Giving Compass' Take:

• Sivan Tuchman and Travis Pillow explain how researchers discovered inequity in out-of-school enrichment opportunities in Denver, disadvantaging black and Latino students. 

• How can funders best help increase access to out-of-school enrichment opportunities? 

• Learn about the potential of vouchers for after-school programs. 

We hear a lot about the achievement gap, but people don’t usually talk about the access gap. If they do, they mean access to high-quality schools. But schools aren’t the only thing that students need access to in order to reach their goals. Access to enrichment matters, too.

A new analysis by researchers from the University of Washington eScience Institute, in partnership with CRPE and ReSchool Colorado, shows a recurring trend that students who are black or Hispanic, and those who come from households with lower incomes or less-educated parents, tend to have less access to out-of-school opportunities that might affect their learning.

There are thousands of programs within cities that offer students the chance to learn about topics schools are often unable to teach or can no longer afford to offer. Arts, music, and sports programs enrich learning, promote social-emotional awareness, and may help students build background knowledge. A growing number of studies have found that trips to theaters and museums, learning opportunities during school breaks, and other enrichment programs benefit a wide range of student outcomes. But not every student has the same access to these sorts of opportunities.

Read the full article about out-of-school enrichment opportunities by Sivan Tuchman and Travis Pillow at The 74.