Wendy B. Surr, M.A.

Research Associate

Wendy Surr has nearly 30 years experience in the fields of early childhood and after school care, with a diverse background both in creating and shaping after school policy and action for communities and in evaluating the quality and effectiveness of after school programs and staff development initiatives.

For the past 15 years, Surr has directed numerous research and evaluation projects. Over the past 10 years, she co-created the Afterschool Program Assessment System (APAS), an outcome-based evaluation system for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MADESE) 21stCCLC grantees, including the development and testing of the SAYO-youth outcome and APT program quality assessment tools currently in use by programs in numerous states and the Province of Alberta, Canada. She recently acted as the Principal Investigator for a MA DESE funded project entitled, Youth Researchers in Action, a pilot initiative in six Massachusetts school districts designed to train and engage teens in quality assessment of their own after-school program.

Other current research and evaluation projects include Co-Principal Investigator for the APT Validation Study: Identifying and Minimizing Measurement Error, a W.T. Grant Foundation funded research study testing the APT tool; Principal Investigator for the Data Driven Program Improvement Project for teen programs in Philadelphia, PA; and lead developer of ToolFind.org, an on-line directory of outcome tools disseminated by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Surr holds a B.A. in Psychology from Bard College and an M.A. in Early Childhood Development from Tufts University.

Phone: 781-283-2443
Fax: 781-283-3657
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  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been an anchor for numerous school age care projects we do, including ASQ (After-School Quality) and Links to Learning. They are a nationally respected organization that Pennsylvania has partnered with for over 20 years."



    – Betsy O. Saatman, TA Specialist/SAC Initiatives, Pennsylvania Key
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST was a core partner in supporting the development of quality improvement systems across the nine cities that participated in The Wallace Foundation Next Generation Afterschool System-Building Initiative. The NIOST team worked well with other technical assistance partners in the initiative, always willing to pitch in and collaborate with others to make our professional learning community meetings a team effort. I truly hope the Foundation has an opportunity to partner with them in the future."


    – Priscilla M. Little, Initiative Manager, The Wallace Foundation

  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been a leader in the out-of-school time field for as long as I can remember, and I have relied on their research, tools, and advice to improve my practice throughout my career. Their staff members are good partners and good listeners, and their influence across the country is palpable."


    – Jane Quinn, Vice President and Director of National Center for Community Schools, Children's Aid Society
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "Georgia Hall, Ellen Gannett, and the NIOST team have been instrumental in driving the healthy afterschool movement. Their dedication to quality practice, informed policy, and collective impact is instrumental in our effort to create healthier communities."



    – Daniel W. Hatcher, Director, Community Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation

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The National Institute on Out-of-School Time

A program of the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College

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