Changing demographics and the No Child Left Behind Act have increased the need for instructional support for students. This need entails a change in the relationship between afterschool programs and schools. School districts, nonprofit organizations, and funders now require a focus on education support. The older recreational model of afterschool programming may have been admirably suited to older goals, but now the mission of afterschool has been expanded. Professionals entrusted with supporting both the education and social development of our students cannot continue to operate from an old paradigm that no longer meets this new focus. A reasonable partnership between the world of afterschool and the school day is essential. In this essay, I use my own experience and that of professionals with whom I talked to explore how school and afterschool can create a new partnership--one that benefits children--by understanding the challenges each faces.