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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Out-of-School-Time Academic Programs

Out-of-school-time (OST) academic programs focus on helping students improve academic achievements in kindergarten through 12th grade. The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends OST programs to improve math and reading knowledge of students at risk of poor academic outcomes. The Task Force notes that these programs show promise for improving health outcomes. Programs should emphasize academic content, although the other elements of these programs, such as service learning, can also benefit youth and communities.

OST programs are scheduled after regular school hours during the school year and summer. OST programs can include reading-focused programs, math-focused programs, or general programs. Some programs may supplement academics by providing additional resources for students, including snacks, meals, counseling sessions, and recreational activities. In rural communities, OST programs provide important resources to families and help to support healthy, safe youth development.

Examples of Out-of-School-Time Academic Programs Addressing SDOH

  • The Montana 4-H Club, run through the Montana State University Extension, is the largest OST youth development and education program in the state. The program works with youth around the state in all 56 counties and 7 reservations and provides hundreds of different learning and skill-building opportunities. The program uses adult volunteers who focus on training and youth empowerment. Youth can participate in a variety of projects such as agricultural training like learning how to raise livestock, sewing, cooking, and using new technology. Program participants have demonstrated increased knowledge and skills related to public speaking, writing, and general communication.
  • The Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP) runs the Resilient Alaska Youth (RAY) AmeriCorps Program. RAY engages youth from remote tribal communities in afterschool and OST activities, education, and community service to help connect them to their community. The program recruits AmeriCorps members directly from the villages and members from their local tribe supervise them. The program is based on an evidence-based model for tribal communities called Project Venture, which aims to educate, empower youth, and reduce risky behaviors such as substance use. The program also helps build meaningful relationships for youth and connection to the community as resiliency assets to protect them from participating in risky behaviors and to reduce rates of suicide.
  • The 4-H Rural Youth Development program, Engaging Youth, Serving Community, focuses on empowering local youth by equipping them with knowledge and skills to build capacity and make changes in their communities. These programs, including afterschool programs, focus on including rural youth as integral members of the community and involving them in all steps of community planning and decision-making. The programs recognize the importance of building youth leaders and champions in rural areas to have a greater impact on community well-being.

Implementation Considerations

Out-of-school-time programs require staff support to be successful. Staff may require specialized training and additional professional development resources. Creating strong partnerships within the community can be important for implementing and sustaining these programs. Partners can also help with family engagement, which is critical to keeping student attendance at levels that justify retaining the program. Family engagement in afterschool programming is an important factor in children's achievement and success. Children are more likely to attend afterschool and OST activities when they receive support from their families and caregivers.

Resource considerations are also important for these programs. Providing nutritious snacks and having sufficient space for kids and families can help improve program attendance and success. In addition, programs that can provide transportation may be more successful, since this is a common barrier for student attendance in rural areas.