History of Sacramento START 
Our program began with an initiative championed by Mr. Darrell Steinberg to have local government and school districts partner in students' out-of-school activities utilizing school campuses. The City started collaborating with school districts to open the school campuses beyond the school day for students out of school-time activities. At first, the program was promoted as a recreational activity and a safe place for kids after school. The collaboration of Sacramento START and LA Best stakeholders created legislation that would design programs with an academic focus on literacy support for students performing below basics. This first after-school legislation originated with the beginning of the START Program. It is this legislation that remains current for after-school programs today. And at this point, It was only one of its kind still in the nation.
START- Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow. The City of Sacramento, Sacramento START Program opened its doors and committed its program to Youth Development on January 10, 1996. Sacramento START is a public/private collaboration working to build children's capacity to succeed academically and socially while reconnecting families and neighborhoods with schools.
START believes that every opportunity should be given to children to succeed. START fosters enthusiasm for learning by engaging children in a fun, literacy-focused activities. In a safe and caring environment, START expands the school day and supports district goals. We operate After School programs at five Robla school sites daily, Monday– Friday.
In November 1995, the START Program was established with an award of $800,000 for providing after-school programs at twenty schools. Each site had a minimum of 100 students giving 2,000 students a safe place to go after school. START opened its program doors on January 10, 1996, operating three days a week, Monday-Wednesday, 2:30 -5:30 pm for the first six months (January –June 1996). Due to more diversified and sustainable funding sources, programs soon moved to be open five days a week until 6 pm.
The Sacramento START program pioneered the hiring practice of hiring from the community it served. Recruits would come directly from neighborhoods for line staff positions. Site Directors hired would be Instructional Aids at the school sites, being recommended by the principal. In 1999 the City began to require program staff to be city employees at the site and administrative levels.