Partnership for Children & Youth serves as a bridge between decision-makers and on-the-ground program providers to ensure local and state policies meet the needs of children and families.

Decision-makers are often several steps removed from the realities on the ground. They may not be familiar with what families need from expanded learning programs or how to support the expanded learning workforce.

At the same time, expanded learning programs are busy serving youth and families. They often don’t have the capacity to communicate with decision-makers at the local or state levels. But they are a vital source of information about what kids and families need.

The California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance, or CA3, is coordinated by Partnership for Children & Youth and serves as a collective voice for afterschool programs. A coalition of expanded learning providers across California, CA3 has secured millions of dollars and supported the enactment of dozens of legislative proposals.

Key Accomplishments

Proposition 49 Implementation - Guided the rollout of the country’s largest investment in afterschool programs.

Research-Based Accountability Measures - Shifted measures of success for afterschool programs to focus on attendance instead of grades and test scores. Research shows that afterschool attendance drives school attendance.

Equitable Funding for Afterschool - Ensured priority funding for schools with at least 50% free and reduced lunch eligibility.

Historic Investments for COVID Recovery - Years of communicating the value of expanded learning led to a historic $4.6 billion for afterschool and summer programs.