The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Convened a group of nationwide leaders in the after school field. Leaders were convened to consider the skills and knowledge needed by after school educators and the role of professional development in promoting quality after school programs. The group used guiding questions and current research to develop a collection of Core Competencies for After School Educators. The competencies are intended to be used by program staff and supervisors as a framework for the selection and design of professional development activities.