Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary After-School Programs (2016)
Burnt Mills and South Lake Elementary students at AIM’s action for Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary in December 2015
Over 1,000 people of all races, ethnicities, classes, and faiths packed the pews in St. Camillus Catholic Church on December 9, 2015. They were all there with AIM to demand funding for afterschool programs at Burnt Mills and South Lake Elementary Schools.
Because of AIM’s organizing, Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary—a free, high-quality afterschool program—has served over 7,500 students at 16 (soon to be 18) low-income elementary schools in Montgomery County. Excel Beyond the Bell has also become the platform for AIM’s organizing with parents at these schools, making a powerful impact in the school communities and beyond.
The EBBE Pilot:
When AIM leaders launched a listening campaign in Montgomery County schools in 2014, one issue rose above all others: parents wanted a safe, enriching place for their children to go after school. Families noticed the stark “opportunity gap” across the county—some students were stressed from over-commitment while others had nothing to do after school. Working-class parents wanted art, ballet, soccer, and other enrichment opportunities, as well as academic support they could not provide for their children. Out of these conversations—and the organizing power that followed—Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary (EBBE) was born.
At the time, after-school programs for low-income students were limited, mostly offered at a few middle schools. AIM organizers recruited a group of principals at several Title I schools who were deeply committed to improving opportunities for their students, and held listening sessions at these schools. With the support of leaders like Gabe Albornoz at the Department of Recreation and Rev. Tim Warner at Montgomery County Public Schools, AIM successfully advocated to set up a pilot afterschool program modeled after Child First in Baltimore.
AIM and Montgomery County launched the Excel Beyond the Bell pilot program, then known as Child First, in spring 2015 at South Lake and Burnt Mills Elementary Schools. The free afterschool program combined academic enrichment, recreational activities, and parent engagement. The pilot showed that with AIM’s involvement, parents weren’t just participants; they were partners shaping the future of their schools. They helped guide the program design and became deeply involved in advocating for their communities.
Students enjoying outdoor time at Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary
The Campaign to Make EBBE Permanent:
In 2015, AIM organized a legendary action at St. Camillus that drew over 1,100 participants—including 350 from Burnt Mills Elementary School—to demand county funding to make EBBE permanent at South Lake and Burnt Mills. Cynthia Marshall, AIM’s Executive Director, recalled: “It was chaotic with kids running around, but it was beautiful–the room reflected the true diversity of Montgomery County.”
Parents and students testified powerfully about the need for after-school. County Executive Ike Leggett’s office committed funding for the first two schools. Councilmembers did not immediately commit, but in the 2016 budget season, AIM mobilized hundreds of parents, teachers, and students to testify at council budget hearings, and send letters in support of the program. Finally, the Council agreed to fund EBBE. Students in the schools made paper chains thanking the councilmembers for their support. The program opened at Burnt Mills and South Lake in January 2017.
Every year since then, AIM has organized to expand Excel Beyond the Bell by adding new schools and switching from 4 to 5 days per week. Gabe Albornoz, then head of the Department of Recreation, has been a critical partner, advocating for well-staffed, high-quality programs and supporting yearly expansions. With the addition of two additional schools in 2026, Excel Beyond the Bell will now serve 18 Title I elementary schools in Montgomery County.
Parent leaders at AIM’s action for EBBE in December 2015
Parent Organizing: The Heart of EBBE
Excel Beyond the Bell is not just an after-school program—it’s a platform for parent leadership and organizing. Parents of EBB students each participate in a few hours of service or advocacy per month, much of it in partnership with AIM. This includes meeting with organizers, joining teams, and attending AIM actions to advocate for issues within and beyond the schools. EBBE schools have become member institutions of AIM, just like congregations, and parent leaders have emerged as powerful voices in the organization.
Parent organizing through EBBE has made AIM into the diverse, multicultural, vibrant organization it is today. AIM parent leaders lead campaigns at every level—neighborhood, school, county, and state—and win on issues including new school buildings, tenant protections, pre-K expansion, and climate equity. This organizing has also paved the way for AIM’s tenant organizing in the apartment complexes where families at the schools live.
Impact on Students and Families:
EBBE has also made a positive impact for the elementary school students who attend. Students receive a hot meal, help with homework, and opportunities for enrichment activities such as theater, sports, and dance. Kids make friends and spend time in a safe, supportive environment while parents finish their workday. Dr. Ayize Sebater studied the program and found that increased parental involvement in school improved academic outcomes for students in EBBE. The program runs five days a week, throughout the school year, and currently provides stability and enrichment for over 1,500 students.
Leader Reflections
"I remember going to actions where students and parents were able to share all the positive impact they were experiencing from having a safe, fun, and productive place to be after school. It was so powerful seeing all the little kids be brave."
—Carmen Vasquez Purpura, Former Teacher, South Lake Elementary School
"Excel Beyond the Bell has made a difference for our students, to have a space outside of school where they can display their talents, whether drumming, pickleball, or chess. Out-of-school time has an impact on in-school time, so EBB has really made a difference."
—Dr. Stacy Ashton, Burnt Mills Elementary School Principal
"It’s incredibly gratifying to know that there’s a whole generation of kids who have had a stronger start in life because of the work that AIM and our partners in county government have been able to do. It’s part of the infrastructure of how you build a foundation for kids and families to be able to succeed and have fuller, more abundant lives."
—James Pearlstein, Former AIM Organizer
