On Tuesday, June 10, LaunchNW and Spokane Public Schools welcomed community partners and supporters to Madison Elementary School to celebrate the success of Engage In Real Life (EngageIRL). Gathered in the school’s gymnasium, attendees heard from community leaders who reflected on the initiative’s impact and contemplated its promising path forward.
The seeds for EngageIRL were first planted in 2021, when the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors was asked to examine the district’s extracurricular offerings and the demographics these programs served. What they found was concerning: a steady decline in student engagement since 2008, reflected in poor attendance and rising feelings of disconnect.
“Studies show that youth who are connected to their communities—who have positive interactions with adult mentors through activities, clubs, and sports—experience better outcomes,” said Garrett Jones, Director of Spokane Parks and Recreation. “They have lower rates of depression, improved physical health, and are more likely to be steadily employed as adults.”
Above: Engage IRL – Celebrating and Looking Ahead FULL VERSION
Engage In Real Life was born out of a bold belief that student engagement is transformative—both in creating a sense of belonging and improving classroom outcomes. LaunchNW and Spokane Public Schools joined in a partnership to help bring this belief to life, with a focus on community-wide mobilization.
Engage In Real Life was born out of a bold belief that student engagement is transformative—both in creating a sense of belonging and improving classroom outcomes.
Since the initiative launched in September of 2024, engagement opportunities have expanded significantly across Spokane. Spokane Public Schools now offers over 1,000 extracurricular opportunities and boasts a 60% engagement rate across all grade levels. During the 2024-2025 school year, “Elementary, middle and high school kids that were engaged in an activity had 20% higher attendance”, Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard shared with the crowd at Madison Elementary.
The benefits of increased engagement go beyond attendance. Coupled with cellphone bans, increases in engagement have positively impacted student behavior. This school year, Spokane Public Schools reported a 64% decrease in the misuse of social media and a 34% decrease in failures to cooperate. Middle school lunch time referrals have decreased by a whopping 60%. “When we put the devices away— when we engage kids and we start focusing on building relational connective tissue, good things happen”, emphasized Dr. Swinyard.
“When we put the devices away— when we engage kids and we start focusing on building relational connective tissue, good things happen.”
To meet the unique needs of every student and family in Spokane, LaunchNW and Spokane Public Schools have created a new cross-organization role: Engagement Navigators. These professionals are positioned in Spokane Public Schools, cultural centers and early childhood hubs to help identify and create opportunities for youth engagement. “A movement happens when a critical mass of people says, ‘we’re all in’. When enough of a community says, ‘we want better’”, explained Ben Small, Executive Director of LaunchNW. “A movement truly is a group of people working together to advance shared goals.’”
Another tool built to support this movement is the EngageIRL website—a free community resource where families can explore after-school activities that align with their children’s interests. From school clubs to activities hosted by over 50 community organizations, website visitors can filter listings by age, location, and cost to find options that suit their needs.
“I think we’re all amazed by the results that we’re seeing here today in this short period of time”, summarizes Garret Jones from the podium, “I think it does speak to the need that the community has and the hunger for activity and connection”.
“A movement happens when a critical mass of people says, ‘we’re all in’. When enough of a community says, ‘we want better’.”
Looking ahead, EngageIRL is focusing on another important aspect of student well-being and success: sleep. Anne Mason, acting Dean of Washington State University College of Nursing, took to the stage to share the vital role sleep plays in the success of young people. “Sleep deprivation has been linked to impaired cognitive function, reduced attention span and lower academic performance”, she explained.
Mason spoke to a growing body of research on how screen-use impacts sleep patterns. “In a world dominated by smartphones and 24/7 connectivity, setting healthy boundaries around screens, especially before bed, is a real challenge”, Mason sympathized with the crowd, “So today, this is your prescription to remove the screens – TV, tablet, computer and cellphone – they do not need to be in the bedroom at all”.
The press conference wrapped up with a few enthusiastic words from Madison Elementary School’s student leadership: “To every student: please think about joining a club next school year. Because who knows, with one signature on a permission form you might meet a new bestie or unlock an opportunity you didn’t know existed.”
Engage In Real Life would like to thank our community partners and supporters who have helped make this initiative a success. We look forward to continuing this important work in the community for years to come.
