YPQA and SEL PQA (Program Quality Assessment) Tools

Quality Matters! If you know that the quality of your program is important, the YPQA or SEL PQA are frameworks that can help your team be intentional in planning and reflecting on your program!

Quality practices are what you see happening in a program at the point-of-service. These are the actions staff take that create the environment and opportunities for participants. The Y and SEL PQA are tools that can be used for planning programs and allows you to measure what can be observed during a youth program. It includes things like creating a physically and emotionally safe environment, scaffolding learning, and opportunities for responsibility, leadership, and youth voice.

SEL PQA 101

The SEL Youth Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA) is a revised version of the YPQA designed by the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. This tool provides a framework of staff practices that include specific activities that support social and emotional learning. This video provides a brief history of the PQA tools, some of the changes from the previous tools, an overview of the 4 domains, and how you might consider it as a tool for program quality improvement with your staff team.

Download the Reflection Sheet Here

YPQA 101

The Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) is a validated instrument designed by the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. This video provides a brief overview of what the tool is all about, how the form is laid out, and how you might consider it as a tool for program quality improvement with your staff team.

Download the Reflection Sheet Here

If you are interested in learning more, check out Collecting Quality Data for supports in identifying which scales you want to explore and more.