As the District faces fiscal constraints and competing budget pressures, we are grateful that grant funding for out-of-school-time (OST) programs was held harmless at $27 million in Mayor Bowser’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget for the OST Office. These grants to community-based partners and local education agencies (LEAs) who operate OST programs before school, afterschool, and during the summer months currently generate more than 17,000 OST seats for DC youth and we expect the level funding from FY25 to FY26 to sustain these critical out-of-school learning and development opportunities for the year ahead.
The Mayor’s proposal for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education which houses the Office of Out-of-School-Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (the OST Office) maintains overall OST grant funding levels from FY25, including converting $3.8 million to recurring dollars (in the youth outcomes activities area). This is a critical step toward funding stability, and we thank the Mayor for recognizing the value OST programs play in the lives of District youth, families, and communities. Yet, of the $27 million in grant funding, $3 million remains a one-time investment, leaving the sector exposed to potential cuts in FY27 or future years if local revenues do not rebound. While we are grateful this portion of the budget remains stable on paper, we know that flat funding amidst rising operational costs still translates into real reductions—fewer seats, fewer staff, and fewer safe, supportive spaces for DC youth.
At the same time, the Trump administration’s full education budget proposal, released May 30, calls for the complete elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal program solely dedicated to funding afterschool and summer learning opportunities. In DC, OSSE is budgeted to administer $8.35 million in 21st CCLC funds in FY26, reaching more than 6,600 students, primarily in Wards 7 and 8. The loss of this federal funding would be devastating; we would urge the Mayor and DC Council to act swiftly, potentially even outside the standard budget process, to shield our most impacted communities from harm by replacing any federal loss in funding with local funding (administered either through OSSE or the DME’s OST Office) to ensure no youth is left without access to quality OST programming.
Complicating the funding landscape for OST programs further is that there is still no clarity on the District’s intention to cover costs associated with operating community-based OST programs at DC Public Schools (DCPS) sites. Historically security, janitorial, meal, and other costs associated with serving students on-site at DCPS schools have been absorbed into the District’s larger education budget as those costs are only a small fraction of that budget. But if costs are passed onto providers, it will significantly burden provider budgets – by thousands to tens of thousands of dollars – forcing programs and program locations to close, staff layoffs, and youth being turned away. The Deputy Mayor for Education was questioned about this concern at his budget oversight hearing on May 30, 2025 but he was not able to confirm answers on this essential matter. As we learn more about this issue, we will update our blog post.
OST programs are among the most effective, cost-efficient investments the District can make, not only for youth development, but also for academic achievement, public safety, family stability, and workforce participation. DC’s OST community-based providers are, unfortunately, experts at operating on thin margins; they ensure every public dollar goes directly into youth development, programming, and staffing. For many providers, even a small dip in public funding or funding unpredictability can lead to painful trade-off so we remain concerned that the flat funding proposed for FY26, alongside the looming threat of federal cuts, puts providers under immense pressure and risks undoing the District’s hard-won gains in OST access and equity for our young people.
The Council must protect the $27 million in grant funding in the OST Office, guarantee the District continues covering OST operators’ DCPS building use costs, and plan now for any federal losses that threaten OST opportunities for DC youth. OST programs are not just about filling time; they are about building futures. They create belonging, spark potential, and support youth on their path to success. In this moment of budget uncertainty, the choice is clear: we can either invest in our young people now, or pay the price for inaction later.