BoSTEM, implemented by United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and Boston Afterschool and Beyond, is a network of STEM-focused after school programs in the Boston area that provide high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) opportunities to Boston middle school students. Through an innovative citywide coalition of…

This chapter surfaces examples of the ways educators, programs, and families are making connections to and from out-of-school time (OST) experiences and into other contexts in learners' lives, including additional programs, homes, communities, and schools. Through a review, the authors test, refine, and expand a design framework for connections…

Effective teaching of SEL skills through PA is dependent upon deliberate and consistent integration into structured PA learning experiences. Structured PA should include a lesson focus, practice of skills, and assessment. The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners with 1) an overview of SEL, 2) guidance in teaching SEL within PA…

In light of the proven benefits of high-quality afterschool STEM programming for teens, the author worked with colleagues at University of Maryland Extension to institute the Pollinator Ambassador program. The program was launched through a county-based 4-H program at a partner site in a community outside Washington, DC. Following the 4-H Thriving…

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of university students who served as outside facilitators for evidence-based nutrition education for elementary-age children. Design: Qualitative case study. Methods: Thirteen undergraduate university students facilitated four nutrition education sessions for elementary-age…

Due to limited research on Black girls in science education, this study focuses on the forms of capital Black girls cultivated through their participation in a community-based STEM after-school program. The study drew from the interviews and a focus group session of 10 Black girls and investigated their formal and informal experiences in science.…

This quantitative, causal-comparative study aims to examine the academic performance of all third-grade students who participated in after-school tutoring from English Language Arts (ELA) in comparison to those who did not, using the results from the 2022-2023 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program English Language Arts (MAAP ELA) assessment. The…

Research indicates that high-quality after-school programmes (ASPs) can offer good care and foster academic and socio-emotional development in children. Staff has been identified as a critical factor in ensuring quality of ASPs. This article explores how Norwegian ASP staff members consider their occupational practices and analyses whether the…

In the wake of the federal government's retrenchment from urban America in the 1970s and 1980s and the resulting rise in inequality, youth-serving, out-of-school time (OST) nonprofits took on a greater role in supporting urban public schools and students. Since then, many educational OST nonprofits have become enriching spaces for youth outside of…

This action research study evaluated an original lesson using the AI language model ChatGPT to generate tailored play scripts for individual students based on their interests, reading levels, and creative visions. Implemented with 13 third and fourth graders in an after-school program, the "Journeying between Worlds and Words" lesson…

The integration of the flipped classroom model, self-efficacy theory, and the value of out-of-school learning environments forms the foundation for this study. By employing the flipped classroom model, preservice teachers can develop their instructional skills and build self-efficacy in organizing educational field trips. The active,…

Out-of-School Time (OST) programs play a crucial role in child and youth development, serving as a bridge between school, home, and the community. They offer structured environments where young people can engage in meaningful activities, build relationships, and develop essential life skills. OST programs foster personal growth, academic support,…

The aim of the study was to shed light on preschool teachers', primary school teachers', and after-school practitioners' views on and experiences with collaboration among these three parties. With reference to Boyle and colleagues' (2018) conceptualization of transition as a continuity practice, individual and group interviews were conducted for…

Before- and after-school programs can be excellent opportunities for schools to provide supplemental physical activity (PA) and reinforce the knowledge, skills, and dispositions taught in physical education, particularly when some schools may perceive PA during the school day as competing with academic learning time. Before- and after-school PA…

Jennifer Peck and the Partnership for Children & Youth (PCY), the organization Peck co-founded 25 years ago, have played a critical behind-the-scenes role in creating the conditions that led to California's massive funding commitment to expanded learning, the umbrella term for programs that take place before school, after school, between…