Afterschool Quality Guidelines

“Quality Guidelines for Ohio’s Afterschool Programs”

The Ohio Afterschool Network’s Standards and Quality Committee recruited a diverse pool of afterschool providers to write standards that would be used as guidelines that afterschool programs could adapt their curriculum so that the children in their enrolled care were provided a consistent and quality program that offers before and afterschool care and during school vacation breaks. These items are not being termed standards but guidelines for afterschool programs to consider incorporating into their programs, to ensure the highest standards in quality care and are known as the “Quality Guidelines for Ohio’s Afterschool Programs”. The first set of guidelines covers Area 1 the Programming and Curriculum. This section is all encompassing as it is one that the outlines that as a guide, the curriculum used will meet a child’s distinctive needs and as well as embody their abilities, strengths, weaknesses as well as interests. Furthermore, children will gain the skills that promote independence, conflict management and leadership skills. Staff members will monitor the curriculum they are using to ensure the effectiveness in meeting the child’s need (pages 8-9). These are also reinforced in the textbook “Caring for School-Age Children” it defines that by using a holistic

This section of the Quality Guidelines and Indicators covers the environment that the children will be in and ensures that the staff, the space, environment and the materials are high quality and meet high standards as well. For example, the equipment and materials are designed to meet the anticipated growth of the child (page 12). Being aware of the environment is the basic component of a childcare program and as stated by Click and Parker, it is only effective if the physical needs of the children are met by offering a developmentally appropriate environment (“Creating an Environment”