Reply to Help me understand outsourcing aftercare?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ok- we are starting PS3 at Tyler in the fall of 2016.  Tyler is Title I, so we should have free aftercare.

But- turns out that the PTA at Tyler decided to use an outside supplier for the PS aftercare. That is all well and good if it was an option: where parents could pay for aftercare or use DCPS. However, DCPS does not even offer aftercare for the PS kids anymore at Tyler.

[b]So help me understand this. Why, as a group of parents would you run out free aftercare?[/b][/quote]

We are undergoing this process at our Ward 1 elementary school.  The administration has two choices: stay with DCPS or go with a private contractor and parents received a survey.  Right now, afterschool care is run by DCPS and is free to everyone on a first-come, first-serve basis regardless of income.

While I love free aftercare, there are several reason I hope the school switches:

1. Right now, DCPS-run afterschool is only permitted to hire DCPS staff.  The district gave the school funding for 220 slots, but currently they've only hired enough staff for 195 students because it is tough to convince teachers and staff already working a full day to stay another 3 hours.  A private contractor could hire staff from school and from outside the school.

2. A private contractor would be able to offer beforecare in addition to afterschool care, which is essential to our family.

3. A private contractor could offer fee-based "extras" (organized sports, music lessons, etc.) which could attract some students would may only need aftercare on a part-time basis.

4. Next year, DCPS plans to start charging $80/month for aftercare programs that it runs at our school (no beforecare).  Right now, it's free to all families.  The contractor would charge ~$60/week, but the school has said there would be reduced rates for qualifying low-income families, and possibly grants. (There would be no reduced rate or grants for DCPS-run aftercare).

5. A private contractor would be able to offer drop-in or daily rates, which are not available now.

Quality aside, I think there are a lot of logistical and technical reasons why I think (for our school at least), it makes more sense to shift to an outside contractor and I think the administration has done a great job of being proactive about researching options.[/quote]

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