A Look at FKO’s Groundbreaking OST Registered Apprenticeship

80% of a child’s waking hours are spent outside of school. Out-of-school-time (OST) programs, which play an essential role during these hours, provide more than just before and after-school care – it’s an opportunity for kids to discover their passions, gain confidence, and build critical life skills. 

There are many parallels between early childhood education (ECE) and OST programs. For one — both OST and ECE fall under the Department of Early Education and Care in Massachusetts.

And for far too long, as we have seen with the early education workforce, the OST workforce has been undervalued and underpaid–while also being some of the most passionate and committed people in support of children’s education. Both also faced significant challenges during the pandemic, which highlighted the true value and importance of these care programs to families. First among many challenges for the OST sector during the pandemic was how to continue to engage a largely part-time workforce during a time of instability.

One of Neighborhood Villages’ partners, For Kids Only Afterschool (FKO), has been a leader in the OST space for 40 years, focusing on holistic child development. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that the organization fully recognized the potential to shift its workforce to full-time positions. During this critical time, FKO’s staff went above and beyond, providing full-day care for children while schools were closed and teachers transitioned to remote learning. Neighborhood Villages’ pooled COVID testing program — the first comprehensive testing program for the early education sector to be administered in Massachusetts and in the country — was also a vital resource for FKO educators and families during the pandemic.

With full-time employment and support, the OST workforce sustained more retention than it had before. However, when schools reopened, staff were expected to return to part-time roles which led to pay cuts and a loss of talent in the workforce. FKO, on the other hand, chose to retain a cohort of staff full-time, through fundraising and partnership with philanthropy. This unique model of full-time employees in the OST space allowed FKO to not only retain staff, but also to support their professional development and growth within the occupation. FKO educators were able to dedicate time to lesson planning, take trainings during daytime work hours, as well as visit classrooms and connect with the teachers of children in their programs and therefore support them in a much better way after school hours. This innovative and groundbreaking approach drastically altered the retention rate of a workforce that historically was unstable and constantly turning over. As FKO has piloted the model, they have seen a 76% retention rate for full-time staff over two years, compared to just 40% for part-time employees. 

At around the same time, Neighborhood Villages officially launched its Early Childhood Education (ECE) Registered Apprenticeship Program, which quickly became the largest in Massachusetts. Neighborhood Villages was also awarded a formal role as industry ambassador for all ECE apprenticeships on behalf of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD).

In that capacity, Neighborhood Villages supported FKO as they turned their already existing workforce program into a formal registered apprenticeship program, aimed at professionalizing and empowering OST educators, giving them the opportunity to build a career in OST. Neighborhood Villages provided guidance in program design, curriculum, and registration with the Division of Apprentice Standards. This opened up a new funding source for sustaining this program for FKO with EOLWD funds. With this support, and through leveraging available pandemic relief funds, FKO was able to continue offering paid training, mentorship, and leadership development to help address staffing shortages and the need for consistent, high-quality programming for children. 

This fall, we proudly joined FKO in celebrating the launch of their inaugural class of apprentices, consisting of 25 full-time OST Educators. It is the first OST Educator Registered Apprenticeship program in Massachusetts and first OST Educator Apprenticeship program with full-time, benefit employment in the country.

FKO’s OST Apprenticeship Program is built around a key principle of supporting educators to “earn while they learn” as apprentices are paid for their participation in professional development. Apprentices are paired with experienced mentors from FKO’s staff, who provide guidance and support throughout the program. And apprentices work closely with public school teachers and counselors, integrating what they learn into FKO’s OST programming to better serve children in Chelsea, Everett, Peabody, Revere, and Winthrop. Over 40% of participants are multilingual and over 80% of them live directly in the community that they work in, which helps strengthen their connection to the children and families they serve.

“We want our educators to feel valued and have a purposeful role. By investing in their training, we not only help them grow but also improve the quality of care and support we provide to children and families,” Briana Flannery, Deputy Director of FKO.

To measure the impact of FKO’s Apprenticeship initiative, the National Institute of Out-of-School Time (NIOST) conducted an examination of the impact on program quality and child outcomes and consistently saw positive youth/staff relationships and peer-to-peer relationships; positive social-emotional atmosphere; and strong site leadership and management.

“With the added time and focus that comes with being full-time, I’ve been able to participate in meetings and professional development sessions that enhance my skills, creating engaging activities and educational projects for the children we serve. For anyone who loves being an advocate for kids while fostering a fun and safe environment, the Full-Time Group Leader Apprenticeship Program is a rewarding opportunity,” Derek Delisi, FKO OST Apprentice.

In the coming year, FKO plans to invite other OST providers across the state to join their initiative. By sharing best practices and collaborating with other organizations, FKO hopes to build a community of OST educators committed to improving outcomes for children.

FKO’s apprenticeship program has the power to transform the field for the OST workforce, not only improving outcomes for kids but also setting a new standard for the field across the country.  It is an important parallel to the work that we’re doing at Neighborhood Villages to create lasting, positive change for children, families, and educators and we’re so proud to see that our work advancing apprenticeship opportunities for educators is having a broader impact. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting this incredible initiative. If you’d like to learn more about FKO’s apprenticeship program, please reach out to Deputy Director Briana Flannery at bflannery@fkoafterschool.org.