As K-12 schools in the United States enjoy Winter Break, children are home for a week or two of relaxation and family time. Some students may enjoy reading, travel, museum visits, or other forms of extracurricular learning. Likely, visiting family members will ask students about their academics, and conversations may also turn to hobbies and activities beyond school.
Millions of children in the U.S. will be able to share what they are learning and doing in their Out of School Time programs. Unfortunately, many more could talk about what they wish they were doing, if they had access to quality OST opportunities.
As K-12 children enjoy Winter Break, family conversations often turn to out of school activities and ... [+]
OST programs offer students sought-after opportunities for safe, supervised enrichment activities outside of traditional school hours. Of the over 52 million U.S. children enrolled in K-12 schools, approximately 7.8 million participate in afterschool programs, and of those, about one-third are from low income households.
Successful OST programs connect local, state, and national organizations and resources to support healthy children and benefit communities.
In the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, actor Michael Constantine’s character, Gus Portokalos, was a proud Greek family patriarch who often challenged people to “Give me a word, any word, and I show you that the root of that word is Greek.” Gus saw the limitless benefits his heritage offered the modern world.
I could not help but chuckle and think of that famous movie line as I read the headline for the Afterschool Alliance’s Issue Briefs in which the organization proclaims, “Name almost any topic and the Afterschool Alliance can tell you how it intersects with afterschool...” Indeed, the OST movement is far-reaching and deeply connected.
Widespread Support For Investing In Afterschool Programming
The Afterschool Alliance, an organization seeking to “ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs,”publishes Briefs packed with valuable information. The Briefs offer strong argument for the benefits OST programming brings to children and families. While academic advantages exist, OST value goes far beyond report cards and test scores and can bolster whole communities. And most Americans see that connection.
In 2020, parent respondents to the America After 3PM Survey favored the use of public funds to support afterschool programming, particularly in low-income communities, at a whopping 87% rate of approval. A 2023 Afterschool Alliance Issue Brief notes “8 in 10 voters say that afterschool programs are an absolute necessity for their community.” These numbers reflect overwhelming bipartisan support, sending the message that OST programming can and should meet a clear community need.
Access, Availability, And Affordability Remain A Challenge
For children and families throughout the U.S., the demand for OST programming is significantly higher than its availability. The Afterschool Alliance estimates that nearly 25 million children are not able to access afterschool programs, and the accessibility is disproportionately limited for Black and Hispanic communities. Summer programs are also sought after and face similar challenges.
The Wallace Foundation’s explanation of Afterschool Systems is direct and informative. The Foundation plays a substantial role in fostering opportunities for youth through core values that include equity, evidence, and partnership. According to Wallace, “a patchwork of public and private sources” leads to coordination, funding, and sustainability challenges.
The amount of coordinated effort required to develop effective, sustainable programming is significant. As a result, communities across the U.S. recognize the need to engage in OST work in meaningful, intentional ways.
Where Can Communities Begin?
Intentional, quality afterschool programming benefits children, families, and communities.
Well-developed resources exist as policymakers and community leaders pursue a strategic, collective approach to OST programming.
Advocates can learn with and from each other through the National Afterschool Association, a member organization for professionals who work in the OST space.
The Afterschool Alliance explores the role of federal policy in the afterschool and OST landscape and offers a Program Toolbox packed with advice and resources for starting, running, and sustaining successful programs.
A 2017 Rand Corporation report offers insights and recommendations regarding funding, policy and legislation, and maximizing program impact. The report affirms the value of intentional, quality programming for children in a safe, supervised space outside of traditional school hours but also calls for more study of program structures and outcomes.
The National Institute on Out-of-School Time has been in the OST space since the 1970’s, when it recognized the value of OST programming in helping mothers join and stay in the workforce. NIOST now serves as a rich resource in researching and building high-quality, sustainable programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares guidance on ways schools and communities can partner for student health and learning outcomes. Interestingly, while the name OST directly notes student programming beyond the school day, most programs, approximately 76%, are actually held in public school buildings.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all model, thriving OST programs identify and serve the unique needs of a region. The Wallace Foundation found successful programs have four key features: 1) leaders from throughout the community who are committed to the afterschool vision; 2) coordination that addresses local needs; 3) attention to and effective use of data; and 4) a focus on continuous improvement and quality.
Descriptions of the Top Ten States for Afterschool programming offer a glimpse into models that work. The U.S. Department of Education supports academic enrichment and spotlights best practices seen in organizations using Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers funds.
And with interesting community connections that would make even Gus Portokalos proud, Rhode Island’s well- respected Providence After School Alliance offers two decades of success and has been studied by localities across the country as a model program. These collaborations among public entities, schools, and OST providers are worth exploring if you have interest in youth programming that makes communities stronger.
