Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

Role of OST Programs

Learning through play, building peer relationships, engaging in informal social time with caring adults, and devoting time to community service projects are all experiences that have been linked with participation in programs occurring outside the traditional school hours; and in turn, these types of experiences have been linked to building youth assets and skills that support academic achievement and healthy development. Educators, parents, and youth development specialists have come to understand that schools and families cannot alone support the full development of children and youth, but they need others (programs and people) to work with in partnership to provide opportunities for children to socially and emotionally grow, explore interests and hobbies, keep themselves safe, and be on a trajectory for a successful and healthy young adulthood. These OST programs are typically characterized as programs that (a) operate for the length of the school year or summer; (b) operate during the hours before or after school; (c) serve K–12 children and youth in urban, suburban, or rural settings; (d) offer programming for at least 3 days per week; and (e) include snack/meal distribution and physical activity as part of the OST program activities.

High-Quality Programs

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of focusing on the whole child by shaping and promoting his or her development through an array of positive experiences and youth development approaches, including mentoring programs, youth sports, arts activities, and academic enrichment. OST programs are among the settings that can provide such critical experiences that keep children and youth on a positive and healthy developmental pathway. To do this, OST programs need to be managed and delivered in high-quality ways.

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