What Are the Virginia Quality Standards?
Quality Standards recognize the components that make up ideal out-of-school time programs, and while every program is unique, they all share a common goal: creating safe, engaging environments where children and youth can learn, grow, and thrive. The Quality Standards provide common language and a shared understanding of what quality programs look like in action. The VPOST Quality Standards are made for Virginia by Virginia. They were crafted to be approachable for those new to the field, but comprehensive enough for the most seasoned leader.
Why Quality Standards Matter
High-quality out-of-school time programs help children and youth develop academically, socially, emotionally, and personally. They provide safe environments, foster positive relationships, encourage youth voice, and connect families with meaningful opportunities.
The Virginia Quality Standards help:
- Programs gain a cohesive understanding of what makes up a quality youth program
- Provide consistent program quality across he state
- Fill the gap in educational standards for learning outside of the classroom
- Allow for reflection in a non regulatory setting
- Support professional growth for staff
- Strengthen partnerships with schools and communities through shared vision and language
- Promote continuous quality improvement
Whether you are launching a new program or strengthening an existing one, the Quality Standards provide a flexible framework to support your work.
Explore the 10 Quality Standards
The Virginia Quality Standards are organized around ten essential components of high-quality out-of-school time programming. The second edition of the Virginia Quality Standards was published in 2024 and reflects the changes in out-of-school time since the release of the First Edition in 2017. We’ve added new categories including Child & Youth Voice and Partnerships & Networking.
- Active & Engaged Learning
- Partnerships & Networking
- Inclusion & Belonging
- Support Student Success
- Leadership & Staff Development
- Relationships
- Continuous Improvement
- Health & Wellbeing
- Safe Environments
- Child & Youth Voice
Assess Your Program: VPOST Quality Check Tool
Ready to move from learning to action?
The VPOST Quality Check Tool helps programs assess their current practices against the Virginia Quality Standards, identify strengths, and prioritize opportunities for improvement. Whether you’re conducting a self-assessment, preparing for strategic planning, or working with your team to strengthen programming, the Quality Check Tool provides an easy-to-use starting point.
Adopt the Virginia Quality Standards
We invite your organization to adopt the Quality Standards. Implementing the Standards into your practice will not only benefit your organization’s quality supports, but give VPOST the opportunity to recognize your efforts. When you complete this adoption process, we will place your logo within the Quality Standards. Join OST organizations across Virginia by adopting the Virginia Quality Standards because we are stronger when we are united in our shared understanding of what it means when we say afterschool works.
Quality Standards in Action
The Virginia Quality Standards are more than a framework; they are being used by organizations across the Commonwealth to strengthen programs and improve outcomes.
In 2025, VPOST launched a new Community of Practice, A Year of OST Quality, which was designed to guide afterschool educators on the Quality Standards for Virginia Out-of-School Time Programs. Learners in this community met monthly to dive into the Quality Standards for Virginia Out-of-School Time Programs and analyzed the relevance of how the standards applied to their program context.
See how participating organizations applied the standards in their own programs and the impact the initiative had on staff and youth.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Virginia Quality Standards are designed for any organization that provides out-of-school time (OST) programming for school-age children and youth. This includes afterschool and summer learning programs, schools, community-based organizations, parks and recreation departments, libraries, faith-based organizations, and other youth-serving programs. Whether your program serves one site or many, the Standards provide a flexible framework to support high-quality programming.
No. The Virginia Quality Standards are voluntary and non-regulatory. They are not intended to serve as an accreditation or compliance system. Instead, they provide a practical framework that organizations can use to reflect on current practices, strengthen programming, and support continuous quality improvement.
Out-of-school time leaders can use the Quality Standards to assess areas of strength and opportunities for growth, which can inform the need for professional development, resources, and strategic planning. The Standards can be used to provide common language and understanding between stakeholders, for example, school and education leaders, parents, funders, and policymakers.
A great place to begin is by downloading the Virginia Quality Standards and becoming familiar with the ten core areas of quality programming. From there, we recommend using the VPOST Quality Check Tool to reflect on your current practices and identify opportunities for growth. Together, these resources provide a practical roadmap for strengthening your program over time.
The Virginia Quality Standards describe the practices that define high-quality out-of-school time programming. The VPOST Quality Check Tool helps organizations apply those Standards by guiding teams through a structured process of reflection, discussion, and continuous improvement. Many organizations begin by reviewing the Standards and then use the Quality Check Tool to assess their own practices and identify opportunities for growth.
Absolutely. The Quality Standards were intentionally designed to be flexible and applicable to organizations of all sizes. Whether you operate a single program or oversee multiple sites, the Standards can be adapted to fit your organization’s unique goals, staffing structure, and resources.
Organizations can formally adopt the Virginia Quality Standards as a way to demonstrate their commitment to providing high-quality out-of-school time programming and continuous improvement. Adoption is voluntary and reflects an organization’s dedication to creating safe, engaging, and supportive learning environments for children and youth. Complete the adoption form here.
The second edition of the Virginia Quality Standards was developed through a collaborative statewide process led by the Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time (VPOST). A Quality Workgroup representing diverse organizations and regions across Virginia reviewed national quality frameworks, gathered practitioner feedback, and updated the Standards to reflect current best practices in youth development and out-of-school time programming.
Yes. While the Standards were developed specifically for Virginia, they were informed by nationally recognized quality frameworks and current research in youth development and out-of-school time programming. This ensures they reflect evidence-based practices while addressing the unique needs of Virginia’s communities.
There is no required timeline. Some organizations begin by focusing on one or two Quality Standards, while others incorporate all ten into their strategic planning and professional development efforts. The Standards are intended to support ongoing growth, allowing each organization to move at a pace that fits its needs and capacity.
VPOST offers a variety of resources to help organizations implement the Virginia Quality Standards, including the Quality Check Tool. VPOST has developed several trainings and supports for implementing the Quality Standards and improving program quality overall. If you’re interested in having VPOST train you and your staff, contact Christine Jones Monaccio.
Ready to Strengthen Your Program?
Download the Virginia Quality Standards and begin your quality improvement journey today.
For more information on VPOST’s Quality work, contact Christine Jones Monaccio.
