After-School Standards

Standards for after-school and other out-of-school time (OST) programs articulate the goals and best practices that providers can follow when developing and implementing programs. Standards are not a curriculum but rather a set of guidelines intended to promote high-quality programs that will result in positive student outcomes. Standards unify the field by defining the knowledge and competencies for effective practice and providing a common language across programs. Standards typically are independent of when participation occurs and, therefore, apply to services that happen before school, after school, on weekends, and during school breaks, holidays, and summer. This entry describes how different organizations define after-school standards and competencies and offers considerations for program providers in achieving standards.