After School Quality (ASQ)

Leadership and Management (2 points)

ASQ supports the Leadership and Management Performance Standards because it is an effort to invest in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and utilizes program observation instruments. A program that is using ASQ will use observations and self-assessments to inform their CQI plan and technical assistance goals with information that is above and beyond the feedback received from their required ERS or CLASS assessments.

ASQ is a five-step process that helps a program and a team of people committed to quality improvement examine their program and make changes that will lead to better practices. Programs will involve their ASQ team in an open dialogue about their program. Together, programs set a vision and assess how well they are meeting the needs of the children, youth, and families they serve. A program’s ASQ Team will develop an action plan to reach improvement goals. The ASQ process considers that administration, staff, families, children, youth, and community members – are the best people to make the quality improvement changes.

Upon completion of the ASQ process, a paperwork review will be conducted by a trained ASQ quality coach/consultant. A specific template has been established that helps ensure a program has implemented the ASQ 5-step process. This template is available from Betsy Saatman at the email address below. In addition to the template, programs should expect to share evidence of implementation and take part in an informal interview with a trained ASQ Quality Coach or consultant.

Visit the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (niost.org) website.