AOSN Celebrates NSLW
By Graycen Bigger | July 15, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Laveta Wills-Hale
Network Director, Arkansas Out of School Network (AOSN)
(501) 351-7474 | lwills-hale@astate.edu
Arkansas Celebrates National Summer Learning Week with Spotlight on Local Programs
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (July 15, 2025) – The Arkansas Out of School Network (AOSN), in partnership with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and Arkansas State University Division of Childhood Services, is proud to celebrate National Summer Learning Week from July 14–18, 2025. This nationwide campaign raises awareness about the critical importance of summer learning in keeping children safe, engaged, and prepared for the school year ahead.
As part of the celebration, Arkansas will host a series of site visits on Thursday, July 17 in Little Rock, spotlighting innovative local programs that exemplify this year’s five core themes: Literacy & Learning, Arts, Wellness & Sports, STEM, and Community & Leadership.
As part of the celebration, Arkansas will host a series of site visits on Thursday, July 17 in Little Rock, spotlighting innovative local programs that exemplify this year’s five core themes: Literacy & Learning, Arts, Wellness & Sports, STEM, and Community & Leadership.
- Life Skills for Youth, Inc. (9:00–9:45 a.m.)
13,000 West Baseline Road, Little Rock, AR
Led by Executive Director Larry “Coach” Clark Sr., Life Skills for Youth provides positive, skills-based programming for at-risk youth in Central Arkansas.
- Our House Shelter (10:05–10:45 a.m.)
302 East Roosevelt, Little Rock, AR
Executive Director Ben Goodwin will highlight their robust youth programming designed to break the cycle of homelessness through education, job training, and wraparound services.
- Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center – CALS (11:05 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock, AR
Ellen Samples, Director of Programming, will lead a tour showcasing literacy and STEAM programming designed to build curiosity and confidence during the summer months.
These site visits will highlight how local organizations are providing meaningful enrichment experiences that combat learning loss and promote holistic youth development. Members of the press are invited to attend and participate in a Q&A session at the conclusion of the tour at the Clinton Children’s Library.
Little Rock city officials will offer remarks alongside NSLA CEO Aaron Dworkin, as Arkansas joins communities across the country in championing the importance of summer enrichment.
Little Rock city officials will offer remarks alongside NSLA CEO Aaron Dworkin, as Arkansas joins communities across the country in championing the importance of summer enrichment.
“National Summer Learning Week is a critical reminder that learning doesn’t stop when the school year ends,” said Dr. Laveta Wills-Hale, Director of AOSN. “We are proud to lift up these exceptional programs that are helping Arkansas youth thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally—year-round.”
Arkansas’s summer learning programs offer benefit more than 80,000 students and their families annually. They prevent summer learning loss, enhance academic skills, foster social development and wellness, as well as provide access to nutritious meals and supportive environments. Summer learning programs also offer opportunities for skill development, job training, and workforce exploration, particularly in areas like STEM, arts, and communications. An overwhelming majority (89%) of Arkansas parents support public funding for summer learning programs, while 83% say these programs help them keep their jobs.
To learn more about National Summer Learning Week, visit https://www.summerlearning.org/.
Arkansas’s summer learning programs offer benefit more than 80,000 students and their families annually. They prevent summer learning loss, enhance academic skills, foster social development and wellness, as well as provide access to nutritious meals and supportive environments. Summer learning programs also offer opportunities for skill development, job training, and workforce exploration, particularly in areas like STEM, arts, and communications. An overwhelming majority (89%) of Arkansas parents support public funding for summer learning programs, while 83% say these programs help them keep their jobs.
To learn more about National Summer Learning Week, visit https://www.summerlearning.org/.
About AOSN:
AOSN is committed to creating safe, healthy, and enriching experiences for Arkansas youth during out-of-school times by helping to strengthen, expand and sustain Arkansas’s school-based and school-linked services to children and youth ages-5-19. AOSN is one of the 50-State Statewide Afterschool Networks supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. AOSN is a sponsored initiative of Arkansas State University housed within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Childhood Services.
About NSLA:
The National Summer Learning Association is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gap by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities.
Back
AOSN is committed to creating safe, healthy, and enriching experiences for Arkansas youth during out-of-school times by helping to strengthen, expand and sustain Arkansas’s school-based and school-linked services to children and youth ages-5-19. AOSN is one of the 50-State Statewide Afterschool Networks supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. AOSN is a sponsored initiative of Arkansas State University housed within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Childhood Services.
About NSLA:
The National Summer Learning Association is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gap by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities.
