Afterschool & Summer Commitment to Quality
Quality is at the center of everything we do, and we work to ensure afterschool & summer programs are rooted in best practices. Our Commitment to Quality initiative aims to highlight the benefits of afterschool and summer programs, building a network of providers, partners, stakeholders, local leaders, and legislators supporting our collaborative work.
Our most prominent piece of this Quality work was taking the 5 core components of quality identified by network partners, rooted in research, and highlighting each individually through the eyes of one program. Our 15 video series on, This is Afterschool, can be found on our YouTube channel. The videos capture programs in action and provide a voice to the amazing work continuing to happen throughout our state.
OregonASK has continued our commitment to sharing key messages of expanded learning with several other projects including a series of one minute PSA’s on our Policy Page, alongside several STEM in Afterschool short videos. In 2021 and 2022, OregonASK set out to capture the impact of summer programs on youth and programs throughout COVID. Find our In Their Own Voice series HERE.
Now, more than ever, afterschool and summer programs must share their story and impact to continue supporting the most underserved children in our communities. If you are interested in learning more about sharing your own story, please reach out to general@oregonask.org
Our Commitment to Quality recognizes five main focus areas that have been identified as components of quality:
Inspiring Student Dreams
Programs spark interest so students have a greater chance to realize their full potential, attend school more often, and are more likely to graduate college and become career ready.
Supporting Professional Development
Providing Professional Development is essential to enhancing program quality and implementing relevant youth development practices through engaging expanded learning opportunities.
Increasing School & Community Partnerships
Effective programs involve community partners to support locally-driven solutions, get students ready for college or career, and strengthen relationships with local industry.
Building Systems & Structures
Afterschool programs are shaped by community need and provide opportunities to help all students thrive in school and in life. Students in afterschool programs show more interest in learning, behave better, complete their homework assignments, and have help building the skills employers need.
Engaging Parents & Families
Afterschool programs help build safer, stronger, and smarter communities, keeping youth safe and helping families balance work and life.
Programs from Around Oregon sharing about what quality Afterschool looks like to them...
Building Quality with Afterschool Professionals : Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley (Grants Pass)
Helping Families and Communities Thrive: Self Enhancement Inc (Portland)
Increasing School and Community Partnerships: Expanding Horizons Youth Center (Cow Creek Tribal Community Center)
Inspiring Student Dreams All Year Round: My Voice Music (Portland)
Parent & Family Engagement: Neighbors for Kids (Lincoln County)
Supporting Quality through Professional Development: Champions (Statewide)
Expanding Learning to Support Individual and Community Needs: Farmworkers Housing Development Corporation (Marion County)
Inspiring Student Dreams: In4All (Portland Metro)
Dreaming Bigger Dreams: Umatilla STEAM Academy/Umatilla School District
Supporting Systems for Student Success: Todos Juntos (Clackamas County)
Developing Professionals to Excite & Engage: CampFire Columbia (Portland)
Building Foundations with Schools