Past Investment: 1993-1999
The issue…
A decade ago, the phrase "after-school programs" was rarely heard in policy discussions about how to meet the developmental needs of low- or moderate-income children. The number of children needing quality, affordable before- and after-school programs is high and rising dramatically as changes in welfare laws require more parents to work full time. Yet there is a shortage of such programs, especially in neighborhoods needing them most. Even where they exist, barriers such as cost or lack of transportation place them out of reach for many families.
The response…
Between 1993 and 1999, The Wallace Foundation's Making the Most of Out-of-School Time (MOST) initiative worked with community-based partners in Boston, Chicago and Seattle to increase the supply, accessibility, affordability and quality of after-school programs, and to promote greater national awareness of the need for such programs. The Foundation invested $10.4 million and attracted more than $3 million in matching funds to support those efforts.
The strategies…
With an initial grant in 1993, Wellesley College's National Institute on Out-of-School Time managed the MOST initiative and provided training and technical assistance to MOST sites. Wallace supported the National School-Age Child Care Alliance to develop national standards for high-quality care and to create an assessment tool for improving school-age care programs. In June 1999, Wallace held a public briefing in Washington to raise awareness of the need for quality after-school programs. Finally, the Foundation commissioned a two-phase evaluation study of MOST to capture lessons on how to increase the supply and quality of after-school programs.
The accomplishments…
More than 6,000 children now have access to affordable programs in target cities. Providers have received training to improve their quality. The MOST initiative produced concrete evidence about the need for concerted efforts by families, community organizations, the school system, businesses, and political and cultural institutions in order to provide more and better programs. Program findings can be found in the following publications: