Joseph Olchefske, CEO of Flex Academies, was interviewed on camera by global education website EdCircuit.

Olchefske explained how Flex Academies helps schools identify and manage “a diverse array of afterschool programming and enrichment” for their students.

A former district superintendent, he talked about the importance of afterschool enrichment as an important part of a child’s overall learning experience.

“We all know that a successful school goes beyond 3 o’clock,” said Olchefske. He called the time between 3 and 5 p.m. “the second shift of learning.”

In the interview, Olchefske also addressed the “activity gap” — the concept that less affluent children don’t have access to the same lessons, activities and enrichment classes that children of parents who can afford these activities may have. Noting that this gap is “a building block” of the overall “achievement gap,” he talked about how it negatively impacts the education experience of some students. He noted ways that Flex Academies could help through its partnering with schools and their PTAs.

“We all have to look at ways to bridge the activity gap,” said Olchefske.

EdCircuit Managing Editor Donna Krache welcomed Olchefske’s perspective. “We are so pleased to be able to introduce insightful voices like Joseph’s to our audience,” she said. “The story of Flex Academies is one that parents and educators need to hear.”

You can watch the interview online here:

http://www.edcircuit.com/after-school-becomes-new-playground-for-schools/