Policy & Advocacy
Washington’s children and youth deserve equitable public policies that support their individual needs all day and all year. That's why School’s Out Washington acts as a strong voice for expanded learning opportunities across Washington State and in our nation’s capital. We promote equitable policies that ensure children and youth continue to learn after school and in the summer in high-quality programs. Join us today!
Policy Priorities
In Washington, SOWA is promoting policies that ensure our state’s youth continue to learn after school and in the summer in high-quality programs. SOWA informs policy decisions and acts as a rallying voice for the expanded learning field in our state capitol and beyond. At the federal level, we are focused on protecting 21st Century Community Learning Centers (PDF link) and carefully watching appropriations.
Advocacy Events
SOWA hosts a number of events throughout the year to support our policy mission, ranging from advocacy days at the state capitol, to trainings where ELO professionals can learn how to be advocates for the field, or meetings where members of the community can have a say in our legislative priorities.
Join the Washington ELO Network
The Washington Expanded Learning Opportunities Network supports and promotes policies that increase access to high-quality expanded learning opportunities for youth in Washington. Together, ELO providers, K12 education and school-age child care stakeholders, families, and youth can come together to help improve the access to and the quality of ELOs.
Join the Washington ELO Network to help advance our shared goals to support youth and help them reach their full potential in communities across Washington.
How You Can Get Involved
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive notification of upcoming advocacy events and meetings in your region. You can also sign up for our action alerts to be notified when bills, votes, or issues facing expanded learning come up in the state legislature, Congress, or locally.
For more information, contact SOWA's Policy and Advocacy Director David Beard.