Optimizing Program Quality and Standards

Promising Practices in Afterschool. Share and search for promising practices in afterschool from around the country. Categories include community and family involvement, programming, staffing and training, financing, research, management and administration, and policy and advocacy.

Promoting Quality in Afterschool Programs through State Child Care Regulations. This publication provides states with strategies for adapting state child care regulations to promote quality in afterschool programs. It also describes how states can align child care regulations with other strategies for improving the quality of afterschool programs.

National AfterSchool Association. The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) is one of the leading voices in the afterschool profession, dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours. NAA is a resource for quality standards, accreditation and other resources for ensuring program quality.

Moving Towards Success: Framework for After-School Programs (pdf). The framework is a working document developed by a committee of researchers, evaluators and program experts with funding from the C.S. Mott Foundation. It presents a theory of change to help guide the thinking and implementation of program goals and elements, outlines a broad range of desired participant outcomes to consider, and discusses conditions most suitable for achieving positive results that meet the needs of the afterschool participants.

National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST). NIOST provides a range of resources, publications and training programs aimed at improving the quality of out-of-school time programs.

Finding a Program
Starting a Program
Enhancing Program Content and Effective Practices
Optimizing Program Quality and Standards
Tutoring and Mentoring
Providing Community Education and Service Learning
Serving Older Youth
Learning About Program Models