The 12 quality standard is:

Safe and supportive environment

Active and engaged learning Program
Skill building
Youth voice and leadership
Health choices and behavior
Diversity, access and equity
Quality staff
Clear vision, mission, and purpose
Collaborative partnership
Continuous quality improvement
Program management
Sustainability

Link to the 12 quality standard :

http://www.afterschoolnetwork.org/post/quality-standards-
expanded-learning-programs

It is important for defining quality standard for program

stakeholders because this quality standard tell us what
quality/rule an afterschool program should include. The
guideline helps stakeholders how to effectively recruit staffs
and how staffs should be prepared to the program.

From the 12 quality standard, I believe (1) quality staff

and (2) diversity, access and equality are the most
important. I have been interviewed and background
checked before enrolling to my fieldwork placement. During
the interview, I have also been asked about what is my
strongest skill and what is my ambition. Therefore, I
understand how quality staff is important as they can
influence the children, even as a volunteer. Diversity and
equality is important as well because California is a very
diverse state, it is important for educator to keep in mind
that everyone is equal. I also experienced a diverse group in
my fieldwork placement and I kept telling myself that helping
everyone equally is what I aim for.

Comparing two tools:

1. CaliforniaAfterSchoolProgramQualitySelfAssessmentTool(CAN
QSA)
http://www.afterschoolnetwork.org/post/california-after-
school-program-quality-self-assessment-tool

program use this tool to self-access the program, and on

consideration on how to improve the program. The tool
focuses on the big picture program design elements and
consideration at point of service.

Advantages : has nine quality, which is well-rounded

Disadvantages: engage in self-assessment, which is a little
bit hard to evaluate . It cannot provide a robust assessment
og quality at individual activity level.

2. program quality assessment

http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=116

PQA evaluates the quality of youth experiences as they

participate in program activities. It addresses programmatic
indicators of quality using separate tool that used as guided
interview or survey.

Advantages : PQA include 4 categories, safe environment,

supportive environment , interaction and engagement.
Disadvantage: costs for in-persons training is not cheap,
$100-250/person

For recommendation for an afterschool program, I would

suggest CaliforniaAfterSchoolProgramQualitySelfAssessmentTool
(CANQSA)becauseitcanprovideboardcoverageofprogrammaticquality
standard.Ithelpsmyschooltobefamiliarwithprogramactivitiesand
structure.