Setting Up Your Afterschool Program for Success

Managing a high-quality afterschool program takes more than good intentions; it takes knowledge, skill, and the ability to make intentional decisions every single day. This course gives you the tools to do exactly that.

Whether you are a group leader, a lead educator, or a program director, Setting Up Your Afterschool Program for Success will help you create environments where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn, and where your team works together with confidence and consistency.

What You Will Learn

Across four focused modules and a course wrap-up, you will explore the foundation of a well-run program, from your role and your team to daily routines and the way your space is set up.

• Program Management Basics: Understand your role and how intentional management supports program quality
• Working as a Team: Build collaboration, communicate effectively, and reflect on team practices
• Routines and Transitions: Use predictable routines and visual supports to create a calmer, more organized day
• The Environment as a Behavior Support: Design spaces that reduce conflict and promote independence

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain what program management means and how it shows up in your program every day
• Describe your role in program quality and how relationships shape a child’s day
• Work with your team and with families to keep expectations consistent
• Teach routines and use visual and verbal supports to make transitions smoother
• Set up activity areas, pathways, and materials so the room supports positive behavior

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for school-age educators and program staff at all levels: group leaders, assistant staff, afterschool staff, site directors, and family childcare providers who care for school-age children and want to strengthen their management skills and create better outcomes for the children and families they serve.

Training Level: 2 | Core Content: 7 | CDA Content: 5 | Training Hours: 2