Cambridge Agenda for Children OST Receives $100,000 Grant to Pilot Registered Apprenticeship Program for Out-of-School Time Educators

The Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School-Time (AFCOST) has been selected by the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) to receive a $100,000 grant to fund a new registered apprenticeship program that will train a cohort of 25 out-of-school time (OST) staff. As part of the state’s Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) for Early Childhood Educators initiative, AFCOST will launch an 18-month, full-time apprenticeship program designed to professionalize the workforce and improve retention in the OST sector. The program is scheduled to launch in July 2026, with apprentices identified and hired by June 30, 2026.

This funding comes at a critical time for the early education and out-of-school time care system in Massachusetts. Recent data indicates the state loses nearly $3 billion annually due to inadequate child care and workforce instability.

“A stable, professional, and well-supported workforce is the single most important factor in delivering high-quality OST experiences,” AFCOST Co-Directors Susan Richards and Khari Milner said. “By supporting the development of front line staff in full-time, benefited positions, the Registered Apprenticeship Program for OST Educators aims to create a sustainable career pathway for OST professionals.”

The design of Cambridge’s OST apprenticeship program is a response to critical data surfaced in the recent City of Cambridge OST Expansion Study regarding staff attrition. The study found a stark correlation between working hours and retention: Within the Cambridge OST sector, attrition rates for staff working fewer than 30 hours per week are as high as 44%, compared to just 6% for those in full-time positions.

Program Highlights:

• Full-Time Employment: The program will support a cohort of 25 apprentices, who are new staff working in front line, full-time positions across programs in the Cambridge OST ecosystem. 
  
  
• Comprehensive Training: Apprentices will complete 2,000 hours of structured on-the-job training (OJT) with 1:1 mentorship, alongside 150 hours of Related Technical Instruction (RTI) delivered in a hybrid format.
  
  
• National Standards: The curriculum aligns with the National After School Association (NAA) Core Knowledge, Skills and Competencies and National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) quality indicators.
  
  
• Credentialing: Upon completion, apprentices will earn a portable industry credential or certificate of completion issued by the Massachusetts Department of Labor. A portable industry credential formally validates an individual's skills and/or competencies. 

AFCOST will execute the Registered Apprenticeship Program for OST Educators in collaboration with five committed employer partners: the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, East End House, Community Art Center, Cambridge Community Center, and Maria L. Baldwin Community Center. The Institute for Education and Professional Development (IEPD) will serve as the training partner, delivering asynchronous coursework and facilitating Community of Practice sessions.

“Our goal of increasing access to high-quality afterschool programs for all Cambridge children starts with the OST workforce,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “The City of Cambridge is thrilled to receive this funding from the Commonwealth to support this new program under the leadership of the Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time.”

"Thanks in large part to the strong networks and partnerships we have in place through the Cambridge Agenda for Children, City administration, and community organizations, CPS is well-positioned to support students both inside and outside the classroom,” said David Murphy, Superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools. “Programs like this that enhance our afterschool pipelines are crucial for our organization and families alike and we are grateful for this expanded partnership."

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About Cambridge Agenda for Children OST (AFCOST): For over two decades, AFCOST has served as a city-wide intermediary organization connecting Cambridge Public Schools, the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, and OST providers. AFCOST provides professional development, quality improvement coaching, and network support to more than 450 staff from 70 diverse programs, serving more than 3,000 children and youth annually.