Quality

Quality in Out-of-School Time

APOST supports OST programs in meeting high standards through quality campaigns, data-driven insights, and continuous improvement practices, leading to better outcomes for youth.

Statement of Quality

What We Deserve: A Statement of Quality in Afterschool

Quality out-of-school time programs inspire and promote learning and positive youth development by providing opportunities for autonomy and leadership, caring relationships, connections to family, community and school, safe environments, and engaging activities.

Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) Program Quality Value Statement identifies principles and ideals which we believe should guide the actions of afterschool programming, regardless of program purpose or ages served. It does not, however, indicate levels of program quality. The purpose of this statement is to provide a straightforward framework to define quality for Pennsylvania’s afterschool programs and all other individuals, organizations, and entities that have a vested interest in the quality of these programs, including public and private funders, parents, and youth.

Quality programming requires the following elements:

    • Well-trained, consistent staff and volunteers that represent the community being served

    • Written policies and procedures that are consistently used and updated and supported by management

    • Sustainable funding and sound fiscal management

    • Continuous improvement methods including: evaluation, outcomes measurement, participant/family input, strategic planning, and professional development

    • Positive relationships between and among youth and staff

    • Strong partnerships with families, schools, businesses and other community stakeholders

    • Opportunities for youth to contribute to the well-being of the community

    • Safe and accessible environment

    • Clean & well maintained facilities

    • Programming and environments which promotes fitness, good nutrition, and healthy choices

    • Activities which are intentionally designed, are age-appropriate, develop skills, promote learning, and foster positive youth development

    • Activities which contain varied content, learning strategies and combine different academic, recreational, and cultural elements

    • Activities which are youth-centered, are responsive to youth interests, and actively involve youth in program development, planning, and implementation

    • Activities which promote understanding and respect for youth’s and others’ cultures

APOST Programs Focused on Quality Improvement

  • The Quality Campaign

    APOST works to support and strengthen OST organizations in their high-quality program implementation. The Quality Campaign is a cohort of out-of-school time providers that commit to continuous quality improvement (CQI). APOST’s Quality Campaign started in 2012 with a cohort of 12 Quality Campaign Members and currently includes 59 Member Organizations.

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  • Weikart Youth Work Methods & SEL Workshops

    These two hour, interactive workshops are modeled on the Weikart Center’s pyramid of program quality. The curriculum gives staff who work directly with young people practical skills that can be implemented immediately. Weikart Workshops are offered through APOST on a seasonal basis along with accompanying professional development opportunities.

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  • Managers Cohort

    This cohort learning model consists of monthly sessions for OST program managers looking to gain knowledge and skills that will help them be more effective within their organizations to improve program outcomes and advance professionally. The inaugural Managers Cohort participants completed the program in April 2025.

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  • The Eval Lab

    The University of Pittsburgh School of Education (Pitt Education) and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) are working together to increase the capacity of out-of-school time (OST) staff and organizations in program evaluation. The learnings from this project will inform the creation of an evaluation toolkit that will be publicly available in summer 2026.

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