THE NEED FOR PCY

Feeling safe, supported, and engaged are fundamental preconditions for any child to learn and develop successfully. In addition, learning does not happen just within the four walls of a classroom—it happens before school, after school, and during the summer break. Research and common sense tell us that all children need opportunities to learn beyond the school day and year in order to build skills and relationships, expand their horizons, access social capital, and discover their passions.

However, children in underserved communities have historically lacked access to quality out-of-school learning opportunities, and the result is a deeply concerning opportunity gap. The public systems and resources meant to address this disparity operate in silos, are under-resourced, and make it very difficult to achieve scalable, systemic, and sustainable improvement.

This is where PCY—in what is known as an intermediary role—comes in. Since its founding more than 20 years ago, PCY has catalyzed large-scale change through its strategic mix of building and improving practice, influencing system leaders at the local and state level, and advocating for effective public policies and increased public resources.

Resources:

Expanded Learning in California:

Before school, after school, summer, or intersession learning programs that focus on developing the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs and interests of pupils through hands-on, engaging learning experiences. It is the intent of the California State Legislature that expanded learning programs are pupil-centered, results-driven, include community partners, and complement, but do not replicate, learning activities in the regular school day and school year.