To help members of the Portland Public Schools' Board of Education make informed decisions about the school district's role and responsibility for before-school and after-school child care programs, research and evaluation staff gathered information concerning policy, administration, and program issues. Findings, conclusions, and recommendations are offered in sections focusing on (1) a philosophy of school age child care which emphasizes that children's developmental needs be met in informal learning environments which complement the school program, (2) the historical record of demonstrated need for such programs in the Portland Public School District, (3) reports in the literature of models of public school participation in school age child care programs, and (4) data collected during site visits to six pilot programs supported by the Portland district and telephone interviews with principals at the pilot sites. (RH)