The purpose of this study was to determine the administrative structure, staff qualifications, and staffing patterns of selected school-age child care projects administered by public school districts; and to develop guidelines for planning future projects. Nine research questions were considered to be relevant to the study: (1) What types of administrative structure were demonstrated by after-school child care projects? (2) Did the projects surveyed require similar staff qualifications for initial employment? (3) Did the projects surveyed utilize similar staffing patterns? (4) Did the literature indicate prescribed staff qualifications? (5) Did the literature state prescribed staff qualifications in behavioral terms? (6) What was the adult/child ratio of projects surveyed? (7) Did the projects surveyed utilize a staff development program? (8) Which of the states included in the study required prescribed standards for after-school projects administered by public school districts? (9) Were there similarities among states of prescribed standards for after-school projects administered by public school districts? By contacting the child care licensing agents of the Departments of Human Services, and/or the Departments of Education of the states of Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, after-school child care projects administered by public school districts were identified. The directors of these projects were mailed a validated survey instrument along with a cover letter requesting their participation in the study. In addition, on-site visitations to three communities having after-school child care projects administered by public school districts were conducted. A total of 19 directors representing 45 projects responded to the survey instrument of which 42 projects were found to meet the research limitations imposed on the study. Project directors from five of the seven selected states participated in the study. Data from the survey instrument responses were analyzed. Guidelines for school-age child care projects administered by public school districts were developed from the survey of related literature, analysis of survey responses, and on-site visitations. Recommendations based on the findings were given
