South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered

SCALE aims to aid leaders in maintaining and growing high-quality, evidence-based afterschool and summer learning programs across the state of South Carolina while building local and state support for this important work.

With the support of the SCALE fellowship, participants will be prepared to enhance the afterschool and summer workforce, strengthen the quality of programming across their organization, increase the number of students served during expanded learning time, and sustain programs through partnerships, funding, and staffing. The capstone “SCALE Up Project” is job-embedded and incorporates one or more of these focus areas.

South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered fellows will be chosen by a state and national committee of afterschool and summer learning experts. The cohort will reflect a wide variety of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, including geographic representation, grade levels or special populations served, type of organization (schools, districts, community-based, and faith-based), and leadership experience. All fellows should currently work in the field of afterschool and summer learning and anticipate remaining in this work for at least the next 18 months. Potential fellows should apply with the support of their supervisors and with the intent of applying research-based practices to their work and across their organization.

SCALE is a 10-month program that is a hybrid in-person and virtual educational experience. The program begins with a weeklong intensive on Furman’s campus. SCALE fellows will then participate in monthly webinars, take part in a learning journey to a nationally acclaimed summer learning program and in-state site swaps, and work on a capstone project related to afterschool or summer learning. Fellows are expected to commit to all portions of the experience.

The SCALE curriculum, presented and facilitated by national and local afterschool and summer learning leaders, covers topics such as best-practices program design, program assessment and evaluation, equitable and trauma-informed relationship building skills, arts-integration, and leadership styles. The program is directed by Amy Keely, a leader for two decades in the field of afterschool and summer learning. The curriculum was developed in partnership with a national advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Terry Peterson and including experts from the Afterschool Alliance, South Carolina Afterschool Alliance, multiple school districts, and outstanding local programs. A lead facilitator, Ron Fairchild, president and CEO of Smarter Learning Group, ties all of the learnings together and works closely with fellows during the year to help them develop their individual SCALE Up Project plans. Participant fellows will receive continuing education hours for their participation.

Through the support of the South Carolina Department of Education and utilization of American Rescue Plan funding, the South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered program is offered free of charge to participants. This includes expenses associated with travel to Greenville and Furman, lodging and meals, and learning journey participation.

Applications open in the fall each year (late September or early October) and are open for any eligible participant (see above information on eligibility). Applications consist of a form that is made available annually during the application window and require a letter of support from the applicant’s supervisor.