Community-Based Organizations a Key Partner in Washington Students’ Pandemic Recovery
Community-Based Organizations a Key Partner in Washington Students’ Pandemic Recovery
OLYMPIA—April 27, 2022—Mentoring and tutoring, literacy programs, support for students experiencing homelessness, and mobile food markets are among the dozens of student support programs and activities currently being provided by community-based organizations (CBOs) across Washington state. As our state, nation, and globe navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, CBOs remain a critical partner in supporting students and families.
CBOs across the state have applied for and received competitive grant funding distributed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The grants are provided to CBOs to provide direct academic and well-being supports to students as they overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSPI placed a high priority on supporting the work of CBOs during the pandemic, leveraging Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for these grants.
The programs and opportunities offered by the grant awardees complement student supports provided by school districts, and CBOs are required to work in partnership with a local district. Supporting students furthest from economic and educational justice is a priority of all CBOs.
"Community-based organizations are a go-to source of support for students and families and they are often deeply rooted in their communities” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. “It is critical that students have access to the services they need to succeed in their K–12 educational career and beyond. These grants provide an incredible opportunity to strengthen and expand the services available to students and their families outside of the classroom."
Grant funds have been provided to support four key activity areas: Academic supports, behavioral health supports, case management and wraparound services, and student mentoring. At the end of the grant period, CBOs will report back to OSPI on outcomes and the impact of the investments.
In initial rounds of grant funding, OSPI received hundreds of applications, with the need significantly outweighing the funds available. Over the three rounds of federal emergency relief funds provided to OSPI, the agency continued to allocate additional funds to the grants, providing funding to more CBOs across Washington. In total, over $22.5 million has been awarded to 97 CBOs in 34 cities spanning nearly all of Washington’s counties.
A description of each category of activities, with an example of how one Washington CBO is supporting students in the category, is provided below.
Academic Supports
This category includes activities such as one-on-one and small group tutoring, mentoring, support with remote learning, activities to keep students engaged in learning, and creative learning opportunities.
Spark Central: Spark Central provides Spokane County youth and families with opportunities to pursue creative learning and use innovative technologies, regardless of income level. This grant will support the operation of Spark Central’s Level Up program, which serves students in the Spokane School District in grades 3–6 who have been most affected by the pandemic, including students who need academic support, students from low-income families, and students of color. The Level Up program provides in-person, out-of-school opportunities that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math achievement with social-emotional learning.
Behavioral Health Supports
This category includes activities such as clinical services and social, emotional, and behavioral supports for students.
CAFÉ: Community for the Advancement of Family Education: CAFÉ provides counseling services to students in the Wenatchee School District who need academic and mental health support. Support sessions are provided one-on-one and in small groups and are offered in both English and Spanish by bilingual and bicultural counselors. Counselors address both learning recovery and mental health, including the effects of the pandemic and Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Case Management and Wraparound Services
This category includes services for students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, students who are refugees, and other populations of students.
TOGETHER!: In partnership with North Thurston Public Schools and Tumwater School District, TOGETHER! is piloting a model to house unaccompanied high school students (not in the care of an adult) ages 13–21. The program aims to advance educational equity and close opportunity gaps by matching students with trained and short-term vetted volunteer Host Families. These students receive case management and wraparound supports including access to immediate mental health intervention paired with stable housing, a connection to community resources, leveraged and coordinated services to increase positive outcomes in overall health and school participation, and support to complete high school.