MASSACHUSETTS HAS A generational opportunity to change thousands of lives by filling a conspicuous gap in our education system. We can do this by giving our students—particularly the most disadvantaged—more of what they actually want and need: robust summer and after-school learning and enrichment opportunities.
Currently, the state’s primary vehicles for funding such opportunities—the Afterschool/Out-of-School Time (ASOST) and Summer Learning budget items—are an important initial step in the right direction. However, much more is needed to meet the needs of students and families.
Consider the scale of that need: Children spend 80 percent of their waking hours during their K-12 years outside of school. It is a shocking but true statistic. And children learn every bit as much, if not more, outside of…
