Past Virtual Sessions
You can access the recordings and session summaries for all past Summer Learning and Enrichment Virtual Events in this section. You will also find the same information on the topical pages.
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The Collaborative provides a hub for coalitions across the nation to build knowledge, share resources and practices, and work together to maximize opportunities for students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally this summer and beyond.
The U.S. Department of Education launched the Collaborative with its first National Convening on April 26 and 27, 2021. The National Convening featured an array of education stakeholder perspectives from across the country, including governors, chief state school officers, local and school leaders, educators, community partners, and other stakeholders joining in the conversation around planning and implementation of strong summer learning and enrichment programs for students most impacted by the pandemic.
Approximately 1,000 participants representing 53 states, outlying areas and territories and 271 Nonprofit and community-based partners participated over the two-day event.
The convening included sessions on forming state-level coalitions; using evidence to inform summer programs; and using federal funds to promote equity through summer enrichment opportunities that support social, emotional, and academic development.
You can find meeting materials, including a detailed meeting agenda, and session recordings, below, and explore resources shared at the convening in our resource libraries on this page.
The recordings from the National Convening will be available on this page in the near future.
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National Convening of the Summer Learning and Enrichment Collaborative
This is the recording of the convening that occurred on April 26 to launch the collaborative.
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Partnership Spotlight: Meeting Student and Community Needs Through Partnerships
This is the recording of the Plenary from day two of the convening that occurred on April 27.
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Thursday, May 27, the National Center hosted the first Virtual Session for the Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative. Following an opening plenary, participants can choose to participate in one of six concurrent Tabletop Discussions ranging from building community partnerships through tribal consultation, serving homeless children and families through summer programs, planning for the use of new federal resources, establishing workforce programs for high school students, and utilizing high-dosage tutoring in summer programs.
View the May 27th Agenda (PDF).
May 27th Plenary: Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
VideoMay 27th Plenary: CDC Guidance with Erin K. Sauber-Schatz
VideoMay 27th Plenary: The Path Forward with Danielle Smith
VideoFiscal Transparency: SEA and LEA Expenditures for Summer Learning and Beyond
This tabletop discussion emphasized the importance of transparency in planning and using American Rescue Plan funds.
Video Session SummaryIn It Together: Maximizing Partnerships Between Education and Workforce to Support High School Students
This tabletop discussion explored options for using funding from the U.S Department of Education and the Department of Labor for youth summer employment and work-based learning.
Video Session SummaryPowerful Interventions: The Evidence for Incorporating High-Dosage Tutoring in Summer Programs
This tabletop discussion examined the effectiveness of high impact tutoring to address student disrupted learning and to accelerate learning over the long-term.
Video Session SummaryReaching the Hard-to-Reach: Engaging Homeless Children and Families in Summer Programs
This tabletop discussion explored effective strategies to engage students experiencing homelessness in summer programming.
Video Session SummaryTribal Consultations: Building a Foundation for Partnership
This tabletop discussion examined the importance of effective consultation between states, schools, and tribes to improve outcomes for Native students.
Video Session SummaryWorking Together: Recruiting, Training and Supporting Staff Members for Impactful Summer Learning
This tabletop discussion explored innovative recruitment and onboarding strategies to meet summer staffing needs.
Video Session Summary
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Chiraag Bains, Special Assistant to the President for Criminal Justice and Guns Policy at the Domestic Policy Council, will join us for this Summer Collaborative meeting which also features expert practitioners from the National Summer Learning Association, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, Baltimore City, and Passaic Public Schools who will share programs and resources to address various aspects of community and school safety including building student resilience, mitigating trauma, and creating welcoming climates for all students.
During the second hour, engage with expert practitioners in tabletop conversations on promising practices in youth mentoring, the procurement process, increasing workforce diversity, boosting attendance in summer programs, building a collaborative site climate, and designing instruction for multi-lingual learners.
View the June 10th Agenda (PDF).
June 10th Plenary: Welcome, Chiraag Bains
VideoJune 10th Plenary: Expert Perspectives, Promoting Student Safety and Resiliency through Summer Programs
VideoCreating a Collaborative Site Climate
This tabletop discussion explored strategies for creating a supportive climate for summer learning and enrichment for students of different ages.
Video Session SummaryHigh Quality Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Implementing Key Principles
This tabletop discussion focused on key considerations for developing effective programming for multilingual learners.
Video Session SummaryPromising Practices in the Procurement Process: Improving Programmatic Decisions
This tabletop discussion examined strategies to prepare for procurement, select vendors, and to monitor progress to ensure that American Rescue Plan funds are used effectively.
Video Session SummaryKeep Them Coming: Attendance as the Key to Summer Learning
This tabletop discussion explored strategies for maximizing student attendance in summer programming after a prolonged period of disruption.
Video Session SummaryBest Practices in Youth Mentoring
This tabletop discussion explored different mentoring models and how they can help students through periods of disruption.
Video Session SummaryIncreasing Workforce Diversity to Boost Learning Recovery Efforts
This tabletop discussion focused on the importance of a diverse educator workforce in programming to support student achievement.
Video Session Summary
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Hosted in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Summer Learning Association, this session featured:
- State Perspectives on Sustainable Community System Building
- Community Indicators of Effective Summer Learning Systems
- Creating Authentic Partnerships with Historically Marginalized Families and Communities
- Communicating Effectively About Spending and Student Outcomes
View the June 24th Agenda (PDF).
June 24th Plenary: Sustainable Systems and Partnerships for Summer Programming: Roles of SEAs
VideoJune 24th Plenary: The NSLA Community Indicators of Effective Summer Learning Systems
VideoJune 24th Plenary: How to Use NSLA’s Community Indicators of Effective Summer Learning Systems (CIESLS)
VideoJune 24th Plenary: Expert Panel, State Perspectives on Sustainable Community System Building
VideoHow to Use NSLA’s Community Indicators of Effective Summer Learning Systems (CIESLS)
This tabletop discussion provided guidance on how to use the National Summer Learning Association Community Indicator Framework to improve program delivery.
Video Session SummaryCreating Authentic Partnerships with Historically Marginalized Families and Communities
This tabletop discussion offered strategies for partnering with historically marginalized stakeholders, both during the summer and into the next school year.
Video Session SummaryLinking Spending with Outcomes for Summer and Beyond
This tabletop discussion emphasized the importance of connecting spending and student outcomes throughout the investment lifecycle from planning to evaluation.
Video Session SummaryEvaluation Models: Learning from Data
This tabletop discussion examined several approaches to evaluation that can be used to make improvements to summer programs.
Video Session Summary
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The July 8 virtual session of the Summer Learning and Enrichment Collaborative will examine the impacts of the pandemic on students, including how COVID-19 has deepened pre-pandemic disparities in access and opportunities facing students of color, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. We will share findings from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on students and hear responses from Department leaders including strategies for how summer programs can use federal funds to address significant impacts on student learning and social emotional wellbeing. Following the opening plenary, participants can choose to participate in Tabletop Discussions on one of these topics:
- Serving Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities in Summer Programs
- Working with Parent Centers to Engage Families of Students with Disabilities in Summer Learning and Enrichment Programs
- Partnerships for Family Engagement in High-Needs Communities
- Culturally Responsive Considerations for Summer Programs Targeted to Native Students
- Supporting Vulnerable Students Through Multiagency Coordination
- Challenging Assumptions: Teaching and Learning Outside of the Binary
View the July 8th Agenda (PDF).
July 8th Plenary: Welcome and Summer Learning Updates
VideoJuly 8th Plenary: Building Toward Equity: Understanding the Disparate Impacts of COVID-19 on Students
In order to target services to students most impacted by the pandemic, program providers and school systems must understand the impacts of the pandemic on students, including how COVID-19 has deepened pre-pandemic disparities in access and opportunities facing students of color, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. OCR will present findings from their recent report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on students.
VideoJuly 8th Plenary: Summer for All: Building Inclusive Summer Learning & Enrichment Programs
States, districts and their partners need to ensure they are providing an inclusive environment for all learners, including English Learners and students with disabilities. This plenary will provide actionable considerations for designing and implementing inclusive summer programming for students most disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including how federal recovery funds can be used to support the academic, social emotional and mental health needs of students.
VideoServing Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities in Summer Programs
This Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) supports several technical assistance centers that are charged with supporting education for children with moderate or severe disabilities. Representatives from two centers offer strategies to assist summer and out-of-school programs in becoming more inclusive.
Video Session SummaryWorking with Parent Centers to Engage Families of Students with Disabilities in Summer Learning and Enrichment Programs
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) supports a national network of parent centers that work with families of children with disabilities. Hear advice from three different centers about supporting families for summer and out-of-school learning. Learn about the many resources available through the parent centers.
Video Session SummaryPartnerships for Family Engagement in High-Needs Communities
The Hillsboro school district has worked for many years to create parent leadership and collaborative opportunities for BIIPOC parent groups and built strong parent Advisory Councils that are actively engaged in consultation on education planning.
Video Session SummaryCulturally Responsive Considerations for Summer Programs Targeted to Native Students
The session introduces a soon-to-be released toolkit with considerations and strategies to keep in mind when planning and implementing summer programming for Native students. Representatives from tribes and districts discuss their experiences in planning summer programming for Native students.
Video Session SummarySupporting Vulnerable Students Through Multiagency Coordination
District and school leaders discuss how they have worked with local agencies to support students who have faced significant disruptions to their education, such as homelessness, foster care placement, or incarceration. Presenters will describe strategies to address the challenges vulnerable students face as a result of the pandemic and how they plan to continue supporting students during the school year.
Video Session SummaryChallenging Assumptions: Teaching and Learning Outside of the Binary
Participants will explore and challenge their own assumptions about identity while learning how to disrupt conventional methods of teaching and learning. This session will include an interactive activity, best practices to create safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students, and a description of ANYTOWN, a successful social justice anti-discrimination program.
Video Session Summary
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Please join the Summer Learning and Enrichment Collaborative for the next virtual session on July 22 focused on ways to engage assets in local communities to support summer learning and enrichment. The opening plenary will feature community schools as a model for supporting equitable and comprehensive learning opportunities, providing innovative examples of how the community school strategy has been used to support students and families and organize comprehensive summer and out-of-school programming. Following the opening plenary, participants can choose to participate in Tabletop Discussions on one of these topics:
- Innovative uses of ARP ESSER funding from an early look at state plans
- Summertime STEM opportunities featuring computer science and data science programs
- Building a statewide coalition to increase teachers of color and American Indian teachers
- Supporting young children in Early Childhood Summer Programming
- Out-of-school programs that support high school students’ transition to the workforce
- Summer arts enrichment for Prek-12 students
View the July 22nd Agenda (PDF).
July 22nd Plenary: Learning from community schools to support comprehensive summer and out of school programming
VideoInnovative Uses of ARP ESSER Funding
The scale of new resources coming into districts provides an opportunity for innovation and piloting new practices to accelerate learning recovery. This session is designed to provide an early look at emerging ideas in state plans with additional suggestions for districts to consider.
Video Session SummarySTEM opportunities in summer, out-of-school and in-school programs
Learn about STEM experiences for students including computer programming and data science and how summer and out-of-school STEM partnerships can strengthen in-school STEM education.
Video Session SummaryA Coalition for Teacher Diversity
Participants will hear about a comprehensive, robust statewide coalition that has been working since 2016 to increase the percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers in Minnesota which stands at 5% while students of color represent 37% of all students. Working from a five-point platform, the Coalition has garnered bipartisan endorsement in the legislature for its Increase Teachers of Color Act and has succeeded in getting an increase of annual state funding from $4 million to $15 million for a variety of initiatives.
Video Session SummarySummer programming and resources for families to prepare young children for success in early education
We’ll hear from two initiatives that support young children’s learning and readiness for literacy success. Big Lift provides high-quality preschool followed by “inspiring summers” programming and family engagement initiatives. Michigan’s family engagement framework increases families’ capacities to engage effectively in literacy activities with PreK through grade 3 children.
Video Session SummaryOut-of-school programs help teens transition to careers
Learn about the ways that Boys & Girls Clubs of America prepare teens for the workforce by exploring career interests and options, developing employability skills, engaging students in real-world work experiences, and providing college readiness skills.
Video Session SummarySummertime Arts Learning for PreK-12 Students
States, districts and their partners have the opportunity to use funds to provide access to skills and content areas like arts education that enable students to explore their passions and interests. Join us to hear from practitioners about successful strategies and resources to increase access and equity in the arts.
Video Session Summary
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During our final virtual session of the Summer Learning and Enrichment Collaborative on August 12, we will focus on conversation on our most important stakeholders: students! This session will offer opportunities to reflect on the decisions we made this summer, how we can reimagine what is possible in creating safe, supportive, exciting spaces for students to learn and thrive, and how we can carry these lessons forward as we head back to school. Our session will begin with a conversation between Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and a panel of inspiring students to discuss how they have been impacted by summer programs and offer their advice to education leaders for how to reimagine, redesign and rebuild engaging learning and enrichment opportunities throughout the year. We will also be joined by representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide the latest updates on guidance and resources for healthy and safe return to school. Following the opening plenary, participants can choose to participate in Tabletop Discussions on topics including:
- Creating data sharing agreements between community-based organizations and schools
- Conducting after-action reviews to identify lessons from summer programming
- Utilizing vacation academies as a strategy for high-power learning during school breaks
- Engaging a full community in planning summer programming and return to school
- Building cross-sector collaborations for equity in rural communities
- Strengthening year-round out-of-school programming
View the Augues 12th Agenda (PDF).
August 12th Plenary: U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Panel of Young Leaders
VideoAugust 12th Plenary: Updated CDC Guidance about Return to School
VideoAugust 12th Plenary: Preview of Lights On Afterschool
VideoAugust 12th Plenary: Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School
VideoStrengthening Year-Round Out-of-School Programming
Join this session to get ideas about “building back better.” Presenters will share resources and practical ideas to capitalize on this summer’s partnerships to improve and expand out-of-school programming as students return to formal schooling. Whether you are from a community organization or school district, join us to learn from communities that are working to make the most of summer learning as they plan for a comprehensive out-of-school experience in the coming year.
Video Session SummaryEngaging Educators, Families, Students in Planning Summer and the Return to School
Learn about the innovations employed by the Cleveland School District for a “whole child whole community” recovery from the pandemic. The authentic and intentional, trust-based partnership between school district administration and the teachers union has seen the disruptions throughout the pandemic as opportunities to innovate. Some new strategies include student ambassadors who are engaging their peers in returning to school as well as parent ambassadors and family engagement leaders. The district is poised to implement lessons from summer programming in the return to school.
Video Session SummaryAfter Action Reviews - Identifying Lessons Learned from Summer Learning Programs to Accelerate Learning
In this workshop, you’ll learn about the components of an After Action Review of summer learning programs and how to guide a systematic reflection process to improve future programming. The presenters will demonstrate an After Action Review process with a team from the Norwalk, CT school district and two community district partners.
Video Session SummaryVacation Academies: High Power Learning in Short Time Blocks
Summer sessions will soon come to a close but the need for learning acceleration will continue. Short-term “vacation” academies are a learning recovery strategy that has shown positive literacy and math results. This session presents the evidence along with practical advice for engineering successful experiences
Video Session SummaryEstablishing Data Sharing Agreements Between Community Based Organizations and Schools
Learn from the experiences of state, district and community leaders how to develop effective agreements. The Boys and Girls Clubs have been working on crafting state-level and local agreements for building cooperation for the purpose of data and information sharing.
Video Session SummaryCross-sector Collaborations for Equity in Rural Communities
When planning educational improvements, rural communities have unique assets to draw from and also face special challenges, often including limited resources. Learn about the types of partnerships that have been successful in some rural sites to address inequities and transform schooling. What catalyzes new partnerships in rural areas and sustains working relationships? What role can higher education institutions play? These and other questions will be addressed by panelists.
Video Session Summary