Supplemental Tools

Building on the QSA Tool and similar afterschool standards in other states, organizations have developed specialized standards that target specific programming areas or youth development goals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many programs have moved to remote programming. A number of tools have become available to assess and improve the quality of virtual/remote programming.

Understanding varied cultural perspectives is increasingly essential to students’ academic and social growth as they prepare for citizenship and work in the global 21st century. The Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool, was developed by the Asia Society’s Partnership for Global Learning in collaboration with the Network for Youth Success. This tool can be used to asses and improve programs wishing to instill global competence into youth in grades K-12.

The Indiana Afterschool Network developed a supplement to their afterschool standards that provides detailed indicators around initiating and maintain a successful program for youth K-12, with a focus on college and career readiness. This tool defines key elements of college and career readiness and helps programs assess how they have integrated them into their program.

Summer programs can intervene in summer learning loss and provide a safe place for students to learn, grow, and play when school is not in session. The Indiana Afterschool Network offers their Summer Learning supplement to their afterschool standards for those seeking to develop or improve a quality summer program for youth in grades K-12.

An increasing number of programs are interested in integrating hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) activities to open students’ minds to new and interesting concepts and ideas and inspire them to expand their workforce options. The Indiana Afterschool Network offers their specialty standards on creating and maintaining a high quality STEM-focused program for youth K-12.

The Indiana Afterschool Network has created specialty standards for programs interested in increasing their quality and effectiveness in implementing literacy programming. This tool helps self-assess how your program integrates literacy for youth K-12.

Research suggests that out-of-school-time programs can be effective in promoting school engagement and reducing chronic absenteeism. Attendance Works has developed a tool for programs to assess whether their program is working effectively to encourage attendance.