Category: Moved to Publications

Development and early validation evidence for an observational measure of high quality instructional practice for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in out-of-school time settings: The STEM supplement to the Youth Program Quality Assessment

DOWNLOAD This report describes the process of development of the STEM supplement to the Youth Program Quality Assessment (Youth PQA; HighScope, 2005) and preliminary reliability and validity evidence based on data collected during Afterzone Summer Scholars program.Citation: Smith, C., Hallman, S., Hillaker, B., Sugar, S., McGovern, G., & Devaney, E. (2012). Development and early validation … Continue reading Development and early validation evidence for an observational measure of high quality instructional practice for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in out-of-school time settings: The STEM supplement to the Youth Program Quality Assessment

Preparing youth to thrive: Promising practices in social and emotional learning

DOWNLOAD The guidebook describes SEL standards and organizational and curriculum features for a set of eight exemplary SEL programs.Citation: Charles Smith et al., Preparing Youth to Thrive: Promising Practices for Social and Emotional Learning (Washington, DC: Forum for Youth Investment, 2016).

Building citywide systems for quality: Guide and case studies for afterschool leaders

REQUEST ACCESS How-to guide for cities drawing on experience from implementation of QIS in 40+ cities and states. Citation: Yohalem, N., Devaney, E., Smith, C., & Wilson-Ahlstrom, A. (2012). Building Citywide Systems for Quality: A Guide and Case Studies for Afterschool Leaders.

Continuous quality improvement in afterschool settings: Impact findings from the Youth Program Quality Intervention study

REQUEST ACCESS Multi-site randomized controlled trial that identifies a substantively large and statistically significant cross-level cascade of QIS effects from network to organization to point-of-service instruction. Citation: Akiva, T., Sugar, S.A., Smith, C., Pearson, L.M., Peck, S.C., Denault, A., & Blazevski, J. (2012). Continuous Quality Improvement in Afterschool Settings: Impact findings from the Youth Program … Continue reading Continuous quality improvement in afterschool settings: Impact findings from the Youth Program Quality Intervention study

Understanding the “how” of effective quality improvement: Lessons from the Rhode Island Program Quality Intervention

REQUEST ACCESS Case study of scaled QIS implementation in Rhode Island with focus on manager skills and implementation at the organization level. Citation: Devaney, E., Smith, C., & Wong, K.K. (2012). Understanding the “How” of Quality Improvement: Lessons from the Rhode Island Program Quality Intervention. Afterschool Matters.

Quality at the point of service: profiles of practice in after-school settings

DOWNLOAD This paper uses pattern centered methods to identify three different quality profiles – high, medium, and low – that characterize staff instruction in out-of-school time programs. Citation: Smith, C., Peck, S.C., Denault, A., Blazevski, J. and Akiva, T. (2010), Quality at the Point of Service: Profiles of Practice in After-School Settings. American Journal of … Continue reading Quality at the point of service: profiles of practice in after-school settings

Linking after-school instructional practices to youth engagement: A pattern-centered approach

DOWNLOAD This paper uses pattern centered methods to describe the association between the quality of instruction available and youth’s level of mental engagement with that instruction.Citation: Akiva, T., Pearson, L., Sugar, S. A., Peck, S. C., Smith, C., & Denault, A. (2010). Linking after-school instructional practices to youth engagement: A pattern-centered approach. Paper presented at … Continue reading Linking after-school instructional practices to youth engagement: A pattern-centered approach

Final report on the Palm Beach quality improvement system pilot: Model implementation and program quality improvement in 38 after-school programs

REQUEST ACCESS Mixed methods study of QIS implementation and effects in afterschool programs in Palm Beach County, Fl.Citation: Smith, C., Akiva, T., Blazevski, J., & Pelle, L. (2008). Final report on the Palm Beach Quality Improvement System pilot: Model implementation and program quality improvement in 38 after-school programs. Forum for Youth Investment, David P, Weikart … Continue reading Final report on the Palm Beach quality improvement system pilot: Model implementation and program quality improvement in 38 after-school programs