Good morning Chairman Mendelson and members and staff of the Committee of the Whole. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Njeri Jenkins, and I am the Out-of-School-Time Advocacy Manager at DC Action. Our work focuses on ensuring that all youth in the District have access to the opportunities they need to thrive, especially through high-quality OST programs.
I’m here to discuss three key challenges facing OST providers in the District: the need for stable funding, the need for pre-payment to cover expenses, and the need to access federal funding promptly to protect the continuity of services.
OST providers need stable and predictable funding
First, OST providers need consistent, reliable funding. In FY24, the District abruptly eliminated $6.8 million in local dollars that had previously been blended into OSSE’s administration of federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) grant funding awards. Fortunately, the OST Office, through the Deputy Mayor for Education’s (DME) budget, was able to leverage other sources to make a one-time enhancement to replace OSSE’s elimination of local funds and was able to temporarily sustain programming for more than 17,000 young people through continued grants to community-based providers. These community based providers depend on public funding to make a wide array of OST opportunities affordable to District youth; even small reductions in District dollars can significantly disrupt services or, in some cases, force programs to end their operations, as the Committee heard at last fall’s hearing on the Universal OST Amendment Act.Â
With looming threats from the Trump administration to cut the Department of Education, which disseminates the 21st Century grants, community-based OST providers are rightly anxious about what this means for the future of their programs and the youth they serve. We want to thank the DME’s OST Office for stepping in to replace lost 21CCLC funding last year and for keeping many providers whole by continuing FY24 funding levels through FY25. This action demonstrated a strong commitment to sustaining OST programming. It is proof that solutions exist—and that with continued strategic investments, we can do even more to expand access and stability for OST providers, families, and youth. We urge the DME’s OST Office to continue making strategic investments by reassuring the OST community that it will replace any loss of federal funding with local dollars to preserve access to high-quality OST programs for our DC students and families.Â
OST providers need access to federal funds
We urge the DME’s office to collaborate with OSSE to enable community-based OST providers to access 21CCLC funds for FY25 as soon as possible. Providers are concerned about losing access to this federal funding following the stayed federal funding freeze last month. With the ongoing threat of federal cuts, expedited access to already allocated federal funds will ensure program continuity, allow providers to fully utilize available funds, and reduce potential financial constraints on the District should we need to step in to replace long term federal funding losses.
OST providers need pre-payments for operational costs
Community-based OST providers face a challenge with the District’s current grant invoicing structure. Although they can invoice for 50% of grant funds up front (at the start of the Fiscal Year on October 1), this model does not align with the early planning and operational needs of school-year programs, many of which begin serving students in August. We recommend introducing a pre-payment system, allowing providers to cover costs such as hiring and training staff, securing materials, and preparing for the school year ahead of October 1.
Without a pre-payment adjustment, programs that serve thousands of youth may be forced to delay their start until October, leaving students without structured, safe, and enriching spaces during a critical transition period at the beginning of the school year. This gap can be particularly disruptive for working families who rely on OST programs for consistent afterschool care. Providers often have to take on financial risk fronting costs for staffing, materials, and program planning without the certainty of timely reimbursement. This strains budgets, particularly for smaller community-based organizations, and limits their ability to serve as many students as possible. Implementing a pre-payment system would remove these barriers, ensuring OST programs are fully prepared to support youth, families, and schools from day one.
In summary, stable funding, pre-payment for program costs, and expedited access to federal funding are essential to maintaining high-quality OST programs. Research from the Learn24 Office indicates that youth who regularly participate in high-quality OST programs benefit in their academic performance, social and emotional development, and health and wellness. Youth participation in OST programs can result in improved school attendance, higher graduation rates, and lower dropout rates. Ensuring the District’s OST ecosystem has the resources and financial stability to serve every young person in the District is a smart investment in youth development, community safety, and long-term educational and economic outcomes for our city. Thank you for your time and consideration.