Afterschool Matters

Principal Investigator: Georgia Hall

The Afterschool Matters Initiative includes the National Afterschool Matters (NASM) Fellowship Program and the Afterschool Matters Journal. Funding for these two activities has been generously provided by the Robert Bowne Foundation with additional support from the NOYCE Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, Stoneleigh Foundation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and the US Department of Education.

National Afterschool Matters (NASM) Fellowship:
The NASM Fellowship is an intensive professional development opportunity in which OST professionals from a range of youth-serving organizations and experiences engage in a facilitated inquiry-based experience to enhance their own practice and improve program quality and experiences for children and youth. Based at the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST)at Wellesley College, the program works in partnership with the National Writing Project (NWP). Fellows participate in facilitated virtual meetings over the course of two years to produce products such as manuscripts for publication, conference presentations, blogs, or recorded webinars, etc. Prior to 2015, fellowships occurred locally in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco Bay area, and Seattle. (New York and New Jersey’s fellowships are still in operation in 2015.)

The NASM Fellowship is informed by the theoretical and philosophical foundation of teacher-inquiry. The NASM Fellowship views OST professionals as the agents of reform through professional development. This professional development model provides frequent and ongoing opportunities for participants to reflect on practice, engage in inquiry projects based on their own questions and concerns, and write and share about their work.  OST professionals who are well informed and effective in their practice can be partners in the development and implementation of effective and quality practice. The Fellowship engages professionals in the OST field in a process of leadership development where they learn to reflect on, study, improve, and assess their work with a view toward improving its quality and impact. 

Applications for the 2017-2019 NASM Fellowship will be available soon. Learn more>> 

Afterschool Matters Journal:
The Afterschool Matters Journal is a peer-reviewed journal that is produced semi-annually and highlights the work of OST researchers, NASM Fellows, OST practitioners, and other related professionals. The Afterschool Matters journal is dedicated to promoting professionalism, advancing scholarship, and shaping policy in the OST field.

The Afterschool Matters Journal seeks new submissions for upcoming issues. Learn more >>