The Out-of-School Learning Landscape: A Pathway to Self-Determination and Career Discernment for Adolescent Youth

The Out of School Learning landscape continues to be an emerging ecosystem of learning, particularly for the adolescent population. While the focus for elementary school-aged youth has often been on after-school programming offering safety, supervision, and homework help, research has indicated that this approach is not equally successful for the middle- and high school populations (Mahoney, Parente, & Zigler, 2009). Peer-reviewed literature pertaining to advances in the understanding of adolescent development, and theories of self-determination and career discernment are discussed in relation to adolescent engagement in programming. Results of a landscape study on Out-of-School and After-School programs for adolescents (aged 13-19), conducted within the geographic boundaries of a capital city school district in South Carolina, is summarized. Together these data provide a snapshot of opportunities available to adolescent youth, as well as identify content and geographic gaps that make the Out-of-School Learning landscape less accessible to this demographic at a time when it could be most beneficial