In a major effort to expand after-school opportunities for young people in the nation's capital, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a $25.1 million grant awarded to over a hundred local nonprofit organizations. The funding, aimed to cover a plethora of out-of-school time (OST) programs, is estimated to benefit approximately 15,000 students in the upcoming school term. Announced on the District's government website, the grant will support activities across diverse fields inclusive of academic enhancement, the arts, sports, STEM, and more, providing a multifaceted approach to extracurricular learning.
During an event held at the Deanwood Community Center, families were invited to the Afterschool in the City showcase, designed to shed light on the range of afterschool and other OST opportunities available in the District, according to information acquired from the DC Government. A sense of today’s urgency demands our most profound attention; "We understand the critical role that high-quality and engaging out-of-school learning opportunities play in the lives of our kids," Mayor Bowser stated.
Since 2017, the OST Office, the largest grantmaking entity for OST programming in DC Government, has facilitated programming for 82,500 students through $113 million in awards to District nonprofits. The Office also emphasizes continuous improvement in the quality of OST programs through professional development, quality assessments, and technical support to service providers. To deepen its commitment, it has offered more than 500 workshops to OST service providers via its Institute for Youth Development.
Research backing the overall effectiveness of the OST programs suggests significant outcomes for participants. "Students who participate in OST programs have higher school attendance and do better in school than those who do not," Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn explained. It was pointed out, with an on the ground knowledge that's hard to match, how sustaining and expanding these programs are hallmark to the community's forward momentum. The Deputy Mayor underlined, "That’s what makes our investment so critical – it provides our kids with quality activities to elevate their learning beyond the classroom, setting them up for success now and in the future."
Alongside grant distribution, the OST Office is part of the wider Learn24 network—an initiative by the Bowser Administration launched in 2017 to improve the coordination of OST opportunities. The network, hailed as a hub for all after school and summer program efforts, supports the public access to high-quality OST services in the District. The administration encourages families to explore the array of programming available via the network's website, utilizing tools such as the Learn24 Program Finder to personalize their search for fitting extracurricular experiences.
