District updates board on Expanded Learning (ELOP) partnerships, coverage and program licensing

Atascadero Unified School District staff gave an informational update on the state’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) at the April 22 board meeting, describing partnerships, site coverage, licensing and demand.

What the district presented: EJ Rossi said the district partners with Champions and the Boys & Girls Club to run ELOP after-school programs (TK–6), intersession and summer activities, and that the district’s original ELOP plan (approved May 17, 2022) must be reviewed annually and presented every three years. Champions and Boys & Girls Club operate at most sites; Carissa Plains does not currently host a program, and district staff said there have been no family requests to bus students to a site providing ELOP.

Spaces and licensing: Staff said programs commonly use classrooms rather than multipurpose rooms; Champions and Boys & Girls Club must meet licensing requirements and the district works with providers to license multiple campus spaces as needed. Fine Arts Academy and some other schools use classroom space rather than a dedicated multipurpose room.

Enrollment and priorities: Rossi said total enrollment varies by site and the district had two sites with waiting lists; when waiting lists exist, state priorities require that unduplicated pupils (e.g., low-income, foster youth, English learners) are prioritized for available slots. ELOP funding is allocated as a lump-sum to the district based on qualifying students; providers use sliding-scale fees for families who do not qualify for subsidized slots.

Interaction with school programs: Trustees asked about overlap between Lighthouse after-school offerings and ELOP; staff responded that Lighthouse programs historically were district-funded and now are being supported through ELOP in many schools, and students participating in Lighthouse can continue into Champions or Boys & Girls Club extended care. Trustees also asked whether arts should be explicitly included in program descriptions; staff said the third-party proposals (which the partners supply as part of licensing and state requirements) provide more curricular detail than the district summary.

Next steps: The update was informational; staff encouraged trustees to visit sites. The district said it will continue working with Champions and Boys & Girls Club on licensing and space management and noted that available slots and waiting lists change by site and season.

Ending: Trustees requested site visits to see programs in action; staff said visits are welcome and encouraged. The board did not take action on ELOP at the April 22 meeting.