Learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms, it happens in neighborhoods, community centers, parks, cultural institutions, and other engaging spaces across Denver.

The new Denver Learning Ecosystem website is a digital map designed to showcase the many out-of-school learning opportunities that exist for youth and families. Whether you’re a provider, system leader, funder, or someone invested in expanding equitable access to learning for Denver youth, this platform helps illuminate the broader ecosystem and calls us to invest in its long-term sustainability.

Why the Ecosystem Was Created

Out-of-school learning opportunities are critical to youth development, but access to them is far from equal.

For every child currently in an afterschool program, three more are waiting to get in, amounting to nearly 25 million children nationwide whose families would enroll them if programs were available. In Colorado, 35% of parents say their child would participate in a program if accessible, compared to just 15% currently enrolled. These missed opportunities are not simply about supply, they reflect broader systemic barriers that make it harder for families in under-resourced communities to access enriching, youth-centered experiences. 

National data show that families with the greatest financial constraints spend significantly less on out-of-school learning, five times less annually than families with more resources. At the same time, research affirms that the more supportive relationships a young person has with mentors, educators, and community members, the more likely they are to thrive academically, build confidence, and expand their aspirations.

We created the Denver Learning Ecosystem to respond to this growing gap by highlighting and better coordinating the vibrant, learner-centered network that already exists. By mapping the ecosystem of people and programs intentionally working outside the traditional school system, we can:

• Elevate the value of organizations that support youth in more flexible, community-driven ways 
• Identify geographic and programmatic gaps and how they intersect with demographics and socioeconomic factors
• Foster meaningful partnerships that improve the quality and sustainability of the ecosystem
• Support coordinated advocacy for greater investment in youth-serving systems

This platform is a call to action for funders, systems leaders, and community champions to help resource, strengthen, and sustain the web of learning that already surrounds many Denver youth, and that should be available to all.

What Do We Mean by “Out-of-School”?

Also referred to as out-of-system or education innovation, this term includes any educational experience that happens outside of the traditional K–12 school system. These include:

• Summer or after-school programs
• Homeschool or hybrid schooling models
• Microschools
• Organizations providing support to youth or families to access out-of-system learning, such as navigators, transportation providers, communication partners

 …and much more.

These experiences are shaping what’s possible for education today, and this platform ensures they’re visible, valued, and connected.

How It Was Created

This site is the result of a deep collaboration among three nonprofit organizations — RESCHOOL, Moonshot, and Embark Education — whose work intersects with youth, families, and providers in the out-of-school space. Together, we set out to answer this question:

In 2023, we contracted Walnut Hill Workshop to launch a community survey that helped build the foundation of the ecosystem’s data set. We then partnered with The Data Face to design and build the website and interactive map.

Who the Website Serves

The Denver Learning Ecosystem was designed as a tool for those who shape systems and expand opportunity: community-based providers, funders, policy leaders, and advocates. It helps identify where learning is happening, where gaps remain, and where investment and coordination can make the biggest impact.

Key Features

The site offers multiple ways to explore:

• Plot View shows program clusters by focus area, age group, tax status, and more.
• Map View lets users search geographically for learning opportunities.
• Table View provides an easy-to-scan list of programs with filters by cost, language, and service type.

Each organization profile includes contact info, service offerings, and a list of similar organizations to help users explore even more.

Watch a walkthrough of how to use the site below:

How to Contribute or Update Information

If you’re part of an organization offering out-of-school or out-of-system learning experiences, we invite you to be part of this growing network.

• Add or update your organization using this Airtable form

Start exploring the Denver Learning Ecosystem today! Discover the people, programs, and partnerships that are already working to expand what’s possible for youth, and consider how you or your organization can support, invest in, or connect with this growing network of community-driven learning.

What does it look like to center families in education funding? On April 16, 2025, RESCHOOL and Outschool.org convened a powerful conversation to explore this question and share a vision for a more equitable, family-driven future of education.

The live webinar, titled Invest in Families: Direct-to-Family Funding for Educational Equity, brought together three leading voices in education policy and innovation:

• Amy Anderson, Executive Director of RESCHOOL
• Justin Dent, Executive Director of Outschool.org
• Juliet Squire, Senior Partner at Bellwether (Moderator)

Together, they unpacked insights from two new briefs co-authored by RESCHOOL and Outschool.org:

• Putting Families in the Driver’s Seat – A policy framework for designing equitable, accessible direct-to-family funding programs.
• The Transformative Power of Microgrant Programs – A philanthropic blueprint for closing the enrichment gap through nimble, family-centered investments.

Why Now?

As Juliet framed in her opening remarks, direct-to-family education funding — through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), microgrants, and other models — is gaining traction across the country. But without equity at the center, these policies risk reinforcing the very disparities they seek to solve.

This conversation offered a timely response to a fast-moving policy moment, providing both vision and guidance for how to get it right.

What We Learned

Microgrants and ESAs: Two Tools, Shared Goals

Amy and Justin began by distinguishing the unique roles of microgrants and ESAs.

• Microgrants are typically small, flexible grants (often $500–$2,000) designed to help families cover out-of-school learning expenses, like tutoring, enrichment programs, or extracurriculars.
  
• ESAs are broader tools, often funded by state dollars, that allow families to use education funds for a wide range of approved expenses, from private school tuition to therapies to educational courses and materials.

Both models offer direct purchasing power to families, but must be designed with support and equity in mind.

Trusting Families, Building Access

Amy shared how RESCHOOL’s Learning Dollars Fund, launched with just $5,000 and 10 families, grew into a community-powered model that helped shape Denver’s $5M My Spark program. The key? Trusting families to know what their children need—and making it easy to act on that knowledge.

Justin echoed that message from a policy lens, noting how Outschool.org’s work with Virginia’s Learning Acceleration Grant program revealed critical barriers. Without navigation support, many families—especially those facing economic or language challenges—struggled to access available funds. Once support systems were added, participation doubled among low-income families.

What Equity Requires

Throughout the panel discussion, three themes emerged as essential for equity:

1. Design for Access, Not Just Eligibility
   • Outreach must be culturally responsive and multilingual.
   • Technology should not be a barrier—application systems must be mobile-friendly and easy to use.
   • Families need support choosing and navigating learning providers.
     
2. Leverage Community Partnerships
   • Trust is often built through familiar, local organizations—nonprofits, schools, cultural groups—who can help families feel safe and supported accessing funds.
     
3. Start Small, Scale Intentionally
   • Philanthropy can play a catalytic role in testing, iterating, and scaling programs. RESCHOOL’s initial microgrant pilot helped demonstrate viability and demand, paving the way for public investment.

Watch the Full Webinar

The session closed with a call to action: to rethink how education dollars flow, and ensure they’re reaching the families who need them most.

If you missed the event or want to revisit the conversation, the full recording is available below:

Dig Deeper: Read the Briefs

Download the two co-authored briefs to explore the full recommendations and real-world case studies discussed during the webinar:

Philanthropy has always been a powerful force for social change, and in education, its potential to drive equity has never been more critical. By investing in direct-to-family funding programs, philanthropists can provide the resources and flexibility families need while laying the groundwork for large-scale public policy adoption. But how exactly does philanthropy pave the way for equitable education? Let’s explore.

Philanthropy as a Proof-of-Concept Driver

Many of today’s most successful education funding programs began as small-scale pilots supported by philanthropic investments. For example:

• My Spark Denver was created after seeing evidence of the impact of RESCHOOL’s philanthropically funded learning dollars funds that have invested over $1 million in direct cash programs to expand access to out-of-school learning for Colorado youth. The $5 million My Spark fund was created via a cross-sector partnership with $1.5 million in private funding from Gary Community Ventures and a $3.5 million investment from the City of Denver, which enabled the program to serve 4,000 middle-school-age students with $1,000 microgrants per student. 
• The Virginia Learning Acceleration Grant (VLAG) program received federal ESSER funding but relied on private philanthropy, including $230,000 for family navigation support, to ensure that 12,500 families could access and utilize the funds​​.

These initiatives demonstrate how philanthropy bridges critical gaps, validates innovative models, and inspires public sector investment to scale impactful solutions.

Case Studies of Impact

Philanthropy-backed programs like those led by RESCHOOL and Outschool.org have not only transformed individual lives but also reshaped how policymakers think about education funding. By showing what’s possible, these programs have inspired systemic change and public adoption.

How Philanthropists Can Get Involved

• Invest Early: Support pilot programs to test innovative funding models and gather valuable data.
• Advocate for Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between philanthropy, government, employers, and community organizations.
• Focus on Equity: Prioritize programs that remove systemic barriers and target families furthest from opportunity by centering their needs into how they design and implement the programs.

Philanthropy has the power to drive transformative change in education. By working together, we can create scalable solutions that empower families and reshape the future of education. Download the philanthropy briefs today to learn more.

Over the past two weeks, RESCHOOL has been overwhelmed by the incredible generosity we’ve seen during both Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day. Thanks to the support of our community, we’ve made important strides in closing the enrichment gap and creating opportunities for every learner to thrive.

As we look back on these moments of collective action, we’re reminded why our mission—to make learning opportunities accessible to all—matters so deeply. At RESCHOOL, we see learning opportunities everywhere: in museum visits, neighborhood workshops, and hands-on exploration that sparks curiosity and growth. Our work is about making these moments accessible to all families and partnering with them to shape their own educational paths and create lifelong memories.

Why Learning Happens Everywhere

Traditional education systems often focus on a “one-size-fits-all” approach, emphasizing standardized curricula and classroom instruction. While this model serves many students, it doesn’t reflect the variety of ways young people learn and grow. Learning can—and does—happen everywhere.

For families, meaningful learning often takes place beyond the classroom walls—whether it’s a trip to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, a walk through the Denver Zoo, or an art workshop at the Denver Art Museum. These experiences help young people explore their passions, develop life skills, and connect with the world around them in new and meaningful ways.

RESCHOOL is committed to ensuring every family can access these enriching experiences. By expanding access to out-of-school learning opportunities, we’re creating an inclusive learning ecosystem that reflects each child’s unique path.

Families and Communities at the Heart of Learning

RESCHOOL believes that families should have the freedom to shape their children’s learning journeys. No one knows their children’s needs better than they do. That’s why our work focuses on supporting families with resources like Learning Dollars and Pick-a-Pass, which offers families options to choose the experiences that best align with their goals and interests.

Through partnerships with local organizations and cultural institutions, we’re not only supporting individual learners but also strengthening the fabric of the community. These collaborations help families connect, learn together, and create memories that shape their lives.

By placing families and communities at the center of our work, we’re fostering a more inclusive and flexible approach to learning—one that reflects the full spectrum of experiences that happen in everyday life.

Why This Work Matters

Educational equity means ensuring every child has access to the opportunities they need to thrive, no matter their background or financial situation. But when learning is limited to classroom-based models, many young people are unintentionally left behind.

At RESCHOOL, we’re broadening the definition of learning, and building pathways to resources that allow families to participate in life-enriching experiences like cultural programs, museum visits, and outdoor exploration. These learning ecosystems—networks of community resources and hands-on experiences—should be accessible to everyone.

With the support of our donors during Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day, we’re bridging the gap to ensure all families have access to these transformative opportunities.

Keep the Momentum Going

Although Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day have passed, the need for equitable access to learning opportunities remains urgent. Your continued support is critical to sustaining this momentum and partnering with families year-round.

• Become a Monthly Donor: Did you know that new monthly donations are still eligible for matching through the Colorado Gives Foundation? When you set up a recurring gift, your first month’s donation will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100), doubling your impact while matching funds last.
• Make a One-Time Gift: Every contribution helps create opportunities for families to explore, learn, and grow. From cultural memberships to local partnerships, your support builds the pathways that families rely on.

Together, we can ensure that learning happens everywhere—for every child, in every community.

Donate Today

In the conversation about educational equity, a critical piece is often overlooked: the enrichment gap. This term describes the disparity in access to out-of-school learning opportunities between families with greater resources and those with fewer. These experiences — such as art programs, science camps, museum visits, and sports — play a vital role in a child’s development, yet they remain out of reach for many. This Giving Tuesday, we’re focusing on bridging this enrichment gap, ensuring every child has access to opportunities that enrich, inspire, and educate beyond the classroom.

What is the Enrichment Gap, and Why Does It Matter?

For many families, the high cost of extracurricular programs is a significant barrier to participation. Research shows that by sixth grade, children from economically advantaged backgrounds have accumulated 6,000 more hours of learning outside school than their peers from low-income families. These gaps in enrichment opportunities contribute not only to academic differences but also to disparities in social, emotional, and cognitive development. Out-of-school learning fosters curiosity, confidence, and a sense of exploration—all essential for lifelong success.

RESCHOOL’s approach to closing the enrichment gap emphasizes flexible funding and family choice. Our Learning Dollars and Pick-a-Pass programs offer families resources to participate in extracurricular activities, cultural events, and other out-of-school learning experiences. This flexibility ensures families can select experiences that fit their interests and schedules, helping children access learning that resonates with them personally.

Bringing Equity Beyond the Classroom

Traditional education systems often overlook the critical role that out-of-school experiences play in shaping a child’s worldview. RESCHOOL aims to redefine what learning looks like by expanding educational access beyond the classroom. Through community partnerships, we’re working to create an ecosystem where cultural and recreational resources are accessible to all, regardless of income. Programs like the Pick-a-Pass membership give families access to enriching institutions such as the Denver Zoo and Denver Botanic Gardens, where children can learn through hands-on experiences and exploration.

On Giving Tuesday, your support fuels these connections, creating a future where learning is inclusive, diverse, and empowering.

The Role of Community in Enriching Lives

RESCHOOL’s partnerships in Adams County highlight the value of community-driven enrichment. By collaborating with local organizations like Cultivando and the Colorado Soccer Foundation, we help fund programs that families specifically request—initiatives that reflect the community’s culture, values, and needs. For example, children in Adams County have taken part in the Colorado Youth Mariachi Program, which celebrates cultural heritage through music, and the soccer foundation’s programs, which build teamwork and leadership skills.

Supporting the Next Generation of Learners

When we address the enrichment gap, we’re investing in a future where every child has the chance to develop a rich, multi-dimensional educational experience. This Giving Tuesday, your support enables RESCHOOL to provide families with funding for these impactful out-of-school experiences. Let’s work together to make sure every young person has access to opportunities that spark creativity, cultivate skills, and expand their horizons beyond the school day.

Join us in closing the enrichment gap this Giving Tuesday, so every child has the resources to learn, grow, and thrive.

Are you ready to support Equity for Every Learner? Visit our donation page to contribute and help families access the learning opportunities they deserve. Every gift brings us closer to a community where all young people can explore, grow, and thrive.