SCRInsider: Rethinking How, When, and Where Kids Learn

It’s hard to believe, but school is already back in session in some parts of the country. Others are gearing up to return in the coming weeks. It’s safe to say we still aren’t back to “normal,” but the bigger question many of us have been weighing is, should we ever be exactly as we were before?

The last two school years laid bare the many inequities that affect K-12 schooling as well as the many incredible strengths of our educators, youth workers, young people and families. With billions of dollars in new federal recovery funding for education, we have the chance to address inequities and maximize strengths—we have the chance to do something big. Including redefining when, where, how and with whom kids learn.

BellXcel Board Member and former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville has long advocated for reinventing K-12 education. It felt like a great time to sit down with Paul and get his latest thinking on what stays and what goes. What opportunities do we have as we launch the new school year? What’s holding us back? How can we maximize public investments? Read our insightful Q&A here.

And, don’t forget to check out SCRI’s Greatest Hits on our social media channels for a roundup of our top resources from the past year. You never know what you might have missed!

Related Resources

Building Bridges During Challenging Times: How BellXcel Remote Summer Programs Kept Youth, Families and Staff Engaged in Learning During COVID-19

December 17, 2020 Research Brief

SCRI found evidence that BellXcel Remote did help to bridge the gap between a disrupted 2019-20 school year and the new 2020-21 school year and was able to engage youth in summer distance learning. Analysis of end-of-program stakeholder surveys demonstrates that the program kept scholars, families, and staff engaged in a myriad of academic, enrichment, and SEL activities.

Families Are Key to Building Back Better: Unpacking Elements of Effective Engagement in Remote Learning

May 20, 2021 Research Brief

Tasked with planning and implementing remote learning for over 55 million children in the U.S. in the wake of COVID-19 school closures, districts and teachers relied heavily on families to support youth learning. SCRI discovered that remote summer programs using the BellXcel model were able to established supportive and consistent relationships between staff and families which empowered families to support their children’s learning. Staff integrated high-quality family engagement strategies throughout the program which included frequent communication and meaningful outreach to support participants.

Resources