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Reform2LAST: Expanding Learning in After-School Time

January 19, 2011  • Education Innovation Forum and Expo

Core partners have made significant progress on systemic reforms and development of a statewide infrastructure critical to ensuring success of Reform2LAST. It utilizes California’s infrastructure of 4,000 after-school programs to provide standards-based science curriculum for high need elementary students that has been shown to result in improved achievement in English language arts and science. It will serve 58,000 children in 60 districts and includes a focus on limited-English proficient students. Goals/objectives are: (1) to improve student achievement in literacy and science, including for LEP and rural students, in 600 low-performing Title 1 elementary schools, including 40 rural schools; (2) to equip teachers to use expanded learning time to strengthen science and literacy outcomes as a strategy to turn around these low performing schools; (3) to train administrators to lead expanded learning time aligned with in-school programs; (4) to sustain expanded learning time reforms through professional development and learning communities; (5) to support a well-designed independent evaluation that documents key elements and costs; and (6) to prepare for state and national dissemination and replication of expanded learning time reforms. Project outcomes include measurable impacts and products directly associated with each objective.

Partners include 10 county offices of education, 40 school districts, California Department of Education, California State University, California Community Colleges Foundation, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, Association of California School Administrators, Lawrence Hall of Science at University of California, Berkeley, California STEM Learning Network, RAND Corporation, and four prominent philanthropic organizations that will provide $6,000,000 in matching funds.

To learn more, contact Rachelle Distefano.