KYOSA was born from the ground up, out of real conversations between licensed childcare providers, school-aged childcare practitioners, and state regulatory staff who were determined to solve common challenges together. In 2009, that grassroots energy culminated in a landmark gathering in Frankfort, Kentucky, where more than 100 practitioners came together to identify shared concerns about early and school-aged childcare programming. From that unified voice, and with the support of Kentucky Child Now, the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance formally emerged to represent out-of-school time childcare and youth programs across the Commonwealth.

Since those early days, KYOSA has grown and evolved, adapting to shifting legislative priorities and funding landscapes while never losing sight of its core purpose: advocating for and serving school-age programs and the children who depend on them. Today, KYOSA is one of 50 statewide afterschool networks in the country, connecting, strengthening, and elevating the afterschool and summer learning field in Kentucky through training and professional development, data and research, and policy advocacy.

A current partnership with Partners for Change has further strengthened KYOSA's statewide collaboration and ensured that the organization will continue to champion out-of-school time programs for years to come. KYOSA remains committed to its vision: that every child and young person in Kentucky has access to high-quality out-of-school time programs that prepare them for success in school, work, and life.