Gilbert Public Schools VIK Club earns accreditation, excellence award
VIK club kids take part in an activity.
Courtesy Gilbert Public Schools
The Very Important Kids Club, a before- and after-school program operated by Gilbert Public Schools, has received full accreditation for all 25 of its sites from the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence.
GPS is currently the only large school district in Arizona with 100% accredited out-of-school-time program locations.
In addition to the accreditation, the VIK Club was honored with the Out-of-School-Time Quality Award of Excellence at AzCASE’s annual conference on Oct. 11.
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The Very Important Kids Club, a before- and after-school program operated by Gilbert Public Schools, has received full accreditation for all 25 of its sites from the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence.
GPS is currently the only large school district in Arizona with 100% accredited out-of-school-time program locations.
In addition to the accreditation, the VIK Club was honored with the Out-of-School-Time Quality Award of Excellence at AzCASE’s annual conference on Oct. 11.
“These achievements showcase how hard our staff have worked to improve our programming over the last two years,” Kristin Stoltzmann, program supervisor for Gilbert Public Schools Community Education, said in a release. “These are huge accomplishments that validate the quality of our care, and they reflect our commitment to continuous improvement as we’re constantly setting new goals across our programs.”
Serving more than 2,000 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, the VIK Club supports working families by offering a safe and enriching environment before school, starting at 6:30 a.m., and after school, ending at 6 p.m.
Activities include breakfast and afternoon snacks, quiet time for homework, S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) projects, active games, and free-choice options.
Accreditation was achieved through the AzCASE Pathway to Accreditation, which requires ongoing evaluation and action planning at each site.
The recognition is based on the club’s use of the Arizona Quality Standards Assessment Tool and its commitment to AzCASE’s Make It Count Pledge, both of which emphasize data-driven practices and continuous improvement.
The program also focuses on life skills such as communication, sharing and leadership.
Staff members participate in regular professional development, including training sessions with external experts. Quality is maintained through quarterly goal-setting and internal audits conducted by program specialists.
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