Reconnecting Students After Pandemic Fallout
Nearly 3,000 children across Southern Dallas County schools now have access to programming that uplifts their social and emotional well-being.
Reconnecting Students After Pandemic Fallout
During the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, economically disadvantaged students disproportionately faced high levels of chronic absenteeism leading to months of “learning loss." As a result, Texas Instruments recognized the opportunity to not only invest in STEM support for schools as they had historically, but decided to also fund an initiative focusing on social and emotional wellness. Heal Play Learn (HPL) was birthed the Summer of 2021 to provide districts with out of school time programming that rebuilt eroded relationships and reignited a love of learning through reimagined enrichment offerings. United Way of Metropolitan Dallas selected CoSpero Consulting as the technical provider to craft and implement summer programming for roughly 450 DeSoto and Cedar Hill ISD students.
Empowering Minds, Enriching Hearts
Keeping social and emotional wellness at the forefront, CoSpero curated a list of 18 partners to lead enrichment activities. We focused on recruiting not only a variety of activities from robotics to yoga and mindfulness to fine arts, but also employing minority-led providers that reflected the participating families. Students are exposed to new activities with hands-on, project-based learning activities that enhance their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Sparking Students Growth and Passion for Learning
Today, CoSpero's footprint has grown as we manage the enrichment initiative year-round for 3 Southern Dallas school districts across after school enrichment and summer programming alike. As a result of participating in HPL programming, students' negative feelings towards school have decreased by 40% and their love for learning is continuing to grow. As we continue to lead the project, focus groups and surveys with district staff, students and parents guide our selection process and measure impact.
Susan Hoff
Chief Strategy & Impact Officer
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
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