This publication for principals about after-school programs provides practical assistance with guidelines for administration, resources for information, collaboration, and funding, along with evaluation checklists. Drawing increasing government attention, after-school programs are overwhelmingly popular with the public as a means to reduce juvenile crime, provide quality childcare, and improve academic achievement. Programs should avoid overburdening schools by collaborating with the entire community and including parents, social-service agencies, public facilities, and governments. Programs should be comprehensive, combining educational, enrichment, and cultural or recreational learning activities. Principals should lead staff in using schools as catalysts for after-school programs, drawing on community links, facilitating transportation, providing space, promoting professional development, and establishing standards. Quality school-based programs promote community involvement, offer high-quality programming for all students, ensure safety, are adequately funded, and are sensitive to children's development. Because some children prefer a more home-like experience, schools should cooperate and communicate with parents regarding quality community-based programs and offer supportive transportation polices. Appendix A provides a checklist of quality indicators (12 pages). Appendix B is a planning guide (5 pages). Appendix C lists 36 National School-Age Alliance standards for human relationships, indoor and outdoor environments, safety, health and nutrition, and administration. Appendix D contains tables of the California Department of Education Indicators and Measures of Desired Results. (Contains 46 references, 99 organizational contacts, and 27 Web sites.) (TEJ)