Schools & Expanded Learning
PASA utilizes a public-private approach to expanded learning, pairing school teachers with informal educators from community organizations to lead students in hands-on, inquiry-based learning. This expanded learning video was filmed to showcase the effect co-teaching has on the adults in PASA's AfterZone Summer Scholars Program.
Additionally, a number of AfterZone programs enlist the expertise of Providence’s teachers. Other teachers also join in Club AfterZone, working with students on academic skills and other learning activities. Partnering with teachers strengthens the bridge between out-of-school and in-school learning, as well as ties between PASA and the School Department.
Class Credit for Expanded Learning
Building upon the success of PASA's Summer Scholars Program, the Providence Public School District invited PASA to help design an expanded learning model with Roger Williams middle school, a federally mandated turnaround school. Through this unique pilot initiative, two classes of targeted youth participate for an extra hour during the school day in the AfterZone Scholars—educational programs that combine academics with high-quality inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
As with the summer model, this 7th period class is co-taught by a generalist teacher and community educators from Save the Bay and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, supported by pre-service teachers through a PASA AmeriCorps program, and blends intensive off-campus field learning experiences twice each week with related academic student projects, culminating in a year-end showcase of what has been learned.
