Mission/History
At the Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network, we believe that all children should have the same opportunities to live a healthy and productive life. Our goal is to end disparities in youth development by improving the quality and reach of programs that offer additional opportunities to young people beyond the traditional school day and school year.
We accomplish our work through a sustainable network of partners serving the out-of-school-time community, working with legislators and others to improve policymaking and increase funding, and ensuring that all out-of-school-time programs are high quality. We envision Maryland as a place where all students can explore, create, and achieve their full potential.
2007
The Maryland Out of School Time Network is born! Received first grant from Charles Stewart Mott Foundation with matching funding from Open Society Institute to establish new Statewide Afterschool Network for Maryland.
2008
Conducted statewide surveys and listening sessions to learn more about the needs of Maryland’s youth development field.
2009
Held first virtual statewide conference in partnership with University of Maryland Extension 4H. MOST joined partnerships with Governor’s Office for Children, Maryland No Kid Hungry and Maryland Hunger Solutions to strategically promote afterschool and summer meals.
2010
Published the Maryland Out of School Time Quality Standards Framework, which was developed collaboratively with representatives from recreation, childcare, formal K-12 education.
Welcomed our first AmeriCorps VISTA Cohort of 5 AmeriCorps VISTA Members
2011
Held our first annual in-person conference at the Tidewater Inn in Easton attended by 150 youth development professionals
2014
Worked with advocates to develop and pass Maryland Afterschool and Summer Opportunity Fund legislation which established an Advisory Board appointed by the Governor to study afterschool and summer funding
Launched first cohort of STEMbassadors and our first year of the OST and Inclusion Project
2015
MASOF Advisory Board recommended restoring funding to MASOF
2016
Public Schools Opportunity Enhancement Act replaces MASOF legislation and provides 5 million dollars in new grant funding for OST programs.
2017
Began efforts to build statewide community school coalition (MD4CS)
2018
Launched Maryland MENTOR as the new Maryland affiliate to the National Mentoring Partnership at MOST’s annual Conference
2019
Worked with advocates on legislation to expand Community Schools and provide a definition of Community Schools in Maryland
Collaborated with Maryland MENTOR to produce new Maryland United for Youth partnership conference attended by over 350 youth development leaders
2020
MOST becomes the National Afterschool Association Affiliate for Maryland
AmeriCorps VISTA initiative expands to more than 40 projects across the state.