Focuses on efforts to improve the quality of and accredit after-school programs. The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) claims a membership of more 7,000 practitioners, policy makers, and administrators representing all public, private, and community-based sectors of after-school and out-of-school-time programs, as well as school-age and after-school programs on military bases, both domestic and international. NAA actively promotes standards for after-school programs and for program accreditation. Awarded a grant from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the NAA is working to implement recommendations that include establishing a permanent accreditation council and identifying funding resources for programs to finance their pursuit of accreditation. NAA’s Web site gives after-school program directors and staff: (1) information about accreditation guidelines and pricing; (2) information about endorsement visits; (3) lists of accredited programs as well as of NAA affiliate organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the YMCA, 4-H, and the Boys and Girls Club; (4) public policy news affecting after-school programs; (5) resources such as publications and links to other Web sites; (6) a detailed conference calendar; and (7) reports on such special topics as after-school programs for middle school students, including rosters of subcommittee members and tips on achieving advocacy goals.
