Arizona

Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence

The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (AzCASE) is Arizona’s leading statewide advocate and information resource for promoting high quality, affordable and accessible out-of-school time programs as an essential component in the positive development of Arizona’s youth. AzCASE has a broad network of partners that span the state, leading and supporting out-of-school time efforts in urban and suburban regions of Arizona.

Current Projects and Initiatives: 
  • Developed with input from statewide stakeholders representing out-of-school time providers, educators, and policymakers, the Arizona Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs is a compilation of out-of-school time standards aimed at providing an answer to the pressing question: what is quality in out-of-school time?

  • Arizona Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs was the first step of a three-step continuous quality improvement process. Steps two and three build on these standards by focusing on the adoption of an assessment tool for programs to use to further identify and refine their strengths and areas of improvement; as well as the development of a comprehensive professional development system for out-of-school time program providers and staff.

  • Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence and the Valley of the Sun United Way collaborated with community leaders and out-of-school time stakeholders to develop the Arizona Quality Standards Assessment Tool (AzQSAT) for Out-of-School Time Programs. The AzQSAT is a comprehensive self-assessment tool designed specifically for out-of-school time programs in Arizona.