Resources

Overview

Quality Resources

If you are looking for resources to strengthen and deepen your understanding of high-quality programming, access the resources page for promising practices, resource libraries, data and research ideas.

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Foundations Inc.

A non-profit professional development, training, technical assistance, assessment and research organization committed to increasing the quality of nationwide youth programs.

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Team-Up For Youth Quality Self Assessment Tool for Sports Programs

Team-Up for Youth Recently released a new Quality Self-Assessment Tool for Sports Programs. This tool, modeled after the California Afterschool Program Quality Self-Assessment Tool (QSA) can be utilized as a stand-alone sports program assessment tool, or as a supplement to the California QSA Tool. The tool consists of 29 indicators focusing on strong program design, skilled and caring coaches, equity and inclusion, as well as youth development, educational, and health outcomes.

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Lessons From the CORAL Inititative

Public Private Ventures recently released a series of reports based on an eight year research and evaluation study of the Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning (CORAL) Initiative funded by the James Irvine Foundation. The series contains a number of publications including What Matters, What Works: Advancing Achievement After-School, Supporting Success: Why and How to Improve Quality in After-School Programs, and an After School Toolkit: Tips Techniques and Templates for Improving Program Quality.

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SF Afterschool for all Core Competencies for Afterschool Staff

Core competencies are the abilities of staff to apply specific knowledge and skills to their professional practice. In other words, the core competencies are the key ingredients necessary to make a successful afterschool staff. Afterschool programs whose staff exhibit the core competencies will be best equipped to transform the next generation of youth in San Francisco.

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The Long-Term Effects of After-School Programming on Educational Adjustment and Juvenile Crime: A Study of the LA’s BEST After-S

UCLA study, commissioned by the US Department of Justice outlines long-term academic achievement growth and juvenile crime rates within the LA’s BEST (Better Educated Students of Tomorrow) program. The study concludes that high dosage is tied to positive results for youth. Students who attended the program regularly show modest achievement gains and a substantively significant reduction in juvenile crime. A cost benefit analysis illustrates that this reduction in juvenile crime may save municipalities revenue in the long term by investing in after school programs.

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The Cost of Quality Out-of-School Time Programs

The Cost of Quality Out-of-School Time Programs Study, Commissioned by the Wallace Foundation from The Finance Project and Public/Private Ventures, offers policy makers tools to use in planning quality out-of-school time programs. The study provides a data-filled examination of the costs associated with 111 diverse, quality Out-of-School Time (OST) programs in six cities. According to the study, costs vary widely depending on program goals, times of operation and the ages of children served.

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Quality After School Partnerships Guidebook

This Guidebook, released in March 2010 from the League of California Afterschool Providers, offers promising practices in developing and maintaining quality partnerships between local education agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations (CBOs). The guidebook is based on 14 existing California partnerships in three categories, including LEA/CBO partnerships to serve diverse urban communities, partnerships to serve rural communities, and inter-governmental partnerships.

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A Race Against the Clock: The Value of Expanded Learning Time for English Language Learners

The Center for American Progress has issued The Race Against the Clock report to examine the role that time plays in the education and learning for English Language Learners (ELL). The report also discusses how increasing the learning time can be a key strategy to improve the educational outcomes for ELL students. Finally, districts and schools who offer before-, after-, or summer school learning programs are highlighted to provide examples of expanding learning opportunities and lessons learned. To read the full report, click here.

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Enhancing School Reform Through Expanded Learning Report

Learning Point Associates and the Collaborative for Building Afterschool Systems (CBASS) have recently released the Enhancing School Reform Through Expanded Learning report. The report explores the benefits of integrating expanded learning opportunities into overall school reform. The report finds that well designed expanded learning programs can improve overall school performance and increase positive academic, developmental and health outcomes.

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Guide to Quality After School Partnerships: Case Studies of Effective ASES & 21st CCLC Partnership Models in CA

The Guide to Quality Afterschool Partnerships: Case Studies of Effective ASES & 21stCCLC Partnership Models in California and Selected Practical Tools from the Field was released in March 2010 from the League of California Afterschool Providers. The guidebook features case studies of successful partnership models between Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Community Based Organization (CBOs).

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Guide to Quality After School Partnerships: Case Studies of Effective ASES & 21st CCLC Partnership Models in CA

The Guide to Quality Afterschool Partnerships: Case Studies of Effective ASES & 21stCCLC Partnership Models in California and Selected Practical Tools from the Field was released in March 2010 from the League of California Afterschool Providers. The guidebook features case studies of successful partnership models between Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Community Based Organization (CBOs).