Throughout my time as a student, from an early age to graduate school, my most powerful learning experiences occurred in what we call here "out-of-school time (OST) programs." I did a lot, some on my own, others based in the community: sports programs, Boy Scouts (and camp), Army Cadets, debating and public speaking, student newspaper. And so much more. For me, these programs were just 'there'. But they take time and a community to get right, and that's where this guide comes in. It describes four major principles: youth as network builders, interest-driven learning engagement, responsiveness to family contexts (addressing barriers like transportation, scheduling, and cost broadens), and grounding in long-term relationships. These are principles that I think should guide actual school-time programs as well. They create the real value that elite institutions provide students (as compared to training factories that emphasize job-ready skills). And long-term, I can envision the time we allocate to OST increasing and our emphasis on formal learning decreasing.
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