How to Start an Out-of-School Time Program
Additional Resources for Program Start-Up
Quality Standards for Expanded Learning in
California
Use the Quality
Standards for Expanded Learning in California to set an
aspirational vision of quality for your Expanded Learning
program. Program Plans for Expanded Learning opportunities are
based on the 12 quality standards.
ASAPconnect
ASAPconnect provides multiple levels of support to Expanded
Learning programs across California. They offer a number
of resources that may be
beneficial for program start-up. One crucial resource is the
California Core Competencies for Before/After School
Professionals – co-developed by CA field leaders and
ASAPconnect, this resource provides a list of recommended
knowledge and skills for professionals who work in expanded
learning programs.
The Afterschool Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance works to ensure that all children have
access to affordable, quality afterschool programs. Visit the
Afterschool
Alliance Start-Up page for an abundance of resources, tools,
and tips for starting an afterschool program in your community.
AIR
Beyond
the Bell – 4th Edition: A Toolkit for Creating Effective
Afterschool and Expanded Learning Programs: a practical
and easy-to-use guide to afterschool programming that, contains
great information for program leaders who want to start or
improve an afterschool or expanded learning program.
NAA
The National Afterschool Association (NAA) offers a number of
resources for the OST field. They recently released a
revised Core
Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies for Out-of-School Time
Professionals (CKSCS). This version of
the resource reflects updated research and best practices
specific to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism. The
CKSCs focus on creating inclusive program spaces, applying
antiracist principles, and designing activities and
programs that center and value all identities furthering efforts
toward equity. The revision includes a new content area and
additional and streamlined knowledge, skills, and
competencies, integrated throughout, explicitly indicating
the vital role equity, inclusion, access, and antiracism play in
youth work.
Getting it Right: Strategies for After-School Success
Getting it Right: Strategies for Afterschool Success outlines how to create and manage quality programs. It includes a number of chapters that may support program start-up including topics such as: