A GUIDE TO QUALITY STANDARDS

Our mission is to Strengthen after-school Programs through

Advocacy, Resources and Collaboration.

TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How to use the Quality Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fort Worth Out-Of-School-Time Quality Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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FORT WORTH SPARC: A GUIDE TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME QUALITY STANDARDSThis guide is designed to help providers, children, youth and parents understand what quality looks like in out-of-school-time (OST) programs. OST programs are offered before and after school, on weekends and during the summer.

The Fort Worth SPARC vision is for All Fort Worth children and youth to have access to quality after-school or OST programs that promote intellectual, creative and healthy development, leading to engaged, productive citizens.

In Fort Worth and across the country, communities are recognizing their high- quality OST programs for the valuable contributions they can bring to students development. Children and youth who spend their afterschool or OST hours in safe and nurturing learning environments are at significantly less risk for truancy, emotional stress, poor grades, substance abuse, sexual activity and crime.

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There are many benefits to students participating in high-quality OST activities on a consistent basis, with easy access to a variety of enriching activities. They have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with peers and adults. This interaction is known to benefit students academically, socially, emotionally and culturally, and can improve their college and career readiness.

OST PROGRAMS IN FORT WORTH: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE There is an exciting opportunity for change. Many after-school or OST providers in Fort Worth are dedicated to improving the lives of young people. Our charge as a community is to bring together a wide variety of agencies, institutions and individuals to increase the quality of these programs and the access children and youth have to them.

With limited resources, Fort Worth OST providers have struggled to deliver high-quality programs to the large number of children and youth who need them. For example, a 2012 survey showed that of the 183,000 children in the Fort Worth SPARC focus area of nine school districts, less than 9 percent of these children attended a formal after-school program. Nationwide surveys and other research show that young people who do not participate in after-school or OST programs have specific reasons for choosing not to do so, including lack of transportation, financial constraints, safety concerns, and too few challenging and engaging activities. A lack of resources makes it hard for OST providers to overcome these challenges. With major funding from The Wallace Foundation, and the vision of Mayor Betsy Price and other city leaders, Fort Worth SPARC was created to address the barriers OST providers face, to increase their visibility and leverage greater support. City sectors and nonprofit organizations have also joined Fort Worth SPARC efforts.

FORT WORTH OST QUALITY STANDARDS ARE:

• A set of clear expectations that many organizations have agreed upon

• A commitment by the entire community to give children and youth access to a wide range of enriching out-of-school experiences

• A guide to help OST program providers assess what they are doing well and where they need to make improvements

• A way for parents and young people to know what to expect from a high quality OST program

• A set of guidelines that, when adopted, can act as an assurance to funders and sponsors that the programs they support will deliver high-quality services

• A way to educate the community about what high-quality programming looks like and how it can be achieved

Standards alone cannot change the quality of programs or the skills of program staff and volunteers. Even for programs that have adopted the standards, this process takes time and must happen in stages. The idea is to set realistic goals so programs can meet all standards over time. In the short term, they are objectives to work toward. Eventually, with the right resources and support, quality standards can help a community increase the number, variety and reach of OST programs.

DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR FORT WORTHFort Worth SPARC believes the cognitive, vocational, physical, social, emotional, civic and cultural development of children and youth are essential for a healthy city. The standards address four major areas where excellence is needed: relationships, positive youth development, environment and management. Currently, many of the Fort Worth OST providers are reviewing and adopting the standards into their individually unique and diverse programs. Since quality standards are part of the quality improvement system, the network will continue to adapt the standards to represent the diverse characteristics of each program. The Fort Worth SPARC network scanned the country for existing OST standards and information about how well those standards worked. Quality standards from Baltimore; Boston; Providence, Rhode Island; and Nashville, Tennessee; along with those produced by the National After-school Association and several local OST organizations, provided a starting point.

The Fort Worth SPARC network began to customize the standards to fit the needs of Fort Worth. This was a highly inclusive process with input from many OST providers and community leaders.

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HOW TO USE THE STANDARDSHow OST providers can use these standards:

• Examine the strengths of your program and identify areas for improvement

• Plan and develop strategies to adopt the standards within a reasonable time period

• Discuss with your board, staff and volunteers how they can help your program achieve the standards

How children, youth and families can use these standards:

• Use the guide as a checklist when considering an OST program

• If a program has adopted these standards, feel assured that the program is continuously working to provide high-quality OST opportunities and hold programs accountable

FORT WORTH SPARC QUALITY STANDARDS

RelationshipsRelationships are the glue of an OST program. For children and youth to feel engaged and excited about the program and activities, staff and volunteers must foster strong, respectful relationships at every level – among staff, youth, families and the community. The program should:

• Offer a caring environment through active engagement and a supportive staff

• Provide positive peer interaction among diverse participants

• Foster involvement to support provider’s goals

• Ensure that providers and schools share information, resources and data to support the well-being of children and youth

• Establish strong community partnerships to leverage resources and achieve goals

• Model staff cooperation, conflict resolution and positive relationships with one another

• Engage participants in service learning projects and activities to foster community involvement

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Positive Youth DevelopmentWhen surveyed, children and youth nationwide indicate that their number one criterion when selecting an OST program is that it is FUN! Beyond being fun, OST programs can contribute to positive learning and personal growth. Ongoing involvement in an OST program is connected to the quality and variety of activities offered. Quality programming engages youth and attracts parents to the program with features such as:

• A well-rounded variety of opportunities that support the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of all participants

• Opportunities for physical activity and education about nutrition and health

• A variety of developmentally appropriate engagement techniques to promote learning objectives

• Assistance and enrichment that prepares participants for academic success

• Meaningful involvement in age-appropriate activities

• Recognition of individual and group participation and achievement

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EnvironmentEnvironment is a program’s look and feel: the physical space, its safety and security, the atmosphere it conveys, with aspects of health and nutrition. The environment provides a first impression, influencing whether or not participants will keep coming back for more. Important areas include:

• Indoor and outdoor spaces that meet the physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs of participants and program staff

• A safe and healthy environment for participants and program staff

• A fun, supportive atmosphere where participants and staff are emotionally safe and are building respect for the diversity of people and cultures

• Policies that encourage positive behaviors and procedures for discipline

• Accurate and current record keeping regarding participants and the program

• Awareness of records that inform staff of participants’ special needs

• Focused supervision of students at all times

• A schedule that is known, flexible, and meets the needs of all participants

• A provision for healthy meals and snacks with water available at all times

• Established policies and safety rules at all times

ManagementAs in any profession, OST staff and volunteers require ongoing resources, support and training to provide high-quality programming that has a meaningful impact on participants’ lives. Methods of recruiting, hiring, training and technical assistance are important to consider. Staff who deliver high-quality programming tend to be more satisfied with their jobs and stay at them longer; professional development can therefore make a program more consistent and sustainable. There must be appropriate organizational supports in place to run smoothly and serve youth in the best way possible, including;

• A mission statement that fosters understanding of established program quality standards

• An effective structure that supports leadership, quality and sustainability

• Strong business practices to achieve goals and objectives

• Financial management of the program that supports goals

• A plan that includes standards, measurable indicators, program assessments and use of data to improve programs

• Formal policies, procedures and processes for hiring, training, managing and retaining staff and volunteers

• Orientation, professional development and performance reviews

• The organization provides and supports a positive working environment and infrastructure in which staff are treated as respected professionals

Next StepsWhere do we go from here? Quality standards are a necessary first step in describing the activities that support quality in OST programs. By themselves, they articulate the overall benchmarks that Fort Worth OST programs strive to achieve. Naturally, not every program will achieve the highest level of quality in every area from the start. We know from available research that even the best programs are constantly striving to make their programs better. Therefore, Fort Worth SPARC, with community participation and a partnership with the Weikart Center, is currently planning a pilot program using The Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) system. The Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) instrument promotes the assess-plan-improve sequence, which is designed to be a cyclical process. The quality standards are more useful and practical using an assessment tool like the YPQA.

Additionally, the Fort Worth SPARC network is currently working on a professional development plan to provide technical assistance and training associated with these quality standards, and developing a citywide data-sharing system that will collect, analyze, track and measure specific indicators to ensure OST programs are positively impacting young people’s lives.

These supports are part of a comprehensive plan to provide more high-quality OST programs that constantly strive to strengthen their own work and ensure young people feel engaged in OST programs and have a desire to keep coming back.

Learn more about Fort Worth SPARC, including its quality improvement efforts and partnerships, at www.fortworthsparc.org.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe Fort Worth SPARC Quality Standards Guide is the product of a community-wide engagement process involving Fort Worth OST provider staff, City Hall, city leaders, school district personnel and other supporters.

Fort Worth SPARC would like to recognize the following individuals, organizations and cities for lending valuable time and expertise to inform the development of Quality Standards for Fort Worth:

• Priscilla Little, The Wallace Foundation• Bela Shah Spooner and Kim Eisenreich, National League of Cities• Ellen Gannett, National Institute on Out-of-School time• Kathy Livingston, Independent Consultant • Jan Allen, Center for Nonprofit Management• Frankie McMurrey, Independent Consultant• Boston After School & Beyond, Boston, Massachusetts• Family League of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland• Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA), Nashville, Tennessee• Providence After School Alliance (PASA), Providence, Rhode Island

The Fort Worth SPARC Quality Standards were created by and for the community of Fort Worth with coordination by the Fort Worth SPARC network. This work was made possible through the dedication, time and resources of many individuals and organizations, including:

• City of Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price• Fort Worth SPARC Advisory Group• Fort Worth SPARC Committees• Fort Worth SPARC Board of Directors

Members of the Fort Worth SPARC Quality Committee, representing the following organizations:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth• Camp Fire First Texas• Castleberry ISD 21st Century• Child Care Associates• City of Fort Worth Library• City of Fort Worth Parks & Community Services• Clayton YES!• Community Foundation of North Texas• Fort Worth After School (FWAS)• United Community Centers• United Way of Tarrant County• YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth

The Fort Worth SPARC network would like to extend a special thank you to THE WALLACE FOUNDATION and Priscilla Little for an ongoing commitment and support in increasing quality out-of-school-time opportunities for Fort Worth children and youth.

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WHY FORT WORTH SPARC WAS CREATEDQuality after-school programs expand children’s horizons by igniting the fun of learning and connecting them to supportive adults. The City of Fort Worth has many after-school programs, but often, parents don’t know about them.

Fort Worth SPARC wants all Fort Worth children and youth to have access to quality after-school or out-of-school-time programs. Fort Worth is one of 14 U.S. cities granted funding from The Wallace Foundation to coordinate the growth, improvement and promotion of after-school programs. Thanks to the funding and the strong support of Mayor Betsy Price, we created SPARC, whose mission is to Strengthen After-school Programs through Advocacy, Resources and Collaboration.

“Education doesn’t stop at the end of the school day. In fact, most of a child’s time is spent out of school, which is why providing quality after-school programming is so important. Children who attend after-school programs do better in school, are less likely to get in trouble and are engaged in programs that provide endless opportunities for them to reach their full potential. SPARC is a sound investment for tomorrow’s future!”

– Mayor Betsy Price

To learn more about Fort Worth SPARC, visit www.fortworthsparc.org