City of Columbus Mayor's Office: After School Program Standards

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Office of the Mayor - Michael B. Coleman

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Office of Education

Program Standards

After School Program Standards

The Office of Education has created a set of standards for after-school programs; these standards should be used as guides both in designing programs and also, for parents, in choosing a safe and enriching program for your children to attend.

Mission
An after-school program should have a four-fold mission, as follows:

Provide a safe, caring, enriching environment for children during the non-school hours.
Provide places where children can increase their academic skills and gain positive interpersonal and social skills.
Involve families in planning and participating in activities with the children.
Foster positive connections between family, school and community.

Standards for Creating Successful Out-of_school Opportunities for Columbus Youth
Program Management
Mission/Goals:	Written statement of purpose for the extended day program
Policies:	Written policies and procedures for governing conduct of staff and children
Health & Safety:	Current documentation showing facility compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements. Written Policies and procedures for keeping space/facility safe. Written emergency preparedness procedures Signed MOU with program facility host
Staff:	All staff is professionally qualified to work with children Written plans for continuing staff development Written documentation that all staff has met health & safety requirements Written documentation that all staff and volunteers have complied with background check and fingerprint procedures
Environment:	Adequate space and developmentally appropriate materials for all children.
Partnerships:	Established partnerships with community groups including parents, volunteers, schools, community-based organizations, youth-serving agencies and businesses.
Evaluation:	Provide measures of program progress and student outcomes.

Program Components
Each of these components is provided through activities that are age, developmentally and culturally appropriate enrichment activities. Each activity is designed to provide children with experiences that enrich their lives and lead to enhanced social and peer relations and school success.
Academic Support:	Transitioning children from school day to after school by creating experiences and activities that are age appropriate.
Safety / Wellness/ Nutrition:	Keeping kids fit Providing for moderate to vigorous developmentally appropriate physical activity; developing sport skills; developing patterns of life-long wellness (healthy food choices, physical activity) Nutritious Snack Offer amount sufficient for growing children each day; provide at least two items from at least two different food groups from the food pyramid.
Environment Indoor & Outdoor:	Environment is one of the most critical factors in program development and implementation. Effective indoor and outdoor space design, effective uses of shared space will provide opportunity for developmentally appropriate recreational and socialization activities.
Prevention/Skill Building:	Provide a variety of resources for programs to increase prevention-based activities. Activities include substance abuse prevention, asset building activities, youth mentoring, peer mediation, leadership skills, social skills, and problem solving skills and youth prevention activities.
Strong Family Involvement:	Provides for family involvement in program development and implementation; family involvement activities to create a more diverse program with enriching multicultural experiences; skill building activities that promote communication between parent, program staff and school.

Program Performance Criteria
Program Site:	Safe, inviting, well-equipped and capable of accommodating various age-appropriate activities.
Enrollment:	K-5, serve a minimum of 35 children daily 6-8 serves a minimum of 45 children daily; 12:1 student/staff ratio; maintain this ratio for any daily enrollment above minimum.
Operation Time:	2.5 hours per day, five days/week minimum.
Family Involvement:	75% of families of enrolled participants are involved in program activities, parent education and family support activities.
Attendance at Program:	90% of enrolled K-5 children attend the after school program per day; 90% of enrolled children grades 6-8 attend the after school program three days per week.
Attendance at School:	75% of enrolled and attending children achieve 93% school attendance
School Success:	Participants beginning the program at a grade level C (2.00 for middle school) or better, 75% of them must remain at or improve in their level of performance on teacher reported reading and math during the school year.