How can you get your child's ES to change before and aftercare providers?

[Anonymous]

I *hate* the aftercare program at my kids' school. We were lucky enough to have a relative (college age) who is available to stay with our kids at home after school this year, but next year, our kids will have to go back to the aftercare program at school. It is like Lord of the Flies. While they were there (for two years), DH and I alternated pickups, so we saw the place at different times, and it was always chaotic and unorganized, with hardly any supervision. The workers were often on their phones or yelling/screaming at kids. Kids mostly just ran around the gym or the blacktop. They had tables set up for homework and coloring, and that's pretty much it. We stayed because we had no other alternative, until my cousin's daughter became available to help out this year. I looked up the program's violations online, and they have been cited numerous times for improper supervision and not having a low enough adult/child ratio.

I read here on DCUM about aftercare programs that people love and wish we could bring one of those higher quality programs to our school. I've looked at the rates, and our school's program is only $100/month cheaper than Bar-T, so I don't understand the difference in quality. I have met many other parents who hate the program but continue because they have no other options, and other parents who pulled their kids because it is so bad. Our school is a Focus school, and I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

I plan on bringing it up with the PTA, but I'd love to get some perspective from other parents. Does anyone have information about how aftercare programs are chosen? For example, does one company "own" a certain cluster or area of the county? Has anyone successfully gotten their child's school to change providers?

[Anonymous]

The contract comes up every so many years and then they usually invite parent input to renew or choose another provider. You could probably ask your school when that is.

[Anonymous]

So, I kind of wonder if you are at our school, because the aftercare sounds similar. Which is a shame because the school is great and the aftercare provider has actually made some real efforts to improve in the past year or so.

At least in the case of our school, it appears the aftercare situation is largely financial. The school administration is VERY sensitive to the face that the majority of families who really need aftercare are also families for whom a $100 difference in cost is enormous.

So, yes, talk to your PTA reps and maybe the aftercare has improved recently. Otherwise, I'd look at programs that are bussable from your school. There are 3 or 4 options at our elementary school that kids can ride the bus to, and which are slightly more expensive but also higher quality.

[Anonymous]

Contracts are renewed every 3-5 years. I can't remember exactly. Ask the admin or a PTA rep.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP.

Also ask the schoolwhether it can be renewed earlier - tell them your reasons, and talk to other parents. Perhaps this is grounds for making an immediate change?

[Anonymous]

OP, are you at East Silver Spring? I have heard that their aftercare is awful. We are also at a Focus school, but we have KAH. KAH is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you at East Silver Spring? I have heard that their aftercare is awful. We are also at a Focus school, but we have KAH. KAH is awesome.

OP here--nope, but I just looked and it's the same provider!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check with a PTA rep about when the contract was last renewed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you at East Silver Spring? I have heard that their aftercare is awful. We are also at a Focus school, but we have KAH. KAH is awesome.

OP here--nope, but I just looked and it's the same provider!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check with a PTA rep about when the contract was last renewed.

I'm the PP who wondered if OP was at my school, and we're at East Silver Spring. There's a parent committee working to make the aftercare provider better, and I get the impression there have been improvements this year in particular. The PTA also runs a robust offering of after school clubs from about 4 to 5, so that can cut down on the number of days a kid has to go to the aftercare. It's still not ideal, but I do realize it is partially a decision to offer childcare at an affordable rate for families who need it.

[Anonymous]

I was on a committee at an elementary in one of the W clusters when my kids were in ES - when the aftercare contract was up for renewal, we went and met with providers and observed their programs at other schools, before helping to select a new provider.

[Anonymous]

We've had experience with two providers. KidsCo is awesome. Kids Adventures is definitely not.

[Anonymous]

I was a member of the review committee when it was last done at our former ES. It's probably about time it's up for renewal again. We were told every 5 years.

OP, your principal should know when it's up for renewal.

As I recall, our renewal process started approximately January / February and the finalist meetings were held in March/April.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I just wanted to address the aspect that the provider was chosen with the families' economic situation in mind. I can completely understand that, and $100 is not chump change to me either. Bar-T is just what I know a lot of the very high SES schools have, so to me it seems like the gold standard so to speak. I would have expected a much bigger price difference. Kidsco looks like it's only $40 a month more than ours. It all makes sense that the lower cost provider would be chosen for a school with more families in need, but it's also disappointing for there to be such a discrepancy in quality. Here ya go, poorer kids. Bottom of the barrel.

I did hear that there were steps being taken to "improve" the quality last year and the year before, which is why I've been surprised that it still seemed so chaotic. What was it like BEFORE we put our kids there??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I just wanted to address the aspect that the provider was chosen with the families' economic situation in mind. I can completely understand that, and $100 is not chump change to me either. Bar-T is just what I know a lot of the very high SES schools have, so to me it seems like the gold standard so to speak. I would have expected a much bigger price difference. Kidsco looks like it's only $40 a month more than ours. It all makes sense that the lower cost provider would be chosen for a school with more families in need, but it's also disappointing for there to be such a discrepancy in quality. Here ya go, poorer kids. Bottom of the barrel.

I did hear that there were steps being taken to "improve" the quality last year and the year before, which is why I've been surprised that it still seemed so chaotic. What was it like BEFORE we put our kids there??

Bar-T used to have a fairly standard rate at most schools and but also a lower rate at other schools based on it being Focus/Title 1. Rosemont ES in Gaithersburg comes to mind. (Friends of mine were there when Bar-T was the provider. And they were THRILLED with the lower rate!)

[Anonymous]

you need KAH or Bar-T. KAH is at our school - and is beyond awesome - so I am partial, but I think they are comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you at East Silver Spring? I have heard that their aftercare is awful. We are also at a Focus school, but we have KAH. KAH is awesome.

+1

We are also at a focus school with KAH and we love it.