Advocacy
Lights on Afterschool
Join Afterschool Alliance and 8,000 programs across the country to celebrate afterschool and summer learning programs on October 22, 2026!
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement and generates media coverage across the country each year.
The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, Tae Kwon Do, and poetry—and discover new skills. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs.
Celebrate with us all week long from October 19 - 23!
Applications for APOST Lights On Afterschool 2026 Mini-Grants will open soon. Check back for details!
APOST celebrates Lights On Afterschool by awarding mini-grant funds to local OST programs to showcase their work and share the importance of their program.
