ASAP is a an association
of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting and providing
high-quality after-school programs for children and youth. ASAP is
a non-profit educational organization that is tax-exempt as a 501(c)3
charity.
Providers of
after-school activities may be individuals, non-profit organizations,
community groups, or businesses. All our members rely on professional
instructors with teaching experience and expertise in the subjects
offered. Programs are based on well-developed lessons and procedures
to ensure a rewarding experience for the students.
ASAP also offers
membership to organizations that sponsor family activities outside
of school hours. Such organizations must ensure that pre-teen children
attending their programs remain under the supervision of a parent
or guardian.
Members are
entitled to list their programs in the ASAP website and to provide
a link from our website to their own website. In addition, each
member is entitled to a vote at the ASAP annual general meeting.
Membership dues are $50 per year.
Members
of ASAP must offer programs for the purpose of education, recreation,
or socialization, for children and youth. To qualify for membership
in ASAP, organizations and individuals offering programs for children
under 13 years old, or not yet in high school, must adhere to the
following procedures.
1. Class coordinators: Programs may be managed by organizations
or individuals who are acting as an agent for the students or as
an agent for the instructors. The class coordinator will schedule
programs and will decide on program operations, such as delivery
and pick-up procedures for students, contingency plans for weather
emergencies, as appropriate for the particular program. The class
coordinator may or may not handle administrative aspects of arranging
programs such as advertising the program or collecting registrations.
2. Instructors: Instructors supervising children must be more
than 18 years of age, and have passed a criminal background check
(or be currently employed by the local Public School System). Instructors
should be qualified to teach the program, be experienced in supervising
children, and abide by the safety and discipline guidelines below.
-individuals who are not qualified to be instructors
may act as assistants to instructors, providing that they are supervised
at all times by the instructor. Assistants might include minors,
trainees, or volunteers (such as parents) who have not completed
formal screening. Assistants are not allowed to independently supervise
or take responsibility for students, as that responsibility rests
with the instructor.
3. The instructor agrees to abide by all rules and regulations
set forth by the facility owner, or, in the case of public facilities,
the published policy governing use of public facilities by community
groups. Further, the instructor agrees to:
--obtain permission slips or class registration
forms for each program, with health notes and emergency information,
dismissal instructions, and the signature of a parent or guardian,
for each student; and to bring the forms to each meeting
--know emergency procedure suggested by class coordinator in
case of class cancellation, classroom emergency, or late pick-up
of children
--for programs that follow the school day,
report to the school office at least ten minutes before school is
dismissed, then meet the students in the classroom
--for programs that follow the school day, take attendance
at start of class; if a child is absent, instructor will call the
front office to verify that the child was dismissed from school
--know how to contact an employee, custodian, or building manager
from the classroom (for example, by phone or intercom) without leaving
the class, in case of emergency. Instructors are encouraged to bring
a cell phone to programs and to give the number to the class coordinator.
--remain
with students until all departure instructions are carried out
--handle discipline problems in class in acceptable manner;
see below
--leave room clean
4. Administration: All instructors will sign a contract with
the class coordinator specifying the days and times that they will
be responsible for the rooms that have been reserved and the children
who have registered to attend the program. Assistants to the program
will sign an agreement with the class coordinator that limits them
to interacting with children only under the direct supervision of
an instructor at all times.
--registrations will be taken for no more than
20 children per adult. Unregistered children (such as siblings)
may not attend the class or wait in the classroom.
--in the event that the instructor cannot supervise
a class on a given day, the instructor will notify the class coordinator
as far in advance as possible. Substitutes and schedule changes
MUST be approved in advance by the class coordinator.
--the class coordinator will
be responsible for room reservations. Changes in room assignments
or schedules for room use MUST be handled by the class coordinator.
5. Discipline and safety. Children
are expected to maintain the same standards of behavior outside
school as during school. Instructors should be familiar with the
student code of conduct for the local school system. Discipline
for students who don’t follow the code of conduct is limited to
exclusion from the class activities (but not from the class), a
report to the parents or caregivers, or expulsion from the program.
Corporal punishment or other inappropriate discipline is grounds
for dismissal of the instructor.
-instructors are expected to supervise the children at all times:
that is, instructors must not leave the class unattended or turn
the class over to anyone else. Students should be advised to come
to class prepared to stay in the room for the entire class period.
No student can be allowed to leave early or otherwise change their
dismissal arrangements unless the instructor has written instructions
from the parent.
-instructors should not allow children to eat or drink in the classroom
and should not provide snacks for the students, because of food
allergies or other health conditions.
-class coordinators will provide directions to the instructor for
emergencies. Emergencies might include an unexpected class cancellation,
a weather emergency, or an accident during class. In case of an
injury, instructors may apply cold water or a compress, or a band-aid;
any injury needing more treatment than this requires a call to the
parent to pick up the child, or a call to 911 for assistance. Instructors
should have emergency numbers for each child at each class, but
the instructor should also be told what to do if the child needs
to be picked up and no one can be reached. In no case may the instructor
leave the child unsupervised.
6.
Program content: programs must supplement or complement the school
curriculum and use methods and materials that are consistent with
those used in the school. Equipment and procedures must be age-appropriate
and suitable for the space assigned for the program.
END
To
print a copy of the guidelines,
download the PDF version;
you will need
to use the file.
If
you or your organization follow the Guidelines
for After-School Programs, or offer only family
programs, you may be eligible for membership in ASAP. Membership
dues are $50/year from the date of acceptance. You may apply for
membership and pay online below.
To
apply by mail, print the form (available as a
PDF; you will need
to open the file) and mail it with your check to the address given
below.
You
will receive a confirmation by mail. If your organization is not
accepted for membership, you will be notified and your membership
fee will be refunded.
To make an online bank transfer or charge your credit
card, click here:
ASAP's Board
of Directors includes representatives from member organizations
as well as citizens and educators dedicated to furthering the organization's
mission.
Lee Walker
Oxenham, Board Director
educator
lw.oxenham@att.net
fter-School