rightor

Wrong?

EDUCATION = SCHOOLS?

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• 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

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• 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

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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…

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IMAGINING A NEW WORLD OF LEARNING FOR 21ST CENTURY SUCCESS

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AN EXPLOSION OF COMMUNITY INNOVATION:

Connecting Learning & Reducing the Opportunity Gap

Boston

Chicago

Providence

Cambridge

San Francisco

Nashville

Pittsburgh

Others???www.hfrp.org