What We Do
The Maine Afterschool Network builds systems across Maine that improve, support and sustain high quality afterschool programs.
Our Projects
The latest America After 3PM: Maine Fact Sheet (2025) paints a sobering picture:
– 113,719 Maine children want to be in afterschool programs—but only 22,065 currently are.
– Nearly 4 in 5 children are missing out on opportunities that could change the course of their education and their lives.
– Families say the biggest barriers are cost, transportation, and lack of availability—53% cite cost, and 48% say programs simply don’t exist in their communities.
MASN directly addresses these challenges through five key statewide initiatives:
Maine Out of School Time Conference
Conference Purpose: The Maine Out of School Time Conference hosted by the Maine Afterschool Network, is a conference tailored to meet the unique needs of Out-of-School-Time professionals and those who support them. 100-200 Youth serving professionals from around the state gather together in the scenic mountains of Maine to learn, network, and share best practices. www.maineost.org
Regional In-Person Trainings
These hands-on workshops equip programs with practical tools for youth engagement, program quality, and sustainability. By providing localized support, the Maine Afterschool Network helps programs overcome geographic barriers and improve access for children in rural and underserved communities.
The Peer Learning Community
By connecting afterschool professionals statewide, the Maine Afterschool Network fosters collaboration and the sharing of solutions to common challenges. This support helps programs develop creative approaches to prominent issues in the field, such as how to reduce costs, address transportation barriers, increase quality of programing, and ensure resources are used efficiently to serve more children.
Maine Coalition for Community Schools
MASN steers communications and convenes coalition partners statewide to support schools transitioning into community schools. This coordination expands access to afterschool programs by linking children and families to integrated academic, social, and enrichment supports, helping programs operate more effectively and sustainably. Expanding community schools increases access to afterschool programs that support children, families, and communities.
Career Connected Learning
By implementing the STEM Next Career Connected Learning Framework, Maine’s programs offer hands-on, project-based experiences, mentorship, and exposure to authentic workplaces. This approach motivates participation, builds practical skills, and strengthens Maine’s workforce, addressing participation gaps and helping children see the tangible value of afterschool programs.
We are connected with:
50 State Afterschool Network
For more than a decade, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has made investments in networks of diverse group of organizations and champions to come together to build public will and systems for afterschool and summer learning. Now reaching every state, the 50 State Afterschool Network fosters partnerships and policies to develop, support, and sustain high-quality opportunities for children and youth.
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network
Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) works to promote and support professionalism in the field of early childhood education and to improve quality through the provision of a statewide system of professional development.
MRTQ PDN consists of a partnership between the Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine, the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, and the Maine Afterschool Network.
National AfterSchool Association State Affiliate
The Maine Afterschool Network is the Maine Affiliate of the National AfterSchool Association. If you’re not a current paid NAA member and live in Maine, our state affiliation and (conference registration or membership) make you eligible for a free NAA membership!
