Springboard to Learning

With a combined history of over 100 years as Springboard to Learning and Young Audiences of St. Louis, Springboard to Learning has positively impacted millions of under-resourced students and teachers throughout St. Louis through creative programming and pedagogy, igniting a love of learning. Springboard to Learning was established in the St. Louis Public School District in 1965 by Elise Schweich to help students experience world-wide arts and cultures. After 41 years, Springboard to Learning expanded by merging with Young Audiences of St. Louis in 2006. In 2017 Springboard to Learning became the first Greater St. Louis area affiliate of the internationally respected Wolf Trap for Early Learning Through the Arts, and now provides innovative arts-integrated teaching strategies embedded in a fully customized residency to early childhood educators, caregivers, and young children through the disciplines of drama, music, and dance.

During the 2021-2022 school year, we served over 25,000 students and teachers in early childhood, elementary, and middle schools, as well as community venues during 77,870 student contact hours. Over 150 distinct programs, taught by knowledgeable teaching artists and content specialists, are available throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, the eastern half of Missouri, and the Metro East area of Illinois. In all, Springboard delivered 733 programs, in 3,879 program sessions, to students in 114 schools and community venues. Springboard has a strong commitment to serving children who might not otherwise have cultural enrichment opportunities. Overall, 88 percent of school children served by our programs are under-resourced as defined by state guidelines.