Learn, Advocate, Share: Out-of-School Time (OST)

The City of Madison plays a critical role in helping to amplify access by funding programs that support 2,000+ children (70% of whom are from low-income households), coordinating across the field to share resources and opportunity, supporting the workforce of organizations and improving quality, and partnering with MMSD and others to creatively pilot solutions that expand access and quality: such as Summer Study and new Get Kids Ready 4k wrap-around care pilots.

We do this because when kids have consistent access to quality OST opportunities, both they and our community reap the benefits. OST programs work - they prepare kids with the skills needed to thrive in an uncertain world, boost parents' earning potential, and improve students' academic outcomes. A recent analysis of local data showed that OST participation is associated with higher school attendance, higher GPAs, and better outcomes. The benefits are powerful even for students who have historically faced opportunity gaps.  You can read more about this study here: Full Study, Two Pager.

While both the scale of programs and the outcomes are impressive, access to programs in Madison remains a problem, particularly for students from low-income households. Thousands of children in Madison would access an OST program if one were available. Now, for the first time ever, we can show you where. Today, we are proud to launch the Madison OST Dashboard. A public-facing, searchable tool that shows you how many children from low-income households live in an area, how many of them are enrolled in OST programs, and how many are not. Check out your neighborhood or the city as a whole here: Madison OST Dashboard.

Creating a city where all young people can thrive starts with understanding their experiences and needs. This dashboard provides data that can help inform conversations, decisions, and action. Here are a few ways you can use it. 

Share and Use the Data 

Share this data with your constituents, networks, organizations, and communities to help raise awareness about the needs of youth and the importance of afterschool programming. The data can also be used to inform conversations, planning, and future funding priorities related to youth programs and services. Interested in learning more or having this information shared at a meeting or event? Connect with the City of Madison's Community Resources Manager or Madison Out-of-School Time Coordinator.

Connect with Madison Out-of-School Time

Have an idea for a program, pilot, or other approach to expanding access to afterschool opportunities in the City of Madison? Connect with the Madison Out-of-School Time Coordinator to learn more about opportunities for collaboration.