After-School Plus (A+) Operations Manual

The After-School Plus (A+) Program is the outcome of a joint effort of former Governor John Waihee’s Subcabinet on Early Childhood Education and Child Care (chaired by former Governor Benjamin Cayetano who was Lieutenant Governor at the time), the Hawaii State Board of Education and Department of Education (DOE) in 1989. 

The goal of the A+ Program is to reduce the high incidence of latchkey children and provide affordable after-school child care services to children in the public elementary schools whose parents work, attend school or are in job training programs. The manual, with its guidelines and vital information, serves as an important reference for all A+ Program staff in their mission to provide a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience for the children they serve.

The A+ Program is a part of Out-of-School-Time programs under the Community Engagement Branch (CEB), which has adopted a theory of action illustrating how all out-of-school-time programs, including after-school programs, result in long-term positive outcomes for all Hawaii students.  This theory of action is predicated on the assumption that positive youth outcomes and the vision of thriving lifelong learners result from the combination of four factors:

1. Program Quality considers elements of staffing; health, safety, and climate; collaboration and partnerships; and practices for student and family offerings;
2. Program Participation looks at student enrollment at 15, 30, 60, and 90 day increments
3. Youth Characteristics considers factors that influence the type of programming offered
4. School, Community, and Family Context are evaluated and considered through various instruments (e.g., Academic/Financial Plans, previous evaluations, other documentation of need), and are used to drive the type of programming offered.

All HIDOE out-of-school-time programs, including after-school programs, are designed, implemented, and evaluated based on five (5) components.  As guiding elements to what HIDOE believes are critical and necessary components for successful and effective out-of-school-time learning experiences for students, the A+ Program is based on the following components:

1. Program Participation;
2. Program Design;
3. Program Management;
4. Collaboration and Partnerships; and
5. Data Analysis