Extended Day-Extended Year is the name given to educational programs that provide structured learning opportunities to children before and after school, on school release days, during school vacations and during the summer. They are also referred to as out-of-school-time programs or OST. Options for these programs are primarily in the elementary grades, but increasingly middle and high schools are also offering these special sessions. Many of these programs are a result of schools offering additional instruction to help students meet academic achievement goals. Other programs offer enrichment to students to expand the opportunities to practice academic skills and participate in a wider range of experiences outside the school setting. There are also some programs that focus on family involvement, including workshops on everything from parenting to second language acquisition. In Florida, several extended-day programs offer literacy classes for families and link families with community support. Two of the main restrictions on these programs are funding and teacher resources. In some school districts, it is nearly impossible to find a sufficient number of qualified teachers willing to work in extended day-extended year programs. Finding additional resources to pay teachers, pay for transportation and other services, and purchase materials is restrictive. Some community organizations provide extended day-extended year programs on their own or cooperatively with the school district. How Extended Day-Extended Year Affects You