Quality standards are a foundational aspect of an afterschool system, where the goal is to ensure that all youth have access to high-quality programs. The resources on this page are intended to support networks that are developing, implementing, and refining statewide quality standards.
Through Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS), students, their families, and the local community can receive academic, social, and health services, which can contribute to better educational outcomes for students. In 2023, the Lewis University Community School Consortium received a Full-Service Community Schools Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Through ...
Using data from the 2018 NAEP grade 8 civics assessment, this study investigates disparities in access to civics content and effective instructional approaches, highlighting disparities along a range of dimensions including student, school, and state characteristics. The findings conflict with most of the prior evidence regarding disparities, showing higher reported ...
In this blog post, Peter Cookson says it's time to address the idea of educational rights, asserting that the arc of justice needs to bend in the direction of a universal, free public school system where excellence is distributed not by zip code, skin color, or socio-economic status but as ...
School districts around the country are increasingly looking to community schools as models to both respond to ongoing youth and family needs made more poignant by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a platform for providing opportunities for positive youth development that accelerate equitable student outcomes in education, health, and employment. ...
The Plan, Do, Study, Act Process is central to the improvement of instructional routines. Watch one of the Better Math Teaching Network members in real time and in a real classroom setting introduce the Plan, Do, Study, Act, or PDSA, process.
Credentials certify performance based on a set of defined skills and knowledge and allow established or emerging staff to be recognized for their competence and commitment to professional growth. To date, though research suggests that well-trained staff, such as those with credentials, are more likely to deliver high quality programs, ...
The AIR apprenticeship team has worked for over 15 years to expand the use of apprenticeship as a talent development strategy that benefits both workers and employers. We take a holistic approach to supporting individuals through their entire apprenticeship experience, from first awareness of apprenticeship opportunities through program completion and ...
Afterschool staff working with youth are essential partners in any program’s efforts to implement quality programming. Ultimately, strong relationships are key to whether youth feel safe and can authentically engage with peers and adults. Building staff members’ capacity to strengthen relationships and align program offerings to quality standards will help ...