Elementary Network Guiding Principles

The Guiding Principles provide a shared and explicit foundation for the Network by identifying what is at the core of and guides our collective efforts.

Equity

We prioritize our actions and decision-making around children and families that have the most to gain from participation in quality out-of-school time (OST) experiences and we direct power and resources accordingly; this includes both centering children and families and elevating the voices of people that are closest to them.

Young People First

We hold the strengths and needs of children as urgent, and take action - even when imperfect - to benefit young people; this entails actively eliciting and integrating the diverse perspectives of children and families and continuously innovating, iterating, ideating, and improving accordingly.

Collective Power

We recognize that advancing change that prioritizes equity and access requires interdependence and collective action-i.e., power with; we are committed to identifying and creatively engaging all available resources-human and otherwise.

Access

We advance permeability across systems and dismantle barriers to participation in OST opportunities and experiences; this entails actively partnering with our families and children to ensure that they attain the positive OST experiences they seek now, while redesigning and enhancing our systems to advance access permanently.

Innovate to
Build & Disrupt

We imagine and implement new strategies and structures to transform mindsets, disrupt constraints and breakdown barriers in order to manifest our stated purpose and guiding principles.

Building on Strengths

We identify and build on systems, structures, and processes that are already working or showing promise; this includes noticing and asking, “What are we already doing?” “What is already working?”

"WE"-ness

We maintain a spirit of invitation and welcome for people that are committed to uplifting these Guiding Principles; this includes meeting people where they are with respect and goodwill, honoring people for what they can contribute, and weaving connections within and across individuals, institutions, and communities to respond.