Imagine a city where every child has access to safe and enriching out-of-school time programs, regardless of their neighborhood or family background. This is the vision driving our new study of out-of-school time (OST) programs for children and youth. Generously supported by the William Penn Foundation, this project aims to understand the availability and need for out-of-school-time (OST) programs including programs before and after school and in the summer.
Currently, there is a complicated patchwork of OST programs, funding sources, and data in place across the city. The sector struggles to coordinate funding, quality assurance, and workforce development. Developing a more comprehensive picture of OST programs will provide Philadelphia’s funders, policymakers, intermediaries, and OST providers with much needed information to support and advocate for a more equitable ecosystem in which all youth have access to the types of OST opportunities they need to thrive. We know that OST programs are integral to healthy child development and learning while also providing support for working families. They give kids a safe place to learn and grow before and after the school bell rings.
The Every Child, Every Neighborhood: The Philadelphia (OST) Access Study will create a clearer picture of the OST system and OST programs across Philadelphia. To help grantmaking at William Penn Foundation as well as decisions of other funders, RFA’s products will show the location of OST programs, where demand lies, and gaps that can be filled. We will document the ages and number of youth each OST program serves, indicating where more support and slots are needed. We are planning to release a final report in Spring of 2026 including data tables, data visuals, and narrative to understand the current OST system in Philadelphia.