Massachusetts to Enhance After School Programs

Submitted by Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Joint Committee on Education reported Senate Bill 215, “An Act Establishing the After School and Out of School Time Coordinating Council,” favorably out of committee during an executive session. The Afterschool and Out of School Time Coordinating Council legislation will create a 15-member council of legislators, representatives from state agencies, out-of-school time providers, private funders and other stakeholders to better coordinate existing funding streams for expanded learning opportunities and advance policies and recommendations that support the afterschool and out-of-school time field.  

Senator Thomas McGee, who served as Co-Chair of the Special Legislative Commission on After School and Out of School Time in 2007, filed the ASOST Coordinating Council legislation and was pleased with the Joint Committee on Education’s favorable report. “The After School and Out of School Time Coordinating Council legislation builds upon the recommendations of the Special Legislative Commission I chaired on After School and Out of School Time,” said Senator McGee. “This legislation will create a Coordinating Council consisted of legislators, representatives from state agencies, out-of-school providers, private foundations and other stakeholders to ensure a diversity of perspectives are represented as the Commonwealth looks for ways to better coordinate resources so that all students have the ability to access afterschool and out of school time opportunities.”

In addition to analyzing how state and federal funding is being used, the ASOST Coordinating Council will be tasked with making recommendations around aligning efforts between the Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; promoting coordination between school districts and community-based afterschool programs; enhancing professional development and technical assistance opportunities for the workforce; increasing access for children, youth and families to high quality programming; and building sustainable out-of-school time system through public and private support.

Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, expressed her support for the legislation, stating, “High-quality afterschool and expanded learning opportunities provide youth with hands-on enrichment activities that complement in-school learning, promote academic achievement, and support social-emotional development.” Chairwoman Chang-Diaz described the ASOST Coordinating Council legislation as an essential step in ensuring that resources for out-of-school time programming are well coordinated. “The After School and Out of School Time Coordinating Council will better manage existing resources at the state, regional, and local levels and seek out new opportunities to increase families’ access to these critical programs,” she said. 

Chairwoman Alice Peisch, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, emphasized the ways in which the ASOST Coordinating Council will facilitate coordination and collaboration among the different groups involved in providing expanded learning opportunities. “The establishment of an After School and Out of School Time Coordinating Council will facilitate a community-based, collaborative approach to after school and out-of-school time programs that will benefit students from diverse backgrounds from across the Commonwealth. I am pleased that the Joint Committee on Education voted favorably on this bill, and I commend my colleagues in both chambers for their positive response to this proposal.”

Afterschool advocates praised Senator McGee, Chairwoman Chang-Diaz and Chairwoman Peisch for their leadership around this important legislation. Katie Magrane, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, which represents thousands of children, youth and families across the state and works to strengthen school-community partnerships that provide expanded learning opportunities stated, “I believe that the creation of this council is an important step in sustaining the critical programming that supports the social, emotional and academic needs of the Commonwealth’s children and youth.”