Afterschool Programs

Welcome to Afterschool!

At the end of the school day, DCPS Out of School Time Programs (OSTP) afterschool programs engage students in academic support, a variety of enrichment activities provided by DCPS teachers, paraprofessionals, and partner organizations and free supper or snack. The program is made possible by funding from DCPS and a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. In School Year 2026-2027, afterschool programs managed by Out of School Time Programs (OSTP) will be offered in 55 schools. We have an updated list of schools at: dcps.dc.gov/page/out-school-time-programs-ostp-sites. Schools not participating in OSTP afterschool programs may offer their own programs to students. Please contact your student’s school for more information.

Important Information

DCPS OSTP registration will occur on the My Out of School Time DC (MOST-DC) portal for the 2026-2027 school year. Prior to DCPS OSTP enrollment window opening, families are encouraged to create or update an account, complete their parent profile, and link their student(s). Read below, “How do I register my student?” for instructions for new and returning families.
DCPS OSTP registration will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Visit most.dc.gov to register for afterschool.
You can make sure your child’s grade is served by OSTP by checking this list: dcps.dc.gov/page/out-school-time-programs-ostp-sites
The online enrollment system works on a cellular phone, computer, or tablet. If you lack access to any of these devices, computers will be available at your school. Please call your school to find out when you can come in to register. DC Public Libraries also have computers available for public use.
OSTP is hiring afterschool program teachers, paraprofessionals, and site leaders. Get information and apply at: dcps.dc.gov/page/afterschool-staff-positions

What do afterschool programs offer?

The afterschool schedule offers an hour of academic support, including about 20 minutes of homework. Supper or snack is served to all students free of charge. 60-90 minutes of enrichment activities are also provided. This can include activities on themes such as character, gratitude, friendship, or anti-bullying, as well as physical activities, arts, or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Some enrichment is led by DCPS staff, and some is provided by partner organizations. Enrichment offerings will vary during the school year and from school to school.

Participation in high-quality afterschool programming has been proven to improve school attendance, academic achievement, and attitudes toward learning. Students attending two and a half hours of afterschool programs each day gain the equivalent of nearly two months of learning time.

What are the afterschool program hours?

The afterschool program starts at the end of the school day and ends at 6:00 pm each full school day (unless otherwise noted by your school).

What grades can participate?

OSTP programs serve students in PK3 through grade 5 at elementary schools and PK3 through grade 8 at education campuses. At River Terrace, all grades are eligible. Many schools also work with School Program Providers who offer fee-based or free afterschool programs and help expand afterschool seats to serve more families. Therefore, the grades that the OSTP program serves at each site may vary. Please contact your school to determine which service provider will serve your student's specific grade. We have listed the known providers on the list of 55 sites here: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/out-school-time-programs-ostp-sites

How do I register my student?

1. Complete your child's school enrollment for School Year 2026-2027. You cannot register for afterschool programming until school enrollment is complete. School enrollment is currently open and can be completed at your school or at enrolldcps.dc.gov.

2. Use a cell phone, tablet, or computer to register at most.dc.gov.

NEW USERS	RETURNING USERS
Visit most.dc.gov, select SIGN IN, and “Sign Up Now.”	Log in to your most.dc.gov account.
Set up your Parent/Guardian Profile from the dropdown under your account name.	Open the Student Information tab by selecting it from the dropdown menu in the top right corner.
Select the Student Information tab under your parent/guardian profile and LINK your student.	For each student, complete the required School Year 2026-2027 consent questions.
Search for your DCPS Afterschool Program by your school name and click APPLY when registration opens.	Once each student's consent is updated, you will be able to apply when registration opens!
Registration Opens on May 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM	Registration Opens on May 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM

3. When you complete your child’s afterschool registration, you will receive an initial email confirmation and/or SMS message indicating whether your child is enrolled or waitlisted in the program. Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If a seat becomes available, your child will be removed from the waitlist. You will be notified of any changes to your child's enrollment status via email confirmation and/or SMS message.

4. No child will be permitted to begin attending the program until their afterschool enrollment has been confirmed.

What do I do if I have trouble registering for OSTP Afterschool?

If you have trouble logging in to your MOST account, please submit a Support Request on the MOST website.

Please check the list of 55 schools to see if your child’s school is served by OSTP or has another program provider for the grade your child is in. You may need to register directly with that organization and cannot register with OSTP. https://dcps.dc.gov/page/out-school-time-programs-ostp-sites.

If you still have trouble, please contact your school registrar or OSTP at [email protected] or (202) 442-5002 to ask for assistance.

My student is on the waitlist. What happens next?

Afterschool registration operates on a first-come-first-served basis for the seats in the program at each school. When a school’s afterschool seats are filled, students are listed on the waitlist according to the date and time of their registration. Students leave the waitlist when a seat opens in the afterschool group serving their grade. For example, the kindergarten group can only add a new kindergartener when one of the students in the group leaves. OSTP monitors attendance and invites new students from the waitlist as soon as a space becomes available. You will be contacted via email when your student's seat opens, however, it is possible for a student to remain on the waitlist all school year if there are no openings for their grade level. OSTP and school leaders make every effort to engage additional afterschool program providers to expand afterschool seats and serve as many students as possible, but sometimes the demand for seats is greater than the capacity to serve all students. This issue occurs in DC and is also a challenge facing afterschool programs across the United States.

Is there a fee?

The OSTP program is offered free of charge. There is no fee. At some schools, other afterschool providers that serve students in certain grades may charge a fee. We have listed the known providers on the list of 55 school sites: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/out-school-time-programs-ostp-sites. Not all afterschool program providers charge fees.

How is the afterschool program evaluated?

The OSTP program is partially funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant (21CCLC) from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). The School Year 2024-25 21CCLC “Afterschool End of Year Evaluation Report” presents the program objectives set by OSSE and DCPS and evaluates whether the objectives were met during the 2024-2025 school year which was the most recent year of DCPS OSTP afterschool program data. In addition, the presentation contains valuable information about the 21CCLC grant, program demographics, key findings from the external evaluator, afterschool program strengths, and areas of focus for SY25-26. A summary of key findings is available at the link below. Questions may be sent to [email protected].