Texas Framework for High-Quality Out of School Time Programs
A statewide system for understanding and improving quality in afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs
This statewide quality framework, built by the Texas out of school time (OST) Intermediary Collaborative, helps OST programs assess their strengths, identify opportunities for improvement, and connect with local resources to enhance program quality. Whether you’re launching a new program or strengthening an established one, this framework provides five foundational quality pillars with practical indicators. Use it to guide staff development, plan program improvements, communicate your commitment to stakeholders, and find organizations with expertise in specific quality areas.
About This Framework
High-quality out of school time programs accelerate academic progress, nurture peer and mentor relationships, and promote individualized exploration of interests and talents that lead to youth success in the classroom, career, and beyond.
Continuously improving the quality of afterschool and summer programming is central to TXPOST’s mission and supporting positive youth outcomes. In a state as large and diverse as Texas, TXPOST is not the only intermediary working to strengthen OST quality and systems. Recognizing the shared goals and commitment among regional and statewide OST intermediaries, TXPOST launched the Intermediary Collaborative as part of the OST CARES initiative to build intermediary infrastructure within out of school time in Texas. The Collaborative increases coordination to align efforts, reduce duplication, and strengthen the overall Texas OST ecosystem, ensuring sustainability over time and across regions.
One of the Collaborative’s shared goals is to support building the capacity of OST programs and practitioners through professional development, technical assistance, and resources to increase access to high-quality programming. To advance this goal, the Collaborative first set out to create a statewide quality framework that reflects the state’s diversity while creating a more universal way of describing high-quality OST.
By developing this shared vision of quality, programs across the state can pursue common goals using a common language. At the same time, school leaders, policymakers, funders, and community partners can more clearly understand the profound impact that high-quality OST programs have on youth and communities.
How We Built It: Quality Standards & Practices
Intermediary Collaborative members engaged in a year-long process of gathering and analyzing key research and existing quality standards and practices used across Texas to identify commonalities, themes, and potential areas of growth and refinement. Five pillars of quality emerged and form the foundation of this framework:
- Safe & Supportive Environment
- Active & Engaging Enrichment Opportunities
- Strong Staffing & Professional Development
- Purposeful Relationships & Partnerships
- Continuous Quality Improvement
This framework provides any OST program in Texas a central starting point for their continuous quality improvement efforts by connecting all of the quality standards and practices utilized across our state.
| Quality Standards & Practices | Organization |
|---|---|
Texas Standards of High-Quality Out of School Time Programs | |
Texas ACE Roadmap to High-Quality Out-of-School Time | |
Texas Rising Star Certification Guidelines* | |
BGCA Peer Assessment Standards for Public Trust & Program Quality* | |
Safe From Harm Comprehensive Safety Program* | Carlos Martinez, Divisional Red Shield Youth Center Director of Operations carlos.martinez@uss.salvationarmy.org |
Core Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies for Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals | |
Out-of-School Time Job Quality Standards | |
Youth Program Quality Intervention | |
7 Characteristics of Quality Programs | |
Excel Beyond the Bell San Antonio | |
Fort Worth SPARC Quality Standards | |
Afterschool Quality Assessment Tool (AQuA) | |
Six Dimensions of Quality in Teaching and Learning | Inquiries can be made using the form on the page linked to below. https://www.bigthoughtinstitute.org/contact-us |
Learn All the Time Network’s Quality Practices Guide |
* These quality standards and practices are designed specifically for affiliated program partners (i.e., Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Centers); however, they may also be applicable to non-affiliate programs.
How To Use It
This statewide quality framework serves as an entry point and tool for any out of school time program in their continuous quality improvement process. Use this framework to:
- Identify areas of strength and opportunity;
- Work with staff to improve program design;
- Determine professional development plans;
- Communicate with stakeholders about your program; and/or
- Demonstrate your commitment to quality.
This framework is organized by five pillars of quality and is designed to complement standards and practices already in place—there is no need to start over. Instead, use this framework to identify gaps or areas you want to go deeper into or improve upon. You can navigate directly to a specific pillar to explore different approaches to that area of quality and connect with new resources to supplement what you are already doing, giving you multiple pathways to strengthen your program. The structure of this framework ensures you’re not just learning what quality looks like, but also connecting with the right tools and intermediaries to help you get there.
Who should use this framework?
- Program leaders and staff looking to strengthen program quality
- New programs establishing quality practices from the ground up
- Established programs seeking continuous improvement in specific areas
- Funders and partners understanding, evaluating, or supporting program quality
Ways to use this framework:
- Starting from scratch? Review all five pillars to build a comprehensive quality improvement plan.
- Focusing on a specific area? Jump directly to the pillar most relevant to your current needs.
- Meeting funder/grant requirements? Explore the aligned standards to see which quality systems best match your goals.
- Comparing different quality tools? See how different intermediaries and standards address the same quality indicators.