The out-of-school time (OST) sector consists of youth development organizations that support youth in different settings, during different times, including before and after school and during the summer months. The sector consists of community-based non-profit organizations, schools, early childhood centers, and faith-based programs.  

Our sector is guided by the Michigan OST (MOST) standards, a number of different quality assessment processes, and the National Afterschool Association’s core competencies for youth development practitioners. Central to our work is our belief that youth need spaces to understand who they are, experience true belonging, and exercise agency.  

We know that:  

• Extended learning time is essential to meet the needs of youth and families. Three-quarters of a million Michigan students lack access to the afterschool and summer programming they need. 

• Roughly half of students who participate in local OST partnerships are able to boost their own math and reading grades. Nearly 70 percent improve their homework completion and classroom participation efforts. 

• Nearly 90 percent of working parents say the care provided by community-based afterschool and summer programs have helped them keep their jobs.