DCPS afterschool/aftercare program registration and payment

[Anonymous]

If you haven't registered at the Logan Annex yet for aftercare, beware! It's a nightmare, and it's too bad we cannot register at our own school anymore. I don't understand why this is so challenging for DCPS? Has anyone heard if they are going to allow online payments for aftercare services? The website seems to indicate as such, but in person they are still saying money order, cashiers check, etc. Seems a little ridiculous, and talk about no paper trail. Sorry, just a little rant. Trying to be understanding, but it's challenging.

[Anonymous]

I think the challenge is that, unless a school sees it in its interest to play ball, decentralization of an otherwise centralized service isn't working. Registration and tuition aren't reliably happening. And coordinators are overwhelmed to essentially serve as registrars for afterschool care (or have little time and competence to do so). Unless they roll that into the school application process, which I'm sure front desk staff wouldn't be thrilled to add, the only other alternative is to register and process centrally.

More generally, the afterschool realm gets shuffled around, not to mention that there are competing visions as to what it should do (fun and play, more academics/extended school day, sports). At this point, there are also very different projects and pilot projects out there, often completely at odds with providing this service centrally. But centrally it probably must be because I imagine federal (Title I) dollars are tied to managing it all. I'm really hoping that this will be DCPS' next frontier to get it all fixed, allow for flexibility and innovation while looking for economies of scale.

[Anonymous]

Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

You are right that it is inexpensive, but "quite good?" If you consider sittings kids down in front of the tv quite good, then maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

You are right that it is inexpensive, but "quite good?" If you consider sittings kids down in front of the tv quite good, then maybe.

That's not what's happening at our school, sorry. Do complain and once you have a good afterschool care coordinator, support him/her so they stay invested and know parents have their back. What we did and it worked, really improved the programing of it very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you haven't registered at the Logan Annex yet for aftercare, beware! It's a nightmare, and it's too bad we cannot register at our own school anymore. I don't understand why this is so challenging for DCPS? Has anyone heard if they are going to allow online payments for aftercare services? The website seems to indicate as such, but in person they are still saying money order, cashiers check, etc. Seems a little ridiculous, and talk about no paper trail. Sorry, just a little rant. Trying to be understanding, but it's challenging.

What about the JCC aftercare program? I hear it's quite good.

[Anonymous]

They ARE taking on-line payments via credit card this year.

[Anonymous]

Stokes has an aftercare program but that's all I can say about it. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Am trying to pay my son's Jonathan Salters, it's not letting me pay on line sob am gonna mail it,,,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

You are right that it is inexpensive, but "quite good?" If you consider sittings kids down in front of the tv quite good, then maybe.

Not happening at our Title I school either. I think it depends on the school. We were at another school and the aftercare was not good at all. Didn't have a lot of screen time, only on occasion, but it was chaotic and not organized. New school this year, and I couldn't be happier. There are a bunch of enrichment activities and homework help. There are clear policies for pick up and signing out. Very well organized. It really depends on the school.

[Anonymous]

[guardian]

[Anonymous]

Folks--the afterschool programming run DIRECTLY by DCPS can be paid online with a credit card. Not sure what OP is talking about. Please see link below for more information. If you have additional questions call the DCPS Out of School Time team at 202-442-5002:

https://dcps.dc.gov/afterschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

Really? We were in dcps after care last year and I paid online every month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Aftercare is managed by PTA in my kid's school not DCPS. They only use DCPS facilities.Is it different at your school?
Registering was easy and our credit card is charged monthly.

DCPS offers its own (subsidized/free) afterschool care program at Title I schools. That's what OP is referring to. It's quite good in many schools and a really good deal, even if you pay full fare. But the registration and payment administration are not solved to say the least.

Really? We were in dcps after care last year and I paid online every month.

This is a 5 year old thread. Things have changed.