The Arkansas Out of School Network
AOSN is a sponsored initiative of Arkansas State University housed within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences within the Department of Childhood Services.
Areas of Focus
- Program Quality
- Professional Development
- Public Awareness & Communication
- Finance & Resource Development
Core Commitments
- Support youth development from early childhood through young adulthood
- Emphasize strengths-based, positive youth development
- Ensure access to high-quality opportunities for all Arkansas youth
- Promote accountability at the local and state levels
- Advocate for sustainable public and private funding for Arkansas afterschool and summer learning programs.
Network Highlights
In addition to shaping Arkansas’s school-age licensing standards and the Better Beginnings Quality Rating System, the Arkansas Out of School Network helps programs assess, plan, and continuously improve through curriculum and professional development initiatives.
In 2021, the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education was awarded $25 million in federal funds to support expanded learning with the ARP ESSER Ill Afterschool and Summer Learning Competitive Grant Program. AOSN worked closely with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and Arkansas State University to develop grant guidelines based on the PYD Act 166 framework. AOSN managed the award process and coordinated evaluations. As of 2025, $23.5 million was awarded to 110 programs across the state, positively impact more than 20,200 young people.
Grantees were prioritized by locations considered rural or isolated, with limited access to afterschool and summer programs, or those with populations with at least 50% receiving free or reduced lunch. Grantees included a mix of school districts, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and civic organizations.
Goals
The Arkansas Out-of-School Network (AOSN) is committed to expanding access to high-quality out-of-school programs across the state. Our specific objectives include:
- Grow the Network: Strengthen and expand AOSN’s coalition of partners to support a statewide system of afterschool programs with Arkansas State University’s Childhood Services as the lead agency and fiduciary partner.
- Expand Statewide Access: Increase the availability of quality programs while advancing policies that ensure long-term sustainability.
- Ensure Quality and Sustainability: Promote quality standards, public-private investment, and increased funding for OST programs statewide. Unite public, private, and nonprofit partners to share resources and establish consistent quality standards for OST programs.
- Provide Training & Technical Support: Develop a statewide resource center that works with local and state agencies to deliver training and technical assistance tailored to diverse provider needs. Create and maintain an online information hub to support OST programs with accessible resources, data, and support services.
- Support Collaboration: Foster connections among school-age care providers to build a cohesive, statewide system focused on best practices and academic enrichment.
- Drive Policy Change: Advocate for policies that support the creation, expansion, and long-term success of school-linked or school-based programs. Build consensus and secure support from key stakeholders on critical policy issues that impact afterschool and out-of-school time (OST) programs.
Contact
Dr. Laveta Wills-Hale, Network Coordinator
📞 (501) 660-1012
✉️ lwillshale@astate.edu
501 Woodlane St. STE 521S Little Rock, AR 72201
