Why is this contract needed?

This MOU authorization reflects the prior authorization through June 30 and allows the District to continue to collaborate with the City of Philadelphia through June 30, 2025. The relationship provides students with access to safe, engaging enrichment programs after school in their own communities at their home school sites. The City of Philadelphia, through its Department of Human Services (DHS) Improving Outcomes for Youth agenda in the Office of Children and Families, will provide varied programming and activities, which are intended to result in an increase in the acquisition of life skills and improved academic success and readiness for college and/or career for Philadelphia youth. Throughout the school year, highly qualified OST providers will supply literacy, career exploration, social-emotional well-being, and other enrichment programming for three hours after the conclusion of instructional programming, Monday through Friday, in alignment with the District’s academic calendar. The providers also have the opportunity to deliver six weeks of programming over the summer to their school community, providing safe and engaging enrichment spaces during the summer break. During summer programs, the city OST programs will provide both academics and enrichment in a full day camp experience for students in grades 1-8. This action item will allow the District to continue supporting the City of Philadelphia in the operation of OST programming in District schools managed by qualified providers in collaboration with DHS.

How is this work connected to the District’s plan to achieve Goals & Guardrails?

OST programming is connected to the District's plan to achieve the Goals and Guardrails in several ways. First, it provides students with additional opportunities to learn and grow outside of the school day. This can help students develop academic, social-emotional, and career skills that they need to succeed in school and in life. Second, OST programming provides students with a safe and engaging environment after school. This can help to prevent students from engaging in risky behaviors, such as truancy, substance abuse, and violence.

Third, OST programming is inclusive of all students, regardless of their background or abilities. This ensures that all students have the opportunity to benefit from the program. Specifically, OST programming is aligned with Guardrail Two, which ensures that students have consistent, equitable access to enriching and well-rounded experiences. OST programming provides students with opportunities to participate in activities that are both enriching and fun. This can help to boost students' motivation and engagement in school. 

How will the success of this contract be measured?

The City’s Office of Children and Families utilizes industry-based measures from the National Institute of Out of School Time’s A Program Assessment System (ASAS), including the SAYO- Surveys of Academic and Youth Outcomes, to consistently monitor and support the quality of programs in alignment with the expectations of the contract. In addition, the District and the City collaborate in reviewing student program attendance data in conjunction with academic progress, especially for six-week summer programs. Additionally, the District will utilize academic measurements as determined by the Office of Evaluation, Research, and Accountability in reading and math to assess student progress during the summer program. 

If this is the continuation of a contract, how has success been measured in the past, and what specific information do we have to show that it was successful? 

The City of Philadelphia introduced the Out of School Time initiative in 2017 and has collaborated with the District since its inception to provide access to high-quality after-school enrichment programs across the city. The city has used the previously mentioned metrics, as well as coaching and feedback, to continuously improve program quality for increased student experiences and outcomes.  Due to the success of this relationship, the City of Philadelphia was able to increase the number of schools with programming from 68 schools in the previous MOU to 91, increase total slot allotments by more than 500 students, and report that the District school year award is 70% of the overall $24,629,225 investment for OST programs across the city.  

When applicable, is this an evidence-based strategy? If so, what evidence exists to support this approach?

There is an abundance of available research that delineates the impact that careful, strategic investments in after-school enrichment programs have on student progress and on their ability to sustain both social-emotional and academic progress. Studies from the Wallace Foundation and the National Institute for Out of School Time are frequently referenced sources that host a wide variety of research and evidence related to the efficacy of after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for student academic and social-emotional growth and achievement. 

When applicable, was a larger community of District community members and/or stakeholders involved in this selection process? If so, what groups and how?

The intermediary Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), under the direction of the Office of Children and Families, engaged in a rigorous Request for Proposals process to vet and select the high-quality providers awarded contracts to serve SDP schools. The application and scoring process invited the voice of school principals, and the scoring process engaged stakeholders from both the city and the District.

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