What Makes a Good Program?

	At a Glance: » More than 14 million American kids, including 40,000 kindergarteners, have no adult supervision after school » In the hours after the school bell rings, juvenile crime soars and kids are most likely to be victims of crimes. » Kids are as likely to die in car accidents between the hours of 3 and 6 PM on weekdays as they are on Friday or Saturday nights. » The after-school hours are prime time for unoccupied kids to smoke, drink or use drugs. » Teens who are unsupervised after school are 37 percent more likely to become parents. » More than half of teens say they would not watch so much TV or play video games if they had other things to do after school. » Among students who were surveyed, 85 percent said kids who participate in organized activities after school are better off than kids who don't.

How can parents judge the quality of an after-school program they are considering for their children? TASC encourages parents to find out all they can about by visiting open houses and parent information sessions, and by contacting the staff of after-school programs if they have questions.

In combination with the New York State Afterschool Network (NYSAN) TASC has developed a checklist of features present in excellent programs. As parents visit and observe programs or speak to the staff, they can use this list as a guide:

Environment/Climate
Does the after-school program provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for my child and all participants?

Administration/Organization
Does the program have a clear organizational structure? Is the organization financially stable, so it can support and enhance worthwhile programming and activities for all participants?

Relationships
Does the after-school program develop and maintain strong relationships and interactions among staff, participants, parents and community members?

Staffing/Professional Development
Does the after-school program hire and train high-performing staff members who understand the needs of young people and work closely with families, school partners and co-workers to achieve the program goals?

Programming/Activities
Does the after-school program provide a well-rounded variety of activities, such as academics, sports, arts, and community service, which support the growth and development of kids?

Academic Alignment/Achievement
Does the after-school staff work closely with school-day staff to ensure that activities are connected to school standards and curriculum?

Youth Participation/Engagement
Does the after-school program provide opportunities for students to help plan activities, and choose activities that appeal to their interests?

Parent/Family/Community Partnerships
Does the after-school program have strong partnerships with families and care-givers? Does it welcome their involvement?

Program Sustainability/Growth
Does the after-school program have goals that must be met in order for there to be student achievement and to ensure that the program continues to grow and serve other students?

Measuring Outcomes/Evaluation
Is the after-school program evaluated? Are the results of the evaluations used to improve the program and plan for the future?