Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool
Webinars
Join the Network for Youth Success to learn about the newly updated Third Edition of the QSA Tool.
An Introduction to the Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool, Third Edition
This hour overview of the tool is appropriate for anyone involved in self-assessing quality at your afterschool, summer, or expanded learning program.
A Year with the QSA Tool, Third Edition for Self-Assessment Leaders
This hour deep dive for self-assessment leaders explores the recommended strategy for incorporating self-assessment effectively into your program practices to create continuous program quality improvement.
Virtual Quality Self-Assessment (QSA)
This 26 minute webinar covers how to conduct a self-assessment when you can’t meet in person.
The Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool
The Network for Youth Success believes that clear quality standards and ongoing program assessment are central to building effective and sustainable afterschool programs.
Improving afterschool program quality must begin with a commitment on the part of practitioners to examine their programs with a critical eye. A quality program is one that is reflective, willing to improve, change and grow, and believes in successful outcomes for its participants. Moreover, practitioners must understand that improving program quality is an ongoing process. Self-assessment provides an important opportunity for programs to identify strengths and weaknesses free from the pressures of external monitoring and evaluation. It is upon these concepts that the Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool is based. The Network is working in a number of ways to encourage the adoption of common quality standards statewide.
The QSA Tool is meant to be used in concert with other formal and informal evaluation methods, such as youth, parent and staff meetings, youth and parent focus groups, and external monitoring and evaluation. Each of these methods can help identify program strengths and areas in need of improvement.
For more information on how the QSA Tool compares to other leading assessment instruments, see Measuring Youth Program Quality: A Guide to Assessment Tools published by the Forum for Youth Investment.
Learn more about Getting Started with the Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool and how to use the quality improvement process to improve program quality. Then become familiar with the Elements of Program Quality.
Translated versions of the QSA Tool are also available on the Publications Page.
