California School Age Consortium

For over 30 years, CalSAC has worked to support and advance professionals and organizations in providing high quality and accessible out-of-school time programs.  We envision a California where all children and youth are fully supported to be healthy, thriving members of their communities and where out-of-school time programs are a public priority.  We approach our work with a commitment to grassroots, local level engagement, diversifying leadership through equitable and inclusive practices, and by valuing all voices from emerging to experienced.  

CalSAC provides an array of training, leadership development and advoacy opportunities to adults serving children and youth in communities across California.  We make children's lives better by empowering the leaders who run meaningful programs for their benefit.  

Our programs include:

• Leadership Development Institute (LDI) for Emerging Leaders of Color:  The only statewide fellowship for emerging leaders of color in the out-of-school time (OST) field, LDI is an intensive, year long, cohort-based program for coordinator to director level professionals in the OST field.  Using a multicultural leadership framework, LDI equips individuals with an aspiration for advanced leadership with skills in management and leadership.
• Trainer Network:  The CalSAC Trainer Network is the largest OST professional development and training network in the country.  The Trainer Network builds the capacity of professionals in the network, who in turn, provide training and technical assistance to youth development workers in their local communities.  With this statewide network of 250 trainers, CalSAC reaches over 10,000 participants each year.
• Advocacy:  In collaboration with policy organizations across the state, CalSAC has kept OST programs at the forefront of policy discussions and decisions in Sacramento.  Through CalSAC's annual California Afterschool & Summer Challenge, hundreds of professionals, youth and families converge to learn about civic engagement and advocate for their right to quality OST programs.