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One of the many things we hear from San Diego families is how difficult it is to find after-school care. These types of programs fill rapidly, leaving long waitlists that put some families in a difficult position.
Take Jared Goossens for example. The single dad could not work a full-time job because he was on a waitlist for after-school care. This directly impacted his ability to provide for his child. But once he got his son enrolled in a program, his life changed.
“It’s a 300% difference in the amount of stress I was feeling,” Goossens previously told Voice of San Diego.
Don’t worry: There are several options parents can take advantage of, but you need to start your search early. It’s also good to know what to expect when you begin this journey.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top five things you need to know about securing after-school care.
Start Your Search Early
There’s no such thing as too early when it comes to searching for before and after-school care. You should start your search for before- and after-school care well before enrolling your child in school. That’s because you want to make sure your school offers the care your family needs.
Keep in mind: Some programs require that you enroll your child first in school, before applying for their after-school care. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from researching which programs are available at your neighborhood school or a different school in the county.
Most programs have wait lists, so you’ll want to ask how long families linger on waiting lists on average. After-school programs under the California Department of Education give enrollment priority to low-income families, English language learners and homeless or foster youth. Students who don’t meet priority enrollment are accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Deadlines: You’ll want to know when your school starts accepting applications for before- and after-school care and if they have a cutoff date. Pro tip: Ask if your child’s school offers a pre-enrollment window and make sure to take advantage of it if they do. That will give you a better chance of skipping potentially long waitlists.
Your Options
The data section of this guide will tell you if a school offers free after-school programs, but if it’s not on the list, that doesn’t mean your school doesn’t offer some sort of program.
If in doubt, call your school. You can also reach out to the YMCA of San Diego County. The organization serves as a child care referral agency and they can help you determine what kind of care your school offers and at what cost.
Keep in mind: Some schools have free after-school care and also a parent-pay program.
Financial Help
If you can’t get your child into free care, you may be eligible for a child care subsidy.
The largest program in the county that offers financial help is called Alternative Payment. There’s no deadline to apply for this program but there are income eligibility requirements.
If granted assistance, parents can use the subsidy for child care programs until their child turns 13.
To learn more about the enrollment process or to get assistance visit childcaresandiego.com.
After-School Care Rules
OK, so you enrolled your child into an after-school care program, now what?
You’ll want to make sure you know if the program has attendance requirements. Some programs have attendance requirements, because just like public schools, their funding is closely tied to the number of kids they care for. That means if you’re taking your child out of after-school care early from time to time, you may lose your spot.
Other questions to ask: What days are they open? Do they close during school breaks? What about holidays? And what happens if your child’s school has a minimum day?
Common Mistakes
Sometimes parents are in such need of a program, they forget to stop and ask: Is this program even a good fit for my child? Don’t make that mistake.
Think critically about what you’re looking for in an after-school program: How many kids are in one group? Are kids separated by age groups or grades? What sort of schedule does the program follow? Is it free flowing or rigid? Do they allow time for naps? What about snacks?
Your After-School Options Checklist
Here are additional questions you can ask to determine if a program is right for your family.
- Does the school have after-school care? If so, what is the cost? Are there scholarships?
- What organization operates the program?
- Is there a waiting list? What’s the process to apply?
- What are the operating hours?
- What’s the staff-to-student ratio?
- Are staff trained to work with children?
- What activities are offered to children?
- Is there someone who will help kids with homework?
- What happens if I’m delayed at work?
- What happens if I pick up my child early?
- Will food and snacks be provided? If so, what kind?
- How do staff handle conflicts?
- Is care available during holidays and other breaks?
- Is the program located on or off campus – if it’s the latter, is there transportation available?