School-Age Program Checklist
General Questions
Question
Notes
Is the program licensed?
Does the program provide safe and reliable transportation? If
so, are drivers licensed and insured? Are children properly
restrained in the appropriate car safety seat that is
appropriate for their weight and age?
Are there clear check-in and check-out procedures?
Health and Nutrition Questions
Question
Notes
Does the program have records proving that the other
children enrolled are up to date on all of the required
immunizations?
Is handwashing a regular part of the program’s practices for
both staff and children, especially before eating and after
using the bathroom?
If the program serves food, does it meet nutritional
standards?
How does the program handle if a child has food allergies or
dietary restrictions?
Safety and Supervision Questions
Question
Notes
Adult to Child Ratio and Group Size
How many children are cared for in the setting?
How many staff are in the setting?
Does the program follow best practices regarding ratio and
group size? Or, does the school-age program follow the state
licensing standards for ratio and group size?
Best practices recommendations:
5-year-olds: 8-10 children per caregiver, max group size
of 20 children
6- to 8-year-olds: 10 children per caregiver, max group
size of 20 children
9- to 12-year-olds: 12 children per caregiver, max
group size of 24 children
Supervision of Children
Are children supervised at all times, both indoors and
outdoors?
Can staff be seen by others at all times so that a child is never
alone with one staff member?
Have all staff undergone comprehensive background checks?
Have staff been trained on how to prevent, recognize, and
report signs of child abuse?
Safety
Is the indoor and outdoor environment clear of safety hazards,
such as cleaning supplies and tripping hazards?
Has the building been inspected for radon, lead, and asbestos?
Emergency Plans and Drills
Does the program have a plan in place in case of a disaster,
like a fire, tornado, flood, blizzard, earthquake or active
shooter?
Does the program practice drills once every month?
Does the program have an emergency plan in case a child is
injured, sick, or lost?
Does the program have information about who to contact in
an emergency?
First Aid and Medication
Have staff been trained on CPR and First Aid and are those
certifications current?
Does the program have first aid kits?
Are medications kept out of the reach of children?
Are staff trained in medication administration, and are the
medications labeled to make sure the right child receives the
right amount of medication?
Indoor Environment Questions
Question Notes
Is there enough room in the environment for children and
staff to move around?
Is there a place where children can quietly complete their
homework?
Are there different and enough activities offered to children?
Is the atmosphere pleasant?
Is the environment reasonably clean?
Does the program use TV, computers, or other types of
technology with the children? If so, how often are these
materials used?
Outdoor Environment Questions
Question
Notes
Is there a space for outdoor play?
Is the outdoor play area fenced in?
Is the outdoor play area regularly inspected?
Is the outdoor area clean?
Is the equipment the right size and type for the age of children
who use it?
Are children taken outside on a regular basis?
Do staff actively supervise (play with) children outdoors?
Caregiver-Child Interaction Questions
Question
Notes
Are children comforted when needed?
Do staff and children enjoy being together?
Are children warmly greeted when they arrive?
Do staff talk to children and seem genuinely interested in
what the children are doing?
Do staff get down on children’s level and speak with them?
How do staff help children solve their own problems?
How do staff react to children’s behavior?
How do staff encourage peer interactions?
Program Structure Questions
Question
Notes
Is there a daily balance of play time and homework time?
Do children get to choose who they want to play with?
Do staff play with children to help facilitate their learning?
Parent Partnership Questions
Question
Notes
Do staff members share and talk to parents about their child’s
daily activities, either at drop off or pick up?
Does the program incorporate technology as a communication
tool? If so, is information shared with parents on how to
access it and how the information is kept secured?
Are parents encouraged to visit at any time?
Are there ways for parents to be involved in the program?
How are parent ideas incorporated into the program?
Are there regular opportunities (at least twice per year) where
parents can meet with the staff and share their child’s
strengths and hear how their child is developing skills?
How often do staff share observations and ongoing
assessment information with parents?
How do staff work with parents to incorporate the family’s
culture and values into the classroom?
Staff Qualifications Questions
Question
Notes
Do staff have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field?
Do staff have experience working with school-age children?
Do staff seemed experienced and knowledgeable about
school-age issues?
Are the staff and director involved in ongoing training or
continuing education programs?
Child Care Policies and Procedures
Question
Notes
Does the program provide a written contract before you enroll
your child?
Does the program provide a copy of the parent handbook
prior to enrollment?
Does the program clearly outline the cost of care, field trip or
special program fees, and any other fees?
Does the program have a policy regarding drop-off and pick-up
times, including who can pick up your child? Are there fees for
late pick-up?
Does the program have a policy for times when it may close,
such as for certain holidays, inclement weather, or in case of
emergencies?
Does the program have a policy regarding when your child and
other children should stay home because of illness?
Does the program have a policy regarding termination of your
child care agreement?
Does the program have a written policy for when the provider
is allowed to give medications?
Does the program have a written supervision policy or plan
that ensures children are supervised at all times?
Does the program provide a written guidance and discipline
policy?