Afterschool Programs in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership (MAP) Out-of-School Time Story Map depicts the afterschool and out-of-school time landscape in the state of Massachusetts. This map is designed to be used as a tool by legislators, advocates, providers, and families to understand where sites are located, where state and federal funding is being directed, and how this intersects with indicators of child-wellbeing. As we approach a federal funding cliff from ARPA funds, we hope this valuable information can inform strategies for supporting Massachusetts children and youth. Scroll to learn more!

Afterschool and summer programs contribute significantly to the overall well-being for children, youth, and families. OST provides students with opportunities to take part in STEM, arts and music, and sports. With the support of educators and mentors, young people build confidence, learn life skills, have access to nutritious foods, stay safe, and create connections with peers and their communities.

Programs help accelerate student learning and growth.

Decades of research have shown the many wide-reaching benefits of high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs.  Participation in high-quality programming has been shown to  increase student attendance, reduce problem behaviors and reinforce positive social behaviors, and improve school grades and test scores.

Participation leads to increased academic achievement.

 According to a longitudinal study of outcomes from the Wallace Foundation,  students who attended voluntary summer programs, there were short-term and significant gains in mathematics. Students with high rates of attendance reaped the most benefits, and these benefits increased for students who attended multiple years in a row. 

Afterschool programs benefit kids and communities in the long run.

 Research shows that for every $1 invested in afterschool programs,  $3 are saved by increasing kids’ earning potential, improving performance at schools, and reducing crime and juvenile delinquency. 

Out-of-school time programs support working families in Massachusetts.

 According to the Afterschool Alliance’s 2020 survey,  4 out of 5 Massachusetts parents agree that afterschool helps them keep their jobs (80%) and provide them with peace of mind (86%). More than 9 in 10 parents with children in afterschool are satisfied with their children’s experience, and 88% of Massachusetts parents are in favor of public funding for OST programs.

For every one Massachusetts child that is participating in an afterschool program, there are three more waiting to get in. 

Demand for out-of-school time programming in Massachusetts is high.  According to data from American After 3 P.M.,  there were more than 160,000 kids left unsupervised between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. in 2020 in Massachusetts alone. 476,670 Massachusetts children and youth who were not participating in a program would have if one had been available to them. 62% of parents report that programs are too expensive for them.

Afterschool and out-of-school time programs are an important part of closing achievement gaps for students living in communities that have been marginalized.

Out-of-school time programs are an important part of closing achievement gaps for low-income students and students of color, as they often have limited opportunities for high-quality programming compared to their wealthier and white peers. While this was clear prior to the COVID-19 crisis, these gaps in opportunity are even more evident now and require attention.

Low-income Students

While all students see gains in academic achievement when they participate in afterschool and summer programs, low-income students have the most to gain. In a 2013 study,  income differences in math achievement were eliminated for students  who had consistent participation in afterschool programs.

Students of Color

Unmet need is still high in communities of color, who have been impacted by structural racism, such as redlining in the Northern states. Nationally,  58% of Black children and 55% of Latinx children who are not in an afterschool program would be enrolled in one if it were available to them , compared with 46% of white children. The gaps in access for low-income families of color are even greater.

Students in Rural Areas

Students living in rural areas of the state deal with increased barriers to participation in programs, such as lack of public transportation and afterschool deserts. For every child in rural Massachusetts participating in an  afterschool program, there are 4 more children waiting to get in. 

21st Century Learning Centers (21st CCLCs)

This federal program supports the creation and sustainability of community-based learning programs for children and youth during out-of-school time hours. 21st CCLCs grants are targeted at low-income children and youth who often attend low-performing schools. These programs provide support for students in raising their reading and math scores, enrichment activities that bolster and complement their academic achievements, and educational services to families. Massachusetts has over 130 21st Century Learning Centers,  with over 19,200 children and youth enrolled. 

Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Quality Grants

Massachusetts is one of the few states in the country that has a designated line item for out-of-school programs.  Afterschool and Out-of-School (ASOST) Grants  are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Over 350 programs in the state of Massachusetts receive quality-enhancement grants from the state.

COVID-19 Relief Funds

Through ARP relief funds, DESE has also awarded  ASOST-Rebound grants  to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are available to programs through the end of summer 2023. Approximately 300 programs have received support from this grant program.

EEC Licensed Programs

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)  licenses family childcare and center-based programs . EEC has over 1,500 licensed sites throughout Massachusetts.

The exact number of programs in Massachusetts remains unknown, as there is no data on how many OST programs have not applied for public funding or have had their applications denied.

Legislators, advocates, families, school districts, and providers can search below to see where public funding is supporting programs in their legislative districts. 

Through the  Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds , school districts have received set asides of 1% for afterschool programs and 1% for summer programs. School districts have an additional 5% designated to help students recover from COVID-19 learning loss, which can be used to further support out-of-school time learning. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to foster and deepen partnerships between schools and community-based organizations to support whole-child wellbeing for all in Massachusetts.

For more evidence on the benefits of comprehensive, high-quality afterschool and summer programming, visit the Afterschool Alliance’s research page at  www.afterschoolalliance.org/researchcfm .

Thank you to the National Conference of State Legislature for funding this project. And thank you to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).