Established in the fall of 2024, the Wisconsin Partnership for Kids is a statewide coalition formed by the Wisconsin Out-of-School Time Alliance (WOSTA), Madison Area Out-of-School Time (MOST), and Wisconsin Youth Company (WYC). The coalition unifies providers, parents, and community leaders under a single banner to discuss policy priorities and coordinate advocacy efforts.

Out-of-school time refers to the hours outside of the regular school day — including after-school programs, summer learning, weekend activities, and enrichment opportunities. These programs provide children with safe environments to explore interests, develop skills, and build relationships that support their long-term success.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin utilized temporary relief funds to make an unprecedented $50 million Beyond the Classroom investment in youth programs. This funding proved just how transformative OST programs are for families and local economies. However, when that federal funding expired, thousands of Wisconsin children were left without access. Advocacy is essential to secure a permanent, sustainable state-level solution so programs do not have to rely on unpredictable, short-term funding streams.

Unlike K-12 education, Wisconsin does not have a reliable, dedicated state funding stream specifically for OST programs. Providers often survive on a fragile patchwork of parent fees, private donations, and highly competitive federal grants (like the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant). Dedicated state funding ensures equitable access so that a child’s ability to participate isn’t determined by their family’s income or zip code.

Our primary mission is to secure sustainable, long-term public funding for afterschool and summer programs across Wisconsin, while simultaneously elevating the quality of programs and developing local advocacy leaders.

Anyone who cares about the future of Wisconsin’s youth! Our membership includes OST program coordinators, front-line youth educators, administrators, parents, community stakeholders, and elected officials.

Join the Partnership! Participate in our quarterly calls, stay up to date on legislative news, and learn how you can use your voice to make a difference. 

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You can also follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected with our work across Wisconsin.

No, the Wisconsin Partnership for Kids is not an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Instead, we operate as a statewide coalition of multiple organizations and utilize Wisconsin Youth Company as our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. This structure allows us to direct our maximum focus and resources straight toward advocacy and coalition-building.