Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
3/7/2024 - 6:30 PM  
Category:
New Business and Reports to the Board  
Type:
Info  
Subject:
LINK Club - Out of School Time Program Sustainability Planning Update  
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 1: Systemic Alignment
ACPS will build a culture of continuous improvement and design equitable systems for school and instructional improvement.
Goal 2: Instructional Excellence
ACPS will ensure that all students have access to and engagement with high-quality instruction.
Goal 3: Student Accessibility and Support
ACPS will ensure students have equitable access to and engagement with programs and supports that reduce barriers to learning.
Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation
ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement
ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
 
Policy:
KM - Relations with Community Organizations  
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable):
 
File Attachment:
240307_Memo_Out Of School Time Sustainability Update_ v1.pdf
240307_Presentation_OST Sustainability Update_v3.pdf
240307_ChildrenYouthMasterPlan_2025.pdf
240307_Increasing Opportunities for Youth_Report.pdf
240307_Increasing Opportunities for Youth_ For Alexandria Officials.pdf
 
Agenda Item Summary:
The Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement (CPE) is providing the School Board with a sustainability planning update on the comprehensive out of school time (OST) program, LINK Club. This program provides high quality and comprehensive after school services with an emphasis on academic support, enrichment, social-emotional support, health and wellness and family engagement to high-need, economically-disadvantaged students and their families. In school year 2023-24, LINK (Linking Instruction, Nurturing Knowledge) Club is serving over 600 students at 12 school and community sites across Alexandria City. With the sunset of elementary and secondary schools emergency relief (ESSER) funds this year, LINK Club programming is expecting a decrease in the number of students served in 2024-25.  
Background:
To address the goals of the City of Alexandria’s Children and Youth Community Plan 2025, which was unanimously approved in June 2014 by the Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City School Board and various areas of the ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity for All, the ACPS Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement designed and implemented LINK Club , a high-quality afterschool program with an emphasis on academic achievement support and an opportunity for high-need, low-income students to attend at no cost to families. In 2017, ACPS was awarded its first grant to support LINK Club out of school time programming from the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Center Grant.  
Recommendation
The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the information in this presentation to gain a better understanding of the current programming and potential pathways to move forward with sustainability that will ensure and strengthen comprehensive out of school time opportunities for ACPS students.  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Julia Burgos - Chief of School and Community Relations
Signed By:  
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Superintendent