Strengthening Quality Across Illinois: The Revision of the Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards ™
Afterschool and out-of-school time (OST) programs play a critical role in supporting young people, families, schools, and communities across Illinois. As the needs of youth and programs continue to evolve, so must the tools and frameworks that support quality programming. That is why ACT Now led the revision of the Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards™. A thoughtful, collaborative effort designed to strengthen continuous quality improvement efforts statewide.
The original 2016 Standards provided a strong foundation for defining quality in afterschool programming. Over time, however, feedback from the field, emerging research, and changing community needs highlighted opportunities to clarify, make the framework more practical, and make it more responsive to the realities of today’s OST programs.
The revised Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards™ were created to do just that.
A Collaborative, Field-Driven Process
The revision process was grounded in collaboration and continuous improvement. ACT Now worked alongside afterschool professionals, educators, youth-serving organizations, state agency partners, community stakeholders, and national experts to review and strengthen the framework.
As part of this process, ACT Now hosted a statewide Quality Standards Revision Roadshow and focus groups to gather direct feedback from providers and stakeholders across Illinois. These conversations helped ensure the revised Standards reflected the real experiences, strengths, and challenges programs face every day.
Participants shared valuable feedback related to:
- Clarity and organization of the Standards
- Implementation supports and practical guidance
- Youth engagement and belonging
- Staff support and professional development
- Family and community partnerships
- Equity and inclusion
- Continuous quality improvement practices
This feedback directly informed updates to the framework structure, language, best practices, reflection tools, and implementation guidance included in the accompanying toolkit.
What Changed?
The revised Standards were intentionally redesigned to create a more user-friendly and actionable framework for programs across Illinois.
The updated framework is now organized into four Core Areas:
- Climate
- Learning
- Partnerships
- Systems
Within these Core Areas are 15 Standards that define what makes up a high-quality afterschool program.
One of the most significant additions to the revised framework is the inclusion of recommended practices beneath each Standard. These practices help programs move from understanding “what” quality looks like to identifying “how” to implement quality practices in meaningful, realistic ways.
The revisions also focused on:
- Streamlining language for clarity and accessibility
- Creating stronger alignment across Standards
- Embedding youth voice and belonging throughout the framework
- Strengthening guidance around partnerships and systems
- Providing practical tools and reflection opportunities
- Supporting programs in continuous quality improvement rather than compliance
Supporting Programs Through the Toolkit
To accompany the revised Standards, ACT Now is developing the Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards™ Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to help programs translate the Standards into everyday practice through practical resources, reflection tools, and implementation supports.
The toolkit emphasizes a continuous improvement cycle that aligns with the Illinois Quality Program Self-Assessment (IL-QPSA):
Assess → Reflect → Plan → Implement
Programs will find:
- Reflection questions
- Planning supports
- Implementation examples
- Connections to the Illinois Quality Program Self-Assessment (IL-QPSA)
The goal is to ensure programs of all sizes and settings — whether school-based, community-based, rural, urban, or suburban — can use the Standards in ways that are meaningful and adaptable to their communities.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The revised Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards™ are more than a framework. They represent a shared commitment to supporting high-quality learning environments where young people feel safe, engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Quality improvement is an ongoing process, and ACT Now remains committed to supporting the field through professional development, technical assistance, resources, and collaborative learning opportunities.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their voice, expertise, and feedback throughout this revision process. Your partnership helped shape a framework that reflects the strengths, challenges, and future of afterschool programming across Illinois. Together, we continue building stronger systems, stronger programs, and brighter futures for young people statewide.
