The Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (the OST Commission) is a public body composed of engaged residents and representatives from government agencies, and who support equitable access to high-quality OST programs for District youth. The Commission provides resources and support to ensure a citywide system of high-quality OST programs.
Below you will find a list of all scheduled OST Commission meetings for Fiscal Year 2025:
- Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. (Location: In person - TBD)
- Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. (Location: In person - TBD)
- Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 6:000PM - 7:30PM. Join here.
- Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. Join here.
- Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. Join here.
- Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. Join here.
- Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. Join here. (Special meeting)
- Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 6:00PM - 7:30PM. (Location: Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th Street NW, Washington, DC)
Interested in Serving as a Commissioner?
The Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes is currently accepting applications from stakeholders who are committed to supporting equitable access to high-quality OST programs in the District of Columbia. Parents and youth are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested parties should complete this brief application.
The Commission, when fully staffed, is comprised of 21 members who represent key community stakeholder constituencies or are District agency administrative heads or their designees. The current members of the OST Commission are:
- Dr. Kelly Sallee, Director of Special Populations and Programs, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (Chair)
- Andrea Jones, Parent/Community Member (Vice –Chair)
- Margot Berkey, Specialist, Out of School Time Programs, DC Public Schools
- Matthew Hanson, Chief of Staff, DC Action for Children
- Kierra Jenkins, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, DC Public Charter School Board
- Joanne Seelig Lamparter, Artistic Director of Education and Theatre for Change, Imagination Stage
- Walter Peacock, Data Specialist Department of Insurance Securities & Banking, Bank on DC
- Bijan Verlin, Legislative Policy Advisor, Office of Chairman Phil Mendelson
- Natasha Herring, Interim Chief, Community Programs, Department of Parks & Recreation
- Marisa Goldstein, Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
- Dr. Shontia Lowe, Executive Director, Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (ex-officio)
Over the next three years, the Commission and the OST Office will focus on the following strategic priorities to achieve our vision. Each strategic priority must remain anchored in our values of youth voice, equity, commitment to learning, and mutual respect and responsibilities.
OST Commission Committees
Interested in joining an OST Commission Committee? Apply here.
Outcomes and Needs - guides the OST Commission in establishing priorities for the use of out-of-school time funding based on current OST program needs. The Committee assesses the outcomes and impact of OST affiliated government agencies providing programming and services to K-12 children and youth across the District. The OST Office shall conduct a biennial OST Needs Assessment and a biennial progress report (alternating years of the Needs Assessment), working across District agencies to identify the needs for out-of-school time programs, and the progress made towards meeting the targeted needs. The Committee informs decision-makers (DC Council, other government agencies, etc.) on funding needs.
- Next meeting: Tuesday, June 24, 2024 at 1PM. Join here.
Quality - works with the Learn24 Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes’ (OST Office) Institute for Youth Development (The Institute) on the implementation of program quality assessments, quality improvement planning, youth surveys, training, and coaching, in support of the continuous growth and improvement of OST providers. This Committee works in partnership with The Institute to identify and to determine trainings that provide high quality support, in alignment with the needs of DC’s youth.
- Next meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 2PM. Join here.
Governance - on an ongoing basis, reviews, revises, and updates the bylaws, examines conflicts of interest, makes changes or additions to committees, and acts on behalf of the OST Commission in addressing urgent matters that cannot wait for the next OST Commission meeting, ensuring alignment with its best judgment of the OST Commission members' likely decisions given the circumstances.
- Next meeting: Monday, June 16, 2025 at 2PM. Join here.
Coordination and Collaboration - builds a strong and sustainable out of school time framework, grounded in youth development best-practices, and that rely on the input of youth, families, OST providers, experts, and government agencies. The Committee works to ensure strategic collaboration among various stakeholders, including: the Deputy Mayor for Education/OST Office, DC Public Schools, DC Public Charter Schools, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Employment Services, DC Public Libraries, and other District of Columbia government agencies, OST providers, families, and youth.
Funding and Capacity - works to ensure that all District of Columbia youth have equitable access to diverse, high-quality programs in locations that meet the current demand for OST seats across the District. To achieve this goal, the Committee works with OST providers (small, medium, and large) to support their financial, organizational, technical, and educational growth and development, through the identification of and referral to capacity building resources.
- Next meeting: Friday, May 30, 2025 at 1PM. Join here.
2023-2026 OST Strategic Plan
The Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office) Strategic Plan is grounded in the umbrella vision of Universal Out of School Time (OST) access inclusive of Afterschool for All, the findings from the DC Policy Center’s OST Needs Assessment, and ongoing stakeholder input collected by the OST Office, including but not limited to community members, the OST Commission, the OST Commission Committees, and the DME and OST Office staff. NOTE: At the request of the OST Commission, this plan may be subject to updates on an annual or biennial basis, based on the current and evolving needs of children and youth across the District of Columbia.
For additional questions, or concerns please email [email protected].
