FKO Launches OST Apprenticeship Model

Nearly three years after the pandemic briefly shut down programs, only 76% of child care jobs lost – positions mostly held by women and, disproportionately, women of color – have been recovered to pre-COVID levels of employment. Despite an economic recovery and strong job growth, the OST workforce continues to lag behind other fields; 103% of private sector jobs lost during the pandemic have since been recoveredⁱ. OST programs have long faced staffing challenges due to the low wages and limited benefits and it is now clear: OST workers will continue to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere unless we can make a major change.  Facing this reality, FKO recently launched an innovative initiative specifically designed to recruit, respect, and retain skilled out-of-school time workers who can deliver the quality programming children and families want and deserve.  

FKO is lucky to employ passionate team members who love working with children and are eager to grow as professionals. Unfortunately, most OST workers do not currently have access to formal training systems to help them advance in OST careers. To keep dedicated professionals in the field, FKO creatively designed what is believed to be the very first apprenticeship model in Massachusetts for those seeking to make a career in the OST field.  

For one year, the apprenticeship model is drawing on COVID-relief resources and extensive FKO fundraising to expand existing part-time OST work into full-time positions with benefits for a cohort of 22 staff members. The overall goal for the cohort is to increase worker’s ability to deliver quality enrichment for school-age youth and FKO’s retention of skilled workers. In exchange for expanded roles and increased income, group leaders are participating in extensive professional development opportunities and daily planning time to design lessons and activities that support children’s learning and social-emotional recovery after two very difficult years. As part of the apprenticeship model, FKO’s cohort of full-time workers are enrolled in a college certificate program through a partnership with North Shore Community College (NSCC). Funded in part through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care’s Early Educator Career Pathways Program, there are no costs to staff. The cohort is also benefitting from weekly community of practice sessions facilitated by NSCC, weekly 1:1 meetings with an assigned mentor, and personalized career advising and on the job training to help put their new skills into practice.   

FKO is thrilled to partner with the National Institute of Out of School Time (NIOST) on program observations and assessments for this pilot program. NIOST will analyze and report on data collected to help FKO understand the impact of the apprentice model on career growth within the OST profession and program quality over time. A report on the OST Workforce Pilot will be released later in 2023.   

FKO is working hard to secure public and private funds to continue and expand professional development and staff retention strategies for OST workers over the long-term.   

Click here to see a sample of the weekly schedule for staff participating in this initiative.