Wallace Foundation: "Hours of Opportunity" Explored City-Wide OST Systems

With public education budgets being squeezed all across the nation, the search is on for low-cost, evidenced-based strategies for improving the academic success for all students, particularly those in underserved communities. "Hours of Opportunity," a three-volume report recently released by the Wallace Foundation,  "examines Wallace-supported efforts in five cities to build systems to improve the quality and accessibility of after-school, summer and other out-of-school time (OST) programs."

Considering the many public benefits of investing in afterschool and OST programs, these city-wide systems, which expand sustained participation while lowering overall costs, should be considered a central piece of any city's school reform efforts. These systems, like NJ After 3's Trenton Afterschool Partnership, leverage the resources of city agencies, CBOs, school districts and private foundations, ensuring all students have access to a high quality educational experience while actually reducing the investment needed by school districts and cities.