In Section 6: Program Improvement, you learned that it is a good idea to monitor the quality of your program using some kind of observation tool. Using an observation tool can be a good way to capture information about your activities that you can then share with your staff to celebrate success and encourage improvement.
Directions: Program observation is typically part of a larger quality improvement system. Although there are many observational assessments available for programs to use, the tools included in this document are some of the most common in the field, and all meet a set of criteria: They are research-based, are appropriate for a variety of program settings, and focus on the interactions among people in the program. Many of the tools are available for free, but are most useful when implemented as part of a larger quality improvement process that includes professional development, coaching, and a consistent focus on using data to drive improvement. The tools listed below were included in a review of commonly used program quality assessments in afterschool and expanded learning settings (Yohalem & Wilson-Alhstrom, 2009). In addition to reviewing the following information, we recommend visiting the developers' websites to find new and updated versions of the tools.