Afterschool programs that are aligned with the school day curriculum can support student learning and attack the achievement gap by offering additional supports to struggling students that complement and reinforce learning that takes place in the classroom in new and exciting ways. Collaboration and alignment among schools, expanded learning programs and the greater community offers students the opportunity to enjoy a complementary learning environment where they can truly thrive. Many afterschool programs are seeing the need for this type of learning and have taken steps to align their content with that offered during school to ensure youth participants have ample opportunity to reinforce and practice the skills they need to succeed. This paper is a first in a series of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This paper discusses: (1) how afterschool programs help in complementing and coordinating the learning that occurs during the formal school day; (2) how afterschool programs are already supporting academics in a multitude of ways; and (3) the importance of school support; and (4) strategies for aligning afterschool programs with regular school day learning. (Contains 20 endnotes.)