| PSA developed the Out-of-School Time (OST) Observation Instrument as part of several evaluation studies conducted over the past 10 years. The instrument is designed to collect consistent and objective observation data about the quality of after-school activities. Grounded in a youth development framework, the OST Instrument is based on two core assumptions about the features of high-quality after-school programs: (1) certain structural and institutional features (adequate qualified staff, adequate space and resources, and the availability of varied opportunities for academic and interpersonal skill-building) support the implementation of high-quality programs; and (2) instructional activities promote positive youth outcomes if they offer varied content, mastery-oriented instruction, and positive youth-to-youth and youth-to-staff relationships.
PSA has collected data on the psychometric properties of the OST instrument from studies in which the instrument has been used. Evidence from several of these studies has been reported in a report of the instrument’s reliability and validity.
The OST Observation Instrument is available at no cost. Administration procedures accompany the instrument and, following several hours of training, the instrument can be reliably used by experienced after-school program leaders or researchers.
OST Observation Instrument
Report on Reliability and Validity
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