DC families trying to lock in afterschool and summer coverage now have one main hub to watch. Registration for DCPS afterschool opens Tuesday at 10 a.m. through the My Out of School Time (MOST) portal, which pulls together thousands of out-of-school-time options across the District. Parents are being urged to get into their MOST accounts early and update consent forms now so they are not stuck on long waitlists once the window opens.
How to register
According to DCPS, new users should create a parent or guardian account in MOST and link their student or students, while returning users need to update the required consent questions for the 2026–27 school year before applying. The online system works on phones, tablets and computers, and DCPS notes that schools and public libraries can provide devices for families who need them. When you apply you will get an email or SMS confirming whether your child is enrolled or waitlisted, since seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
What's on the portal
The mayor’s office says the portal already lists 691 out-of-school-time programs from 173 providers across six District agencies and that DCPS will offer afterschool programs at 55 school sites for SY 2026–27, as detailed in a press release from the Mayor's Office. Mayor Bowser also promoted the opening in a Facebook post announcing registration and the new features. The MOST search lets families filter by school, ward, grade, cost or home address and includes apprenticeship options for youth up to age 24. Summer program listings are set to be available on the portal by June 2, and the administration paired the rollout with more than $2 million in Summer Strong DC grants to expand spots.
Need-to-know tips for parents
Browse and apply at MOST.dc.gov, which is run by the Learn24 network and designed to be a one-stop shop for families, per Learn24. The portal shows free OSTP seats managed by DCPS as well as fee-based providers, so it is worth checking program details closely, since popular offerings often maintain waitlists when demand outstrips capacity. If you hit technical snags, you can submit a ticket through the portal or email the helpdesk at [email protected].
Why it matters
The MOST portal is part of a broader push to expand access to out-of-school learning; the mayor’s office says the Bowser administration has invested more than $140 million in OST programming since 2017 to serve students citywide. Parents concerned about school-level availability or staffing are directed to contact their school registrar or DCPS Out of School Time Programs at (202) 442-5002 for specifics, per DCPS guidance. For the full announcement, see the press release from the Mayor's Office, and step-by-step instructions are available on the DCPS afterschool page.
