PAVE connects, informs, and empowers parent leaders to give families in DC a voice and choice in the vision for education in our city.
 

Connect: Parent leaders spent July-September connecting with the network through 1-to-1 conversations, sharing their Stories of Self, hosting house meetings, and attending kickoff events. 

Empower: After connecting with one another and building their informational power, parent leaders are now developing their Statement of Beliefs on PAVE's #ParentPriorities: OST and SBMH!

As we look ahead to January- June, parent leaders will bring their voices together and share their Statement of Beliefs, meet with District and systems leaders, develop their advocacy strategy, and take action: including writing blogs, op-eds, posting on social media, and participating in ongoing meetings with decision-makers at PAVE events and in the community.

In alignment with PAVE 's mission to inform, on December 3rd, Ward-Based PLE Board members gathered for All Ward Learning Day 2022! This session included data talks, policy analysis, and discussions focused on policy solutions for PAVE’s #ParentPriorities, Out-of-School Time (OST) programs and School-based Mental Health (SBMH).

PAVE was also joined by EmpowerK12’s Founder and Executive Director, Josh Boots for a State of DC Schools conversation focused on DC’s 2022 PARCC and NAEP results, which revealed deep disparities and failures of our education system, particularly for Black and Brown students.

Boots shared details on EmpowerK12’s 2022 Bold Performance Schools as evidence that better is possible!  Effective instructional time, joyful learning experiences, and strong relationships between educators, students, and families were noted as key qualities in determining a school's success.

This week's PAVE Post is centered around a PAVE #ParentPriority: Out-of-School Time Programs (OST). In 2017, at the first PAVE Parent Policy Summit, parent leaders selected Increased Access to OST Programs as one of their top priorities. And now, nearly seven years, and a pandemic later, the fight continues to ensure all students and families have access to these critical programs.

Out of School Time (OST) programs occur before and/or after school, in the summer, and any other time when school is not in session, like teacher professional development days, spring breaks, or long weekends.

High-quality OST programs allow students to explore their interests and passions, offer engaging curriculums, provide children with the opportunity to build relationships with trusted adults, and offer resources (like adequate space, materials, and technology) to support enrichment. In fact, research shows that student participation in high-quality OST programs can lead to positive indicators such as improved attendance, engagement in class, increased self-esteem, and a reduction of risky behaviors.

Due to the amazing work of PAVE parent leaders and community partners, the budget for OST programs increased by $15.3 million dollars for fiscal year 2023! While this achievement should be celebrated, we recognize that DC must do more to promote access to high-quality OST  programs, regardless of income or where families live.

In their 2021-22 Statement of Beliefs, PAVE parent leaders advocated for a comprehensive vision for OST programs, which called on our District leaders to:

We know that much work must be done to make this vision a reality. PAVE parents leaders will continue AMPLIFYING their voices to ensure leaders across the District work with, and listen to the needs of students, parents, and families.