Think Together Partners With Compton Unified School District To Provide Afterschool Programs

COMPTON, Calif., March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Together, one of California's largest nonprofit providers of expanded learning programs, is now partnering with Compton Unified School District (CUSD) to provide After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs to 28 schools serving over 2,300 students.

Think Together and CUSD share a mutual interest in providing students from low-income families with high-quality learning experiences that help to close the achievement gap. Think Together and CUSD are working together to implement an afterschool program model that aligns with in-school instruction to create a cohesive learning day for students.

"Providing quality, enriching afterschool experiences for students has been shown to both improve student achievement, and provide safe environments for students to remain engaged in educational and fun experiences beyond the school day," said CUSD Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley.

CUSD previously operated the afterschool programs in-house. Due to rising costs with employee benefits that make operating the programs internally fiscally challenging, the district issued requests for proposals to partner with qualified afterschool providers. Think Together applied and was selected in November 2018.   

"The critical importance of investing in quality afterschool programming is undeniable—students benefit and parents benefit," said Micah Ali, CUSD President. "The Board has full confidence in Think Together as our afterschool program partner. We are proud to be able to offer this valuable programming at almost every school site in the district."

Think Together's core afterschool ASES program will engage Compton students in enriching, collaborative activities that focus on Think Together's Programmatic Spotlights: English Language Arts [ELA], math, STEM, arts and enrichment, and youth development. Think Together will work with Compton USD teachers and administrators to make sure afterschool curriculum is academically aligned to support district goals as outlined in the Local Control and Accountability Program (LCAP).

"Think Together is thrilled to partner with CUSD," said Think Together Deputy Chief of Innovations & Partnerships Tommy Brewer II, "We're committed to working with the district to prepare its students for college and career."

With this new partnership, Think Together will partner with CUSD to change the odds for kids and support the district's commitment to "elevate Compton."

SOURCE Think Together