America After 3PM Release
Since 2004, America After 3PM, a comprehensive national survey from the Afterschool Alliance, has provided critical insights into how children and families experience the hours afterschool. Based on responses from more than 30,000 U.S. households, including 662 in-depth interviews in Virginia, both the newly released fifth edition of the national report and the Virginia After 3PM 2025 report reveal that unmet demand for afterschool programs remains alarmingly high.
To learn more about the Virginia After 3PM 2025 report, click here.
Lights on Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. Celebrated this year on Thursday, October 23, LOA, a project of the Afterschool Alliance, has become a hallmark of the afterschool advocacy movement and generates media coverage across the country each year.
This year, your voice is more important than ever due to the current partial shutdown of the US government. Federal and state legislators must be aware of how crucial we are to the fabric of communities, so we encourage you to show your advocacy throughout October by hosting an event (e.g., open house, poetry slam, community fair) to demonstrate your quality.
Register your event on the Afterschool Alliance map. After you complete this easy step, invite legislators to your event using sample language for your invitations. Help Virginia reach 300 events listed on the map to demonstrate the wide array and diversity of programs across the Commonwealth!
VPOST’s 16th Annual Conference
Thank you to the 225 out-of-school time professionals who registered for this event! VPOST was joined by OST champions from across the Commonwealth on September 15th for a full-day event. Check out our official conference page for more information and pictures from the conference.
A major highlight of the VPOST annual conference is presenting the Out-of-School Time Champion Awards to deserving individuals. This year, was even more special, as we renamed the award in honor of Roberta Newman, a nationally recognized leader, trainer, author, and force of nature in the world of child and youth development.
Read more about Roberta’s legacy and impact on the OST field here.
Funding Restored in Fairfax County!
YOU DID IT! Thanks to your incredible advocacy, full funding has been restored for the Fairfax County middle school afterschool program for the 2025-26 school year. According to the Fairfax County Government Website, “Following feedback from thousands of residents, the board restored full funding for the middle school after-school program.” Together, our community sent more than 26,000 emails and showed up powerfully, including youth advocates, to speak at budget hearings. This victory is a direct result of your voices, passion and persistence. Thank you for standing up for young people and the programs that support them.
VPOST’s A Quick Guide for Adult Advocates for Out-of-School Time Programs
Out-of-School Time Programs are a safe space for children and youth to get homework help, receive academic enrichment, build social skills, and make friendships while their parents work. As the adults who send their children to programs or those who work in childcare and education, decision-makers need to hear your stories! This quick guide will help you share your unique experience.
STEM Next’s 2025 Flight Crew – Meet the Virginia Ambassadors
Meet Nik and Michelle, high schoolers from Virginia, two of 77 young people nationwide selected to join the 2025 Flight Crew – STEM Next’s National STEM Ambassador Program! They will be representing Virginia as they use their voice to show how STEM outside the classroom changes lives!
As part of the STEM Next’s mission to connect young people to career opportunities, Flight Crew members receive training in leadership development, public speaking, social media, resume-building, and interview preparation – PLUS connections to mentors and career role models who provide guidance as they pursue their STEM goals.
Learn more about STEM Next’s program here.
Afterschool Programs Strengthen the Economy
One of the most powerful cases for investments in afterschool’s impact on the economy! From parents working in the after-school hours without worry, to cascading benefits for youth from extra education hours, higher attendance, and more exposure to new experiences and potential careers, afterschool contributes at least $3 for every $1 spent.
Afterschool Alliance’s new factsheet about how afterschool programs benefit kids, support working families, save businesses money, and strengthen the economy, demonstrates the case for afterschool in the economy.
Jeanine Turner Selected as a National Ambassador
Jeanine Turner, Chief Impact Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, has been selected by the Afterschool Alliance as a National Ambassador!
Each year, the Alliance selects 12-20 Ambassadors from around the country, and this year, Jeanine Turner will serve as a 2025 Afterschool Ambassador!
Congrats, Jeanine!
A Quick Guide on Youth Advocacy for Out-of-School Time Programs
Out-of-School Time Programs are a place for youth to discover their passion and make connections with adults and peers alike. Who better to tell decision makers the power of OST programs? Speaking truth to power can seem intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! This quick guide will help youth craft and share their unique story.
Former VPOST STEM Youth Ambassador Receives National Award
Join us in congratulating Medha Pappula for receiving the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award! Our former STEM Youth Ambassador was honored for her unique talents, aptitude, and aspirations in technology and computing.
Each year, U.S. high school students in grades 9 through 12 receive recognition for their technological achievements. Medha was selected from over 3,700 exceptionally talented young applicants. Congrats, Medha!
VPOST Quality Standards 2nd Edition
The diversity of out-of-school time programs and staff is a strength that allows us to create unique and locally-driven solutions. But it also means we need a common language to define program quality in Virginia. To address this, VPOST released Quality Standards (Best Practices) in 2017. Now in 2024, we present the second edition of the Quality Standards.
$5 MILLION FOR VIRGINIA OST INCLUDED IN STATE BUDGET!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to advocate for Virginia Afterschool Programs. YOU DID IT! VPOST is thrilled to share that $5 million for Virginia OST has been included in the state budget. Thank you again for taking the time to respond to our action alerts and letting legislators know how important these programs are for our communities!
