Cambridge Agenda for Children OST Receives $100,000 Grant to Pilot Registered Apprenticeship Program for Out-of-School Time Educators

CAMBRIDGE, MA – December 12, 2025 – The Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School-Time (AFCOST) has been selected by the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) to receive a $100,000 grant to fund a new registered apprenticeship program that will train a cohort of 25 out-of-school time (OST) staff.  As part of the state’s Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) for Early Childhood Educators initiative, AFCOST will launch an 18-month, full-time apprenticeship program designed to professionalize the workforce and improve retention in the OST sector. The program is scheduled to launch in July 2026, with apprentices identified and hired by June 30, 2026.

This funding  comes at a critical time for the early education and out-of-school time care system in Massachusetts. Recent data indicates the state loses nearly $3 billion annually due to inadequate child care and workforce instability. 

“A stable, professional, and well-supported workforce is the single most important factor in delivering high-quality OST experiences,” AFCOST Co-Directors Susan Richards and Khari Milner said. “By supporting the development of front line staff in full-time, benefited positions, the Registered Apprenticeship Program for OST Educators aims to create a sustainable career pathway for OST professionals.”

The design of Cambridge’s OST apprenticeship program is a response to critical data surfaced in the recent City of Cambridge OST Expansion Study regarding staff attrition. The study found a stark correlation between working hours and retention: Within the Cambridge OST sector, attrition rates for staff working fewer than 30 hours per week are as high as 44%, compared to just 6% for those in full-time positions.

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