Certifying Quality

Afterschool sites that are participating in our Program Quality Initiative sites can choose to apply for a DASN Certificate of Quality. This process is separate from the AQuA self-assessment process, but based on the indicators of quality that the AQuA tool provides. 

DASN Evaluators assess a site to determine if national standards for quality are met. Certification requires multiple, formal evaluations.  A Quality Advisor helps prepare a site for Certification, should it seek this status.

The site fee to register for Certification is $350. This covers the cost of sending Evaluators to your site and compiling written observations of your program. Upon Certification, a site is subject to two unannounced Evaluations each 12 month period. To keep Certification current, these unannounced evaluations must meet the same passing score as Certification Evaluations. If not, a Quality Advisor will be contacting the site to create an action plan for improvement, and the process of full Certification must be restarted.

To apply for Site Certification, please complete the application form and send it to Terri Barnes, Director of Program Quality.