ERIC Number: EJ1251691
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2196-3673
EISSN: N/A
Identification of Key Indicators for Quality in Afterschool Programs
Huang, Denise; La Torre Matrundola, Deborah; Leon, Seth
International Journal for Research on Extended Education, v2 n1 p20-44 2014
Researchers are increasingly interested in the issue of school accountability. Despite this, program standards for afterschool programs are not as fully developed as in other fields. This study bridges that gap and presents the results from a study to identify benchmarks and indicators for high quality afterschool programs. This research employed a multi-method approach including a synthesis of literature on afterschool programs, observations and survey data collection at 15 high quality afterschool program sites. Results of the study suggest that most of the issues emphasized in the afterschool literature can be considered core components of a quality afterschool program. This finding was consistent across the three broad categories of program organization, program environment, and instructional features. This study also revealed that some issues emphasized in the afterschool literature should be considered extra components that can increase quality, but are not necessary. As a result, this study argues for a checklist strategy in assessing programs to meet quality-based standards.
Descriptors: After School Programs, Educational Quality, Educational Indicators, Benchmarking, Standards, Program Effectiveness, Elementary School Students, Program Administration, Family Involvement, Community Involvement, Partnerships in Education, Staff Development, Program Evaluation, Physical Environment, Student Welfare, Child Development, Staff Role, Social Environment
Budrich Journals. Verlag Barbara Budrich GmbH, Stauffenbergstr. 7, 51379 Leverkusen, Germany. e-mail: info@budrich-journals.de; Web site: https://www.budrich-journals.de/index.php/IJREE
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (Los Angeles)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A