NIOST \Introduction
Introduction For over 40 years the National Institute on Out-ofSchool Time (NIOST) has been consulting with and evaluating out-of-school time (OST) programs and promoting skill development with OST professionals. We have a deep understanding of what quality is, how to measure it, and why quality improvement needs to be continuous. We are realistic about the entrenched issues of program financial insecurity, high turnover, and parttime staffing. But we prefer to be energized by the many high-quality programs we see producing strong outcomes by focusing on the simple, key concept of improving program quality. Research now confirms that coaching is one of the most effective ways to support staff and improve program quality. We therefore are providing this easily accessible professional development resource for current and new OST coaches.
Coaching for Quality in Out-of-School Time: A How To Guide
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