GPS VIK Club Earns 100% Accreditation and Excellence Award from AzCASE

GILBERT, Ariz. (October 22, 2025) – Gilbert Public Schools’ Very Important Kids (VIK) before and after-school programs have earned two distinct recognitions from the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (AzCASE). VIK earned full accreditation for all 25 of its programs, making GPS the only large district in Arizona with 100% accredited sites. Additionally, the GPS VIK Club received the Commitment to Quality Award of Excellence at AzCASE's annual conference on October 11, 2025.

"These achievements showcase how hard our staff have worked to improve our programming over the last two years. 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," said Kristin Stoltzmann, Program Supervisor, Gilbert Public Schools Community Education

Serving over 2,000 students across its programs, the VIK Club is designed to support working families by providing a safe, fun, and enriching extended learning environment for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Available at 25 GPS elementary campuses, the program operates before school, starting at 6:30 AM, and after school, ending at 6 PM. The programs offer a variety of engaging activities that complement the school day, including breakfast and an afternoon snack, dedicated quiet time for homework, S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities, and a focus on active games with a variety of free-choice options.

All 25 VIK program sites earned accreditation through the AzCASE Pathway to Accreditation, a process that requires continuous quality improvements, where every site must evaluate practices and develop action plans. The accreditations, as well as the Commitment to Quality Award of Excellence, are grounded in the VIK Club’s use of the Arizona Quality Standards Assessment Tool (AQSAT) and adherence to AzCASE’s Make It Count Pledge. The AQSAT and Make It Count Pledge demonstrate VIK's commitment to utilizing data and industry best practices to deliver excellent, high-quality out-of-school time programming for Arizona students.

The VIK Club focuses its curriculum on promoting important life skills, including communication, sharing, and leadership. To ensure students are fully supported, VIK staff members take part in ongoing professional development, which offers interactive training sessions and learning opportunities with external industry experts. Staff also maintain high-quality programs through quarterly goal-setting and an internal audit process where program specialists evaluate their peers' programs.

Gilbert Public Schools is dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education with both in-school and out-of-school programs. To learn more about the VIK Club, including program offerings and registration information at the 25 accredited campuses, visit GilbertSchools.net/About/Community-Education.