Surrounding children with learning opportunities so they can succeed both in school and in life means that young people need access to high-quality programs and services that go beyond the school day. Eighty percent of children’s waking hours each year are spent outside of school. The challenge Wallace seeks to address is how to help entire cities make those hours a time of enrichment rather than of boredom and risk, especially for young people who lack access to quality learning experiences.

Through our out-of-school learning initiative, we are helping to develop comprehensive systems for out-of-school learning that consistently meets high standards. Early findings from planning efforts point to several critical factors in developing and sustaining programs: leadership and organization; an emphasis on quality; and a rich variety of services that meet the varied needs of families they aim to attract.

These early lessons from the field are reflected in several recent Wallace-commissioned publications. Making Out-of-School Time Matter, by RAND, reviews the available evidence on key topics such as defining quality programming, assessing demand and promoting participation. All Work and No Play, a national survey from Public Agenda, adds the essential but often-missing voices of parents and children to the national debate about what out-of-school learning ought to provide.

In each of Wallace’s three current areas of activity — arts participation, education leadership and out-of-school learning — we seek to create widespread change by sharing lessons that public and private institutions can use to promote benefits for the people they serve. Please visit the Out-of-School Learning section of Wallace’s Knowledge Center to download publications that offer field-based insights.

Ideas in Action

Consider how David Cicilline, mayor of Providence, thinks about his city’s investment in out-of-school learning: “This is not about quick fixes,” he says, “but about a sustained investment in building something that will survive me and will benefit the children of the city for generations.” Click here to find out what Providence has learned about producing high-quality, lasting services that provide what children and families truly want from out-of-school programs.

Partner institutions

In each of its three focus areas, The Wallace Foundation supports public and private institutions that are committed to pursuing innovative ideas and practices. Wallace sponsors their work so that their experiences and lessons can ultimately help the field nationwide.

Click here for a list of past and present partners in our out-of-school learning work. (For more information about Wallace’s grant policies and restrictions, see our Funding Guidelines page.) To download publications that can help further your own organization’s work, please visit the Knowledge Center.