Panicking about cuts to DCPS aftercare at our elementary school

[Anonymous]

After weeks of rumors, I finally learned this week what's happening to DCPS-funded aftercare (that is, the only aftercare) at our Title I school, Bancroft. It seems that only students below a certain income cutoff will be eligible for the Out of School Time program. This means that 50 to 100 or more families will not be eligible. Many have probably been paying for the DCPS aftercare (I know we have, and the coordinator says he's been diligent about collecting payments) so it's not a matter of money. (Although maybe the cost will go up--but that's not really the issue.)

This news is a huge, devastating shock coming 4 weeks before school starts. (Yes, there have been rumors for months, but I had the sense that Title I schools would be protected. At the Ward 1 schools meeting last month with Henderson, she said DCPS was trying to find funding to keep the program going at individual schools; the last thing I had heard from the school was that we would still have a program, but it would end at 6 instead of 6:30, which would not be a big deal.)

The assistant principal met with a few parents this week and they discussed what could be done to set up separate, non-OOST aftercare classrooms. The school can find the staff (they were with the current school-wide program) but isn't sure how to up payroll, insurance, etc. So there was discussion of seeing if OSST could handle the payroll or of finding an existing aftercare program to handle it.

So what does the school do now? We have an active PTA but running an aftercare is not something we've given much thought to until now. Are there existing aftercare providers who we could quickly bring in to oversee a new program?

Also are other elementary schools being hit with this now too? (I know there was a recent thread about Deal, but people seemed to think it wasn't a huge deal--older kids, not that many of them.)

I'm also very concerned because we will now have a school that segregates the kids by income during aftercare (like Oyster, some Hill schools)--too bad that Bancroft will now have separate programs for rich and poor kids, too.

[Anonymous]

This has been mishandled by DCPS, they should have been more upfront to parents in June so parents could organize to find their own care.

I would reccomend looking to see if there are non-profits by the school that you can group together with other parents to get care. I know the Boys and Girls Clubs provide some options as does YMCA. One thing to think about is that many organizations could not afford to set up competing against free at DCPS and options will open up.

[Anonymous]

Try Springboard. They got up and running quickly at Inspired Teaching last year, close to the start of the school year. Not perfect, but fine.

[Anonymous]

Many schools have private providers and in fact multiple private providers in addition to the DCPS program. It can be done and is done all round town.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks much for the suggestions so far. I know many DPS schools have private aftercare providers; it's a matter of finding one that can put a program in place in less than 4 weeks. I think ideally we would also keep the current staff (and maybe the OOST program's structure). I assume many of these providers would bring in their own staff and structure.

Anyway I looked at the Springboard web site --looks like a possibility, so thanks to that poster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyway I looked at the Springboard web site --looks like a possibility, so thanks to that poster!

It's doubtful that Springboard will work out. My understanding is that they're deliberately limiting their growth in the DC area to maintain quality, and only accepted 2 new schools this year. (And I do mean "accepted." I hear that it was as much an interview of the schools by Springboard as it was an interview of Springboard by the schools.)

It also looks like DCPS only has 2 "official" outside providers--Springboard and Innis--though I'm not really sure what that means. Perhaps that's just who they'll allow to use DCPS facilities? Or maybe it's something else altogether? (It seems like DCPS could ease up on that restriction, given their late notice. But don't count on it.)

Either way, be sure to check that factor out also if you're planning for the new aftercare provider to be linked to your school in any way.


Good luck, OP. It can't be easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's doubtful that Springboard will work out. My understanding is that they're deliberately limiting their growth in the DC area to maintain quality, and only accepted 2 new schools this year. (And I do mean "accepted." I hear that it was as much an interview of the schools by Springboard as it was an interview of Springboard by the schools.)

It also looks like DCPS only has 2 "official" outside providers--Springboard and Innis--though I'm not really sure what that means. Perhaps that's just who they'll allow to use DCPS facilities? Or maybe it's something else altogether? (It seems like DCPS could ease up on that restriction, given their late notice. But don't count on it.)

Either way, be sure to check that factor out also if you're planning for the new aftercare provider to be linked to your school in any way.


Good luck, OP. It can't be easy.

I thought Springboard was only at Logan and Inspired Teaching last year. According to their website, Two Rivers, Ross, and Brent are among new clients. Looks like more than 2 to me.

[Anonymous]

You may want to reach out to Stoddert or Janney as their programs are heavily influenced by parents / PTA.

They may be able to help you figure out how to set things up.

[Anonymous]

I received a robocall from Watkins today at 10:04 a.m. Springboard will be their aftercare provider. Three parent information meetings will occur in August.

[Anonymous]

Nearby church? Sometimes they have the licensing and insurance as well as experience.

[Anonymous]

You would need to do a couple of things - find someone to run the program (ideally someone who has run other programs and knows how the system works) and who can hire employees, etc. You would need to form some sort of board to oversee the aftercare. You would need to get an approved building-use agreement with the elementary school and get liability insurance for both the staff and the board.

I would suggest starting small - the person running the program and the employees all need DC Social Services checks and DCMP background checks. Maybe try to be ready to serve 20-30 kids initially and then opening the program to more students as you can on-board new staff. It's not too hard when you know what you need to have done, but can be mystifying if this is your first experience.

[Anonymous]

PP here - the board overseeing the aftercare needs to be an official non-profit with DC. Here is a good link to what would need to be done:

http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/forming-nonprofit-corporation-district-columbia

[Anonymous]

OP again, thanks much previous poster. In our case I think the school is all ready to go with the existing aftercare staff-- many are teachers or aides or have worked for the aftercare for a long time. We have an aftercare coordinator who could possibly manage both the OOST and a new program. It's the structure for payroll, insurance, etc. that are missing. I will pass on all these suggestions. (Not sure we can start small when as many as 100 families need aftercare, but maybe we won't have a choice.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nearby church? Sometimes they have the licensing and insurance as well as experience.

Murch has an outside provider and uses the church across the street. If you really need to turn this around quickly I would highly recommend doing what you need to do rather than focusing on a way to keep the current staff.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing across the street from Bancroft but houses. Oyster has consolidated the favorite DCPS afterschool staff with the private program OCA. (which was not officially income based. It was limited by size 150 spots in a school of 650. But it's moot now.) The continuity of staffing is critical, especially Spanish speakers. Do what you can to keep them. Oyster now has a sliding scale for all based on income. Most people will be paying much more than subsidized DCPS rate. But it will be accessible to all with needs-based scholarships. If we can up the fundraising.

Some of our kids go to Centro Nía afterschool. Maybe they could help out Bancroft, if they aren't already. Good luck!

This whole thing is a mess. Someone messed up big time at DCPS. Heard the previous director of family engagement left before the end of the year.