The Evolution of the Out-of-School Time Field Since A Nation at Risk

• In Event: Evolution of Learning and Programming in the Out-of-School Time Field

Abstract

The national focus on education since A Nation at Risk has propelled a parallel movement within the out-of-school time (OST) field to align its programs with the school-day learning goals. The OST field illustrates how a human service associated in the public’s view prior to the 1990s as custodial care and a preventative service has intentionally aligned its work with the national education agenda, investing in strategies that link OST program outcomes to student learning. The goals of this historical analysis are to understand how the OST field has evolved from human services to the education sector, focusing particularly on the advocacy and policy strategies, and to examine the associated implementation challenges.

Author

• Helen Janc Malone, Institute for Educational Leadership