Aftercare availablity

[Anonymous]

We're not in DC anymore, but this issue in PG is one of the (many) items that pushed us into private schools after trying public for a few years.

[Anonymous]

At Bancroft, I was just told that the aftercare is full for the preK, K, 1st and 2nd grades. It has always been crazy but this year seems to be even worse. I fill out and turn in the aftercare forms before I fill out the school enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I've gotta say as someone who will need aftercare, this seems absolutely insane. For 2-working-parent households not having aftercare is largely not an option. How can DC not provide it to everyone at least for a fee? I have never heard of that anywhere else.

It's not easy to find people who want to work roughly 3-6pm, less than 180 days a year, for what aftercare pays, and who can pass a background check. And who would actually show up.

And yet every other community I'm familiar with manages it. This seems to be a uniquely DC issue and a deeply backwards loop loop one at that. Daycares are open until 6 because obviously you need childcare until then if you work a 9-5, as most do. Shouldn't it be an axiomatic for public schools to do the same?

I don’t think this is true. My sister is in a different state and her child’s aftercare is constantly having staffing issues. Quite frankly I think they are just out of compliance in terms of ratio of adult to student otherwise they would have to kick some kids out of aftercare.

Pp is talking about DC schools. Most schools in DC are not having this issue right now.

No PP said this seems to be a ‘uniquely DC issue’. I replied with an anecdote to the contrary. You replied with no helpful information at all.

It seems uniquely a LAMB issue at this point.

They’re a complete disaster and seem to be totally out of ideas. The only chances they made are adding a bunch of half days. ADDING HALF DAYS.

Unprofessional, disorganized, and a total mess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were shut out of aftercare at our charter school, and I’m thinking it is very unlikely for us to get a spot. The only alternatives are hundreds of dollars more a month than our charter’s aftercare, and have other downsides.

Is your dcps or charter shutting out kids out of aftercare? I understand just from my own kids that well over a hundred kids in our small school are on the waitlist.

Just go pay for Casa Lala.

Sorry but I don’t like Casa Lala. And I’m definitely not alone. I am not sticking my kid in a van for a half hour while they get through traffic for a mediocre experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've gotta say as someone who will need aftercare, this seems absolutely insane. For 2-working-parent households not having aftercare is largely not an option. How can DC not provide it to everyone at least for a fee? I have never heard of that anywhere else.

It's not easy to find people who want to work roughly 3-6pm, less than 180 days a year, for what aftercare pays, and who can pass a background check. And who would actually show up.

And yet every other community I'm familiar with manages it. This seems to be a uniquely DC issue and a deeply backwards loop loop one at that. Daycares are open until 6 because obviously you need childcare until then if you work a 9-5, as most do. Shouldn't it be an axiomatic for public schools to do the same?

I don’t think this is true. My sister is in a different state and her child’s aftercare is constantly having staffing issues. Quite frankly I think they are just out of compliance in terms of ratio of adult to student otherwise they would have to kick some kids out of aftercare.

Pp is talking about DC schools. Most schools in DC are not having this issue right now.

No PP said this seems to be a ‘uniquely DC issue’. I replied with an anecdote to the contrary. You replied with no helpful information at all.

It seems uniquely a LAMB issue at this point.

They’re a complete disaster and seem to be totally out of ideas. The only chances they made are adding a bunch of half days. ADDING HALF DAYS.

Unprofessional, disorganized, and a total mess

Then why are you staying there? It seems like it's not working for you.

[Anonymous]

This is definitely a LAMB issue. The school hasn’t recovered since covid and continues to decline academically and otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go to Tubman, everyone can go to aftercare, no waitlists.

Putting it on my school dc list for next year.
Is it hard to get in out of bounds?

Not after PK. School quality is iffy (though improving!) in 2-5th grades. We have high hopes for improvement though. Great principal, lots of great teachers. And a lot of schools in that area of the city have improved a lot over the last 5-10 years (garrison, seaton, Marie reed)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely a LAMB issue. The school hasn’t recovered since covid and continues to decline academically and otherwise.

Different poster- I co-sign. We are likely leaving at the end of the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they all have a max. Is that your only question?

This is really about the tone set by your PTA/PTO. Ours would never accept a provider who had a max that couldn’t accommodate everyone who needed it. Schools with OSTP and without enough kids for a second provider, OK, I get it… Anyone else, your school or parent org is making a choice.

PTO at lamb doesn’t handle aftercare and doesn’t represent the parents in these types of situations. It would be great if they had some sort of meeting or fundraiser to give hiring bonuses to people who sign on to teach aftercare, but the PTO President traditionally has been focused on their own children, or in the case of the current one, badmouthing parents to the executive director. To be totally fair, it is a pretty thankless job. That said, it would be great if they did anything- providing lists of alternative after care groups that do pickup or asking the school for alternatives like part time aftercare (lessons etc), but as far as I can tell, they do nothing with this type of thing. Turf field is really nice though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they all have a max. Is that your only question?

This is really about the tone set by your PTA/PTO. Ours would never accept a provider who had a max that couldn’t accommodate everyone who needed it. Schools with OSTP and without enough kids for a second provider, OK, I get it… Anyone else, your school or parent org is making a choice.

PTO at lamb doesn’t handle aftercare and doesn’t represent the parents in these types of situations. It would be great if they had some sort of meeting or fundraiser to give hiring bonuses to people who sign on to teach aftercare, but the PTO President traditionally has been focused on their own children, or in the case of the current one, badmouthing parents to the executive director. To be totally fair, it is a pretty thankless job. That said, it would be great if they did anything- providing lists of alternative after care groups that do pickup or asking the school for alternatives like part time aftercare (lessons etc), but as far as I can tell, they do nothing with this type of thing. Turf field is really nice though.

So basically the PP was accurate: LAMB's aftercare situation is a result of a PTO that doesn't engage in these things or represent the interests of parents. Sounds crappy. Btw, I'm totally serious: If you're at a non-T1 school that doesn't have enough aftercare spots, as your PTO why. Make a stink. Our PTO would never let that slide. There are providers available who can guarantee coverage.

[Anonymous]

When does DCPS aftercare registration open up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When does DCPS aftercare registration open up?

https://dcps.dc.gov/afterschool

Last year it was June 6. I don't see anything posted for this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they all have a max. Is that your only question?

This is really about the tone set by your PTA/PTO. Ours would never accept a provider who had a max that couldn’t accommodate everyone who needed it. Schools with OSTP and without enough kids for a second provider, OK, I get it… Anyone else, your school or parent org is making a choice.

PTO at lamb doesn’t handle aftercare and doesn’t represent the parents in these types of situations. It would be great if they had some sort of meeting or fundraiser to give hiring bonuses to people who sign on to teach aftercare, but the PTO President traditionally has been focused on their own children, or in the case of the current one, badmouthing parents to the executive director. To be totally fair, it is a pretty thankless job. That said, it would be great if they did anything- providing lists of alternative after care groups that do pickup or asking the school for alternatives like part time aftercare (lessons etc), but as far as I can tell, they do nothing with this type of thing. Turf field is really nice though.

So basically the PP was accurate: LAMB's aftercare situation is a result of a PTO that doesn't engage in these things or represent the interests of parents. Sounds crappy. Btw, I'm totally serious: If you're at a non-T1 school that doesn't have enough aftercare spots, as your PTO why. Make a stink. Our PTO would never let that slide. There are providers available who can guarantee coverage.

This. The PTO should have engaged and advocated for aftercare providers or source a 3rd party provider at the school the 1st year it was an issue.

Sounds like a very weak and ineffective PTO board not representing the interests of families at the school. And this is the 3rd year families have put up with this crap? Wow