After School Quality Standards
The importance of quality improvement for Rhode Island after-school providers is driven by a shift in how after-school programming is perceived by the public.
No longer are after-school programs viewed as babysitting for children with working parents. Instead, they have become enriching holistic programs with their own goals and objectives. As a result, after-school providers need to learn more about how they can improve their programs to better serve youth.
As an initial step towards quality improvement, PASA convened after-school providers, youth, parents and funders to develop a common definition of quality after-school opportunities. This group identified the most important aspects of quality programs for Providence children and youth. The resulting quality standards for after-school programs were broken into five major categories:
- Health, safety & environment
- Relationships
- Programming & activities
- Staffing & professional development
- Administration
PASA scanned the country for existing after-school standards and information about their success. The workgroup customized those standards and indicators to fit Providence’s needs and context and shared this information with providers, parents, youth leaders and after-school funders for feedback and approval. The Rhode Island After School Plus Alliance was intimately involved in developing standards and indicators and is disseminating them statewide.
PASA's goal in leading this work is that the Rhode Island After School Quality Standards will be:
- Applicable to any age group and any type of after-school program
- Embraced by all: providers, parents and participants
- Measurable through ongoing assessment, tracking and meaningful observation
- Feasible and realistic; achievable
- Designed to provide a standard for programs to measure themselves against and work toward continuous progress and improvement.
Learn more about this process! Read the Guide to Rhode Island After-School Quality Standards.
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