Out-of-school-time (OST) programs are a powerful tool for youth to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that they feel connected to and excited about. OST programs are strong tools for positive youth development, but only if they are high-quality. The question of what quality looks like for OST in Arizona has been addressed by the Arizona Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs.

With increasing need for STEM-focused youth skills and abilities in tomorrow’s workforce, many OST programs are either adding STEM to their offerings or focusing on STEM entirely. This means that in addition to the traditional quality needed in OST programs, a new layer is added with the STEM focus. Quality STEM afterschool programming inspires youth to build their skill sets, develop their identity, and connect to their broader community in science, technology, engineering, and math.