Professional Development
Afterschool Professional Development System Toolkit
Drawing on research of national experts and lessons learned from afterschool leaders in six states, the Afterschool Investments Project created a toolkit of discussion guides, tools, and resources to help State leaders address the unique challenges and opportunities for fostering strong statewide afterschool professional development systems. Materials were piloted at the AIP Peer Learning Network Meeting held on September 11-12, 2008, and further revised based on feedback from participants. Selected materials contained in the toolkit are available for download below.
- Qualifications Discussion Guide (PDF)
This discussion guide frames the key questions that will help leaders design a strategy to develop qualifications, credentials and pathways for the afterschool workforce in their State.
(PDF 50 KB)
- Financing Discussion Guide (PDF)
This guide contains discussion questions to help States develop a strategic financing approach to support the implementation of a statewide afterschool professional development system.
(PDF 77 KB)
- Strategic Planning Tool (PDF)
This tool is designed to help States articulate their objectives and timeline for implementing an afterschool professional development system and to identify specific technical assistance needs.
(PDF 126 KB)
The complete toolkit provides summaries of the latest research and trends on the impact of a systemic approach to afterschool professional development, as well as discussion guides and worksheets to help guide State leaders and their teams in developing comprehensive strategies to improve staff quality and sustain initiatives. To order a copy of the Afterschool Professional Development System Toolkit CD-ROM, please send an e-mail request to afterschool@financeproject.org.
Region VII Webinar Presentation: Summary of Selected Tools from the Afterschool Professional Development Toolkit
On April 23, 2009, Region VII held the second in a series of technical assistance webinars on Strategic Planning for Workforce Development. Afterschool Investments Project staff discussed trends in school–age quality improvement and shared tools and materials to support state–wide efforts to finance professional development systems. Please see the slide presentation (PDF 135 KB) for more information. You may also access the recording of the webinar at: https://blhtech.webex.com/blhtech/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=11969532&rKey=9511BFC3BC16C4FD.
Webinar on Strategies for Financing a Professional Development System
On November 13, 2008, the Afterschool Investments project held a webinar for State and Regional Office staff and others in the afterschool professional development field. Drawing from our recent peer-to-peer learning network meeting in September 2008, this webinar focused on the financing of professional development systems. The panel of speakers included Ellen Gannett of NIOST, who presented on cross-cutting issues in funding professional development systems, including a discussion on strategies for expanding the TEACH model to school-age care. Panelists from Vermont and Illinois also participated and shared their state initiatives and lessons learned. Finally, a presentation by The Finance Project highlighted strategic financing considerations before an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience. Please see below for downloadable materials from the webinar.
Background presentation materials:
- Speaker Contact Information (PDF 22 KB)
- Lessons Learned from the First Career Pathways Project (PDF 64 KB)
- Strategic Financing for Professional Development Systems (PDF 37 KB)
- Transcript (HTML)
AIP Peer Learning Network Meeting: Building a Statewide Afterschool Professional Development System
Leading researchers in the afterschool field have long established the link between a well-trained workforce and high quality afterschool programs. To better understand and support statewide afterschool efforts in this area, the Afterschool Investments Project (AIP) invited six cross-agency teams from Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wyoming to attend a Peer Learning Network Meeting on September 11 and 12, 2008 in Washington, DC.
This two-day meeting provided State teams with an opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions with their peers and experts around two specific elements of the professional development system that are critical and fundamental to the quality of afterschool care – strategies to improve staff quality and funding.
AIP staff are available to assist you in planning a peer learning meeting. Please contact your regional technical assistance lead for information.
Professional Development Audio Conference: Creating a Credential for a School-Age Workforce
On April 24, 2008, the Afterschool Investments project held an audio conference for State and Regional Office staff on the history, development and implementation of school-age credentials as part of the larger professional development system. The panelists discussed the Military School-Age Credential, Connecticut’s Credential in After School Education, and Missouri’s Youth Development Credential. Please see below for background materials, including a transcript and recording of the event.
Call recording (MP3 File 6.9 MB)
Call transcript (HTML | PDF 151 KB)
Background presentation materials:
- Speaker Biographies (PDF 17KB | HTML)
- Building Professional Development Systems for the Afterschool Field (PDF 1550 KB | HTML)
- The Military School-Age Credential (PDF 27 KB | HTML)
- Credential in After School Education in Connecticut (PDF 38 KB | HTML)
- Youth Development Credential in Missouri (PDF 21 KB | HTML)
Building Professional Development Systems for the Afterschool Field
Executive Summary: (HTML | PDF) This publication provides a snapshot of State and local approaches to building professional development systems for school-age care professionals, highlighting the shared challenges these systems face and the common components of sustainable professional development systems. (HTML | PDF)
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