Request for Qualifications
School’s Out Washington’s (SOWA) mission is to provide services and guidance for organizations to ensure all young people have safe places to learn and grow when not in school. SOWA is dedicated to building community systems to support quality afterschool and youth development programs for Washington’s 5-24 year-olds through training, advocacy, and leadership.
SOWA is currently seeking professionals to serve as contracted Program Quality Assessment (PQA) External Assessors utilizing the Social Emotional Learning PQA. Each external assessor will be contracted as independent contractors for SOWA.
External assessors will gain valuable professional development opportunities and will be trained to conduct on-site observations using the Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA) tool in a variety of afterschool expanded learning opportunity programs in Washington State. As part of the onboarding process, new assessors will receive multiple trainings that focus on youth programming and on building relationships between young people and program providers.
The standard external assessment rate is $230.00 per assessment as well as mileage reimbursement. There is a probationary payment rate until one “shadow assessment” training and three assessments are completed at the rate of $165.00 per assessment. After assessors complete their third assessment, the standard external assessment rate of $230.00 applies. Most assessments will take place in King County and Pierce County from February through May with future work available in Fall of 2024 and beyond. During the Spring season in February 2024 – May 2024, assessors are expected to complete at least three assessments but can sign up for more if they wish. Assessments are available each Spring and Fall, and assessors are welcome to contract for multiple years.
External assessor requirements and expectations:
External assessors will need to complete a series of virtual training activities and pass a reliability test prior to being assigned to assessments. External assessors will receive a training stipend of $400 after successful completion of their training.
Attend project-specific external assessor trainings prior to being assigned to do assessments:
- SEL PQA Basics: January 16 and January 18. This virtual workshop prepares participants to conduct a program self-assessment and is the first step to becoming a reliable external assessor. (This requirement may be waived if the assessor has attended basics within the past 24 months.)
- SEL PQA External Assessor Reliability Training: January 25 and 26. This training will be held virtually for two full days of instruction and will prepare assessors for the observation of youth programs using the Program Quality Assessment Tool.
- Complete all required training and pass a reliability test to become an endorsed, reliable assessor. The reliability test from the SEL PQA External Assessor Reliability Training is due within a week of the training.
- Attend one external assessor onboarding webinar. New assessors are required to attend one 1.5-hour onboarding webinar scheduled through SOWA by February 2, 2024.
- Submit a criminal background check and obtain a UBI number from the State of Washington.
- Provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination.
- Complete one shadow assessment. New assessors are required to join an experienced assessor in the field for one full observation. This shadow assessment must be completed before any independent assessments take place. (Assessment opportunities vary M-F, usually between 2 PM and 7 PM).
- Travel to youth program locations to complete assessment observations. Most observations take place M-TH, between 2 PM and 7 PM. Occasional morning and weekend observations are also available.
- Complete SEL PQA-Form A (1-3 hours of in-person observation, 1.5-2.5 hours of scoring and entering data in the online Scores Reporter).
- Email SEL PQA back to SOWA via PDF and/or submit anecdotal evidence online as required into the online Scores Reporter.
Qualifications:
Preferred:
- Spoken and written fluency in multiple languages is desired
- Demonstrated familiarity with educational, enrichment, and/or afterschool programming for youth.
- Familiarity and/or previous training with youth program quality assessments
Required:
- Spoken and written English fluency.
- Access to reliable transportation.
Submission Procedure:
All interested persons should email a resume and cover letter detailing interest and qualifications to jobs@schoolsoutwashington.org with a priority deadline of December 29th, 2023. Applications received after this date may still be considered based on capacity or for the Spring season. Further information may be obtained by emailing the above address.