New Extended Day registration process (APS) - no longer first come first served

[Anonymous]

I think the issue is that there aren't as many options for elementary age kids in Arlington instead of extended day. My impressions is that in fairfax, there are a lot of daycares/after school centers that exist if you don't get into sacc. In arlington, there's only maybe two other options, or getting an au pair/nanny/babysitter. The discrepancy is because up until a few years ago, extended day was guaranteed, so there wasn't a huge demand for daycare for elementary age kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that there aren't as many options for elementary age kids in Arlington instead of extended day. My impressions is that in fairfax, there are a lot of daycares/after school centers that exist if you don't get into sacc. In arlington, there's only maybe two other options, or getting an au pair/nanny/babysitter. The discrepancy is because up until a few years ago, extended day was guaranteed, so there wasn't a huge demand for daycare for elementary age kids.

This. If there continues to be a shortage of Exd Day space, I'm sure vendors will come in to provide that service but right now there are very few options. I went back to work FT mid-school-year and our school was full. My only option was the YMCA. It was fine for the half-year I needed it but the kids were happy to go to Ext Day at their school with their friends the next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thankful we are almost done with elementary and many (happy) years of APS extended day. Also thankful to have been at a school that isn’t oversubscribed. I actually do think it should be the responsibility of school districts to provide quality aftercare options for working parents. They can of course use other options but many people don’t have a lot of other options and extended day allows parents to work or study so they can better support kids in their education.

I think the lottery is more fair and less stressful than the mad rush and habitually breaking the internet but I think once you receive a spot at a school (either because program is routinely not full or via lottery) you should be allowed to enroll all siblings and also keep the spots until you opt out or child graduates. There will be attrition each year meaning new families will be able to apply for the new spots. Why make parents who had care lined up lose it a year later in a lottery and have to scramble? Each school can set dates to renew for the following year and then only the new families would have to lottery and the re registration would get spaced out.

The example they gave at kindergarten night was the lesson learned in Fairfax county. They used to re-enroll existing families every year and there were families who never made it off the wait list in 6 years. How is that fair that some people win a lottery that sets them up for K-5 and others are perpetually shut out because every year there are the waitlist kids from all grades plus a new K class.

+1 You think it's bad here? SACC in Fairfax is much worse. This way seems more fair.

We are in SACC in Fairfax County. They still re-enroll existing families first. Open spots are given to those on the waitlist, in number order. Siblings got priority on the waitlist. You get on the waitlist a year + in advance, using only a phone in option. This system worked fine for us - we found alternate care options before we got off the waitlist, and now don't have to worry about getting in each year.

NP here. Fairfax County SACC is horrible with regards to their "privileged" sign up process. I'll never forget when I found out I missed out on signing DS, who was only 3 1/2 at the time, up for SACC. Yep, I missed the window at 3 1/2. I signed him up as soon as I could, but it was too late. We were on the waitlist up until K (because everyone who signed up right when they were 3 made it for the K spots), at which point I put him in Catholic school, MOSTLY just for the guaranteed extended care. I finally got a call that he was off the wait list when he was in 4th grade and we had already moved out of FFX County!

[Anonymous]

Yes to 14:31. I don't know why they don't just assign each school a different day for enrollment. Start with neighborhood schools and then do lottery schools last, after people know which school they are attending. Then you've got a couple hundred people logging into the website each day vs. thousands on a single day. You could start with the programs with the smallest enrollment to work out kinks in the system.

I don't really like this month-long registration with lottery to get in. I do feel like having your sh*t together enough to keep track of registration dates and register early in the process should count for something. you shouldn't just be able to space on the whole thing and then be like, "oh hey, i should probably sign up my kid for this really important thing that I definitely need" on the last day and have the same shot at it as someone who signed up right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that there aren't as many options for elementary age kids in Arlington instead of extended day. My impressions is that in fairfax, there are a lot of daycares/after school centers that exist if you don't get into sacc. In arlington, there's only maybe two other options, or getting an au pair/nanny/babysitter. The discrepancy is because up until a few years ago, extended day was guaranteed, so there wasn't a huge demand for daycare for elementary age kids.

There are at least four different after care buses at my sons ES during pickup, that is off the top of my had, I am probably under counting. We signed up when my son was a rising Kindergartner and thought the process was ridiculous. It was first come first serve and I only knew when to sign up because a friend warned me. I think each school had a different day to prevent crashes. We got morning care but not after care. We did not take the morning care and ended up not needing the after care because we were able to adjust our work schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes to 14:31. I don't know why they don't just assign each school a different day for enrollment. Start with neighborhood schools and then do lottery schools last, after people know which school they are attending. Then you've got a couple hundred people logging into the website each day vs. thousands on a single day. You could start with the programs with the smallest enrollment to work out kinks in the system.

I don't really like this month-long registration with lottery to get in. I do feel like having your sh*t together enough to keep track of registration dates and register early in the process should count for something. you shouldn't just be able to space on the whole thing and then be like, "oh hey, i should probably sign up my kid for this really important thing that I definitely need" on the last day and have the same shot at it as someone who signed up right away.

I think you are missing the point that having your shit together and having access to a fast computer are two different things. Do you realize that not every family has a primary caregiver who speaks English? Maybe they need to go to the walk-in hours at the Board of Ed to get help registering their child and signing up for aftercare. Not every family has access to a computer at 7am or 12am or whatever time the sign-up is. Some families need to idea comouter at the library. Not everyone can take off work or stop working and sign up right at 9:01am - like your nanny, your house cleaner, your landscaper, your general contractor, your Uber driver. Their kids need care too. I will be potentially inconvenienced by the change, but I als have the privilege and means to make other arrangements if I need to. The new system is better for everyone.

Arlington parents like to think they are soooo liberal and fair until something threatens their privilege or asks them to check their entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes to 14:31. I don't know why they don't just assign each school a different day for enrollment. Start with neighborhood schools and then do lottery schools last, after people know which school they are attending. Then you've got a couple hundred people logging into the website each day vs. thousands on a single day. You could start with the programs with the smallest enrollment to work out kinks in the system.

I don't really like this month-long registration with lottery to get in. I do feel like having your sh*t together enough to keep track of registration dates and register early in the process should count for something. you shouldn't just be able to space on the whole thing and then be like, "oh hey, i should probably sign up my kid for this really important thing that I definitely need" on the last day and have the same shot at it as someone who signed up right away.

I think you are missing the point that having your shit together and having access to a fast computer are two different things. Do you realize that not every family has a primary caregiver who speaks English? Maybe they need to go to the walk-in hours at the Board of Ed to get help registering their child and signing up for aftercare. Not every family has access to a computer at 7am or 12am or whatever time the sign-up is. Some families need to idea comouter at the library. Not everyone can take off work or stop working and sign up right at 9:01am - like your nanny, your house cleaner, your landscaper, your general contractor, your Uber driver. Their kids need care too. I will be potentially inconvenienced by the change, but I als have the privilege and means to make other arrangements if I need to. The new system is better for everyone.

Arlington parents like to think they are soooo liberal and fair until something threatens their privilege or asks them to check their entitlement.

OK. So let's guarantee ED for parents who qualify for free and reduced lunch (the people who are least able to afford alternatives) and then have automatic re-registration for the rest of existing ED families, so at least they can plan from year to year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thankful we are almost done with elementary and many (happy) years of APS extended day. Also thankful to have been at a school that isn’t oversubscribed. I actually do think it should be the responsibility of school districts to provide quality aftercare options for working parents. They can of course use other options but many people don’t have a lot of other options and extended day allows parents to work or study so they can better support kids in their education.

I think the lottery is more fair and less stressful than the mad rush and habitually breaking the internet but I think once you receive a spot at a school (either because program is routinely not full or via lottery) you should be allowed to enroll all siblings and also keep the spots until you opt out or child graduates. There will be attrition each year meaning new families will be able to apply for the new spots. Why make parents who had care lined up lose it a year later in a lottery and have to scramble? Each school can set dates to renew for the following year and then only the new families would have to lottery and the re registration would get spaced out.

The example they gave at kindergarten night was the lesson learned in Fairfax county. They used to re-enroll existing families every year and there were families who never made it off the wait list in 6 years. How is that fair that some people win a lottery that sets them up for K-5 and others are perpetually shut out because every year there are the waitlist kids from all grades plus a new K class.

This. But also, the dreamers here envision a system where people leaving the system report so ahead of time. Or maybe they think databases can sync properly so APS just knows little Johnny will be moving to another school next fall. Whatever, both are unrealistic. Making people enroll every year is the best way to gauge demand. Making it a six-week window is the fairest, most open method compared to the mad race at 7:01 am on one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP for pointing out that the waitlist schools are listed in the announcement: “In recent years, the following schools have reached capacity, resulting in waitlists: Abingdon, Arlington Science Focus, Ashlawn, Claremont, Glebe, Henry, Key, McKinley and Tuckahoe.”

That’s a lot!

I can sympathize with parents at those schools. Then again, this is yet another example of too much attention and reward going to North Arlington. With all due respect, if you are new to registering kids in those schools, maybe you should have not moved there. I'm getting less willing to keep trying tho throw money and effort at resolving North Arlington issues like this that can not be solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP for pointing out that the waitlist schools are listed in the announcement: “In recent years, the following schools have reached capacity, resulting in waitlists: Abingdon, Arlington Science Focus, Ashlawn, Claremont, Glebe, Henry, Key, McKinley and Tuckahoe.”

That’s a lot!

I can sympathize with parents at those schools. Then again, this is yet another example of too much attention and reward going to North Arlington. With all due respect, if you are new to registering kids in those schools, maybe you should have not moved there. I'm getting less willing to keep trying tho throw money and effort at resolving North Arlington issues like this that can not be solved.

North Arlington schools like Abingdon, Claremont and Henry? It's a crowding problem and it can be solved by building more schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP for pointing out that the waitlist schools are listed in the announcement: “In recent years, the following schools have reached capacity, resulting in waitlists: Abingdon, Arlington Science Focus, Ashlawn, Claremont, Glebe, Henry, Key, McKinley and Tuckahoe.”

That’s a lot!

I can sympathize with parents at those schools. Then again, this is yet another example of too much attention and reward going to North Arlington. With all due respect, if you are new to registering kids in those schools, maybe you should have not moved there. I'm getting less willing to keep trying tho throw money and effort at resolving North Arlington issues like this that can not be solved.

Uh, ok. I moved to N Arlington in 2002. Do I deserve aftercare now? I don't live in a SFH either because I can't afford to. Do I get aftercare now?

Remind me again which working parents deserve aftercare?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, y'all. It was just a matter of time before we became like Fairfax County's SACC program. There is no guarantee anymore to extended day. Period.

You are not entitled to Extended day as much as you think you are.

Looks like nannies, part time college student helpers, craigslist, etc, will be a part of your vernacular.

[Anonymous]

People should call the extended day office to voice their complaints. [phone]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thankful we are almost done with elementary and many (happy) years of APS extended day. Also thankful to have been at a school that isn’t oversubscribed. I actually do think it should be the responsibility of school districts to provide quality aftercare options for working parents. They can of course use other options but many people don’t have a lot of other options and extended day allows parents to work or study so they can better support kids in their education.

I think the lottery is more fair and less stressful than the mad rush and habitually breaking the internet but I think once you receive a spot at a school (either because program is routinely not full or via lottery) you should be allowed to enroll all siblings and also keep the spots until you opt out or child graduates. There will be attrition each year meaning new families will be able to apply for the new spots. Why make parents who had care lined up lose it a year later in a lottery and have to scramble? Each school can set dates to renew for the following year and then only the new families would have to lottery and the re registration would get spaced out.

The example they gave at kindergarten night was the lesson learned in Fairfax county. They used to re-enroll existing families every year and there were families who never made it off the wait list in 6 years. How is that fair that some people win a lottery that sets them up for K-5 and others are perpetually shut out because every year there are the waitlist kids from all grades plus a new K class.

+1 You think it's bad here? SACC in Fairfax is much worse. This way seems more fair.

We are in SACC in Fairfax County. They still re-enroll existing families first. Open spots are given to those on the waitlist, in number order. Siblings got priority on the waitlist. You get on the waitlist a year + in advance, using only a phone in option. This system worked fine for us - we found alternate care options before we got off the waitlist, and now don't have to worry about getting in each year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thankful we are almost done with elementary and many (happy) years of APS extended day. Also thankful to have been at a school that isn’t oversubscribed. I actually do think it should be the responsibility of school districts to provide quality aftercare options for working parents. They can of course use other options but many people don’t have a lot of other options and extended day allows parents to work or study so they can better support kids in their education.

I think the lottery is more fair and less stressful than the mad rush and habitually breaking the internet but I think once you receive a spot at a school (either because program is routinely not full or via lottery) you should be allowed to enroll all siblings and also keep the spots until you opt out or child graduates. There will be attrition each year meaning new families will be able to apply for the new spots. Why make parents who had care lined up lose it a year later in a lottery and have to scramble? Each school can set dates to renew for the following year and then only the new families would have to lottery and the re registration would get spaced out.

The example they gave at kindergarten night was the lesson learned in Fairfax county. They used to re-enroll existing families every year and there were families who never made it off the wait list in 6 years. How is that fair that some people win a lottery that sets them up for K-5 and others are perpetually shut out because every year there are the waitlist kids from all grades plus a new K class.

+1 You think it's bad here? SACC in Fairfax is much worse. This way seems more fair.

We are in SACC in Fairfax County. They still re-enroll existing families first. Open spots are given to those on the waitlist, in number order. Siblings got priority on the waitlist. You get on the waitlist a year + in advance, using only a phone in option. This system worked fine for us - we found alternate care options before we got off the waitlist, and now don't have to worry about getting in each year.

NP here. Fairfax County SACC is horrible with regards to their "privileged" sign up process. I'll never forget when I found out I missed out on signing DS, who was only 3 1/2 at the time, up for SACC. Yep, I missed the window at 3 1/2. I signed him up as soon as I could, but it was too late. We were on the waitlist up until K (because everyone who signed up right when they were 3 made it for the K spots), at which point I put him in Catholic school, MOSTLY just for the guaranteed extended care. I finally got a call that he was off the wait list when he was in 4th grade and we had already moved out of FFX County!

How do people sign their children up for SACC at age 3? You register the summer before Kindergarten, which means you are 4 years old.