As the pandemic continues to confine many children and families to their homes, it is entirely possible that more than 55 million students could go without formal schooling for upwards of 5-6 months.

Given what we know about the impact of the summer learning gap on student achievement, access to resources, and student health and well-being, the impact of months-long school closure could be catastrophic.

Harnessing over 25 years of leadership in youth development, BellXcel and its affiliate the Sperling Center for Research and Innovation (SCRI), have created the following report on out-of-school time (OST) research, strategies, and practices as an important guidepost for schools, educators, community organizations, and families.

This is the moment for innovative action and partnerships across the education collective to seize the enormous potential to diminish the negative effects of these closures on youth across our country.

Download: Leveraging Findings from OST Research and Practice to Lessen COVID-19 Learning Gaps