2024 Expanded Learning Opportunities Week in Nebraska

The Nebraska State Legislature recognizes the week of March 4 through March 8, 2024, as Expanded Learning Opportunities Week in Nebraska.

Joel Bramhall of Crete Cardinal CLC Named a National Afterschool Ambassador

In March of 2024, the Afterschool Alliance announced it had selected Joel Bramhall, the Director of Cardinal Community Learning Centers for Crete Public Schools, to serve as a 2024 Afterschool Ambassador. He is one of only 15 afterschool leaders in the country chosen for the honor this year. Afterschool Ambassadors continue working with local afterschool programs while serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term, working with community leaders and policy makers, organizing events, and in other ways growing support for the afterschool and summer learning programs families rely on.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Afterschool Alliance to increase awareness and bolster support for afterschool and summer learning programs,” said Bramhall. “I have witnessed firsthand the impact these programs have on Nebraska students and families, especially as they work to overcome challenges. That is especially important now, as many of students have ground to make up and afterschool programs can help them do that. I am so proud to be part of the afterschool movement and to be a 2024 Afterschool Ambassador.”

The Case for Afterschool

The research is clear – when young people regularly participate in high-quality Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs), we see improvements in the core A, B, Cs of school success – attendance goes up, positive behaviors increase (and negative behaviors go down) and course work (and grades) improves. One of the primary goals of Beyond School Bells is to support state and local policy that helps Nebraska communities create more, high-quality sustainable ELO programs that enroll more of Nebraska’s highest need students. We leverage our partnerships to help policy makers understand what makes quality ELO programs, how these programs are financed, how they can engage the strengths of all Nebraska communities and, ultimately, what these programs can do to enhance outcomes for all Nebraska students and our future economy.

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