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CostHelper > Schools & Job Training  > Before and After School Programs

Before and After School Programs Cost


How Much Do Before and After School Programs Cost?

 
low costPublic Schools: $100-$500+ a monthaverage costFor-Profit Centers: $150-$600+ a monthhigh costPrivate Schools: $300-$800+ a month

Sometimes called Extended Day programs, before and after school care fills the gaps between standard school classroom hours and most parents' work schedules.

Typical costs:

  • Some public schools offer before and after school care for their students, with typical fees of $100-$500 or more a month ($1,000-$5,000 or more for the school year, September to May) depending on family income levels, location, the activities provided, the hours of operation, and whether the student participates in the program only before school, only after school or both.
  • These programs may be operated by the school district or contracted out to a non-profit group like a YMCA or boys and girls club. For example, Southern Saratoga YMCA Childcare[1] operates programs in Shenendehowa District cafeterias, charging $109-$174 a month for a morning program (7:30-9 am) five days a week, and $239-$328 monthly for after-school care (until 6pm).
  • At for-profit preschools, nurseries and child care centers, before and after school care can cost $150-$600 or more a month ($1,500-$6,000 a school year), depending on location, activities provided, staff-student ratio and hours of operation. For example, Sunshine Kids Club Camp[2] in Sykesville, MD costs $190 monthly for before care only, $231 for after care only and $360 for both; transportation is provided by local school buses, which pick up and drop off students in front of the club.
  • Many private schools offer extended day programs for their students, typically for $300-$800 or more a month ($3,000-$8,000 a school year), depending on hours of operation, activities provided (recreational or academic) and the school's reputation. For example, Swain School[3] in Allentown, PA provides up to four hours of before and after school supervision at $9.25 per hour per child, or about $740-$780 a month.
  • Home day care or a babysitter before and after school typically costs $2-$12 or more an hour, or $125-$775 a month for about three hours a day, depending on location, total number of children cared for, and whether snacks, homework assistance or planned activities are included. The lower rates typically apply to informal group situations -- if one parent agrees to watch several of their child's classmates after school for a nominal fee or if a home day care provider is caring for a younger sibling all day, and charges a lower rate for watching the child's older siblings after school. A babysitter may charge up to $15 an hour in some locations, but that's typically for infants and younger children who need more care.
Related articles: Child Care and Day Care, Baby Sitter, Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School

What should be included:
  • Some before and after school programs are simply supervised child care while others include homework/study time, sports, games, arts and crafts projects, music, movies and more.
  • Before school care can last 45 minutes to two-and-a-half hours and after school programs can be one to four hours, depending on the program's opening and closing times, and the school
Additional costs:
  • Many programs end at 6 or 6:30 pm; if a child is picked up after that time there may be an extra charge (typically a flat fee of $5-$25 or an hourly rate of $45-$60). Maria Montessori Charter School[4] in Rocklin, CA, charges $1 for every minute after 6pm.
  • There might be cancellation fee of $10-$25 or more if there is no advance notice that a child will not attend the program. Crown Sports Care[5] in Fruitland, MD has a $15 cancellation fee with 48 hours advanced written notice, and no refund for same-day cancellations.
Discounts:
  • Public school may provide free care before and after school for students from low-income or homeless families.
  • Sibling discounts for multiple children from the same family are typically 5%-25% or $5-$15 or more off the standard fee. For example, the Boys and Girls Club Huntington Valley[6] in California charges $68 weekly for after-school care for first- to eighth-graders and $63 for each sibling.
  • Before and after school care expenses may qualify for tax credits[7] up to 30% of the total cost.
Shopping for before and after school programs:
  • Before and after school programs are offered by schools, churches, boys and girls clubs, YMCAs, YWCAs, in-home day-care operators and others. The US Department of Health and Human Services lists types of program providers[8] .
  • After spending the day in the classroom, some children need a quiet, small-group setting while others want active recreation and socializing. Albuquerque Public Schools lists tips for choosing a program[9] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
After school care
Amount: $100.00 per month
Posted by: Kristin Weekley in COLUMBUS, OH.Posted: November 1st, 2019 11:11AM
School: Binns elementryType:
I need help picking my 2 oldest up from school and my youngest from another school down the street and watching them till I get home from work. They both get out at 330 so the little one will get picked up first then the two oldest. The schools are o lying about a half mile from each other. I get off work at 330 but I live o the west side of Columbus and work our east so it takes me about a half hour to 45 minutes to get home. So time spent watching them would be for maybe an hour each day.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Before and after School Care
Amount: $668.00 per month
Posted by: T Lawrence in San Jose, CA.Posted: September 20th, 2019 10:09AM
School: LedesmaType: Public Elementry
We live in the Bay area in California where everything is expensive. I am gratefull to have this so I can work. It is a great program!
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Transportation Services just to get to After School Program
Amount: $220.00 per month
Posted by: ChristyBB in Chicago, IL.Posted: April 8th, 2019 11:04AM
School: Great Lakes AcademyType: transportation services
It costs us $55/week to get the kids to their after school program since the school offers a very limited ASP program (a few days/week for just an hour). The afterschool program is affordable, though.
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Public School After School Program
Amount: $507.00 per month
Posted by: ba_parent in San Jose, CA.Posted: January 25th, 2018 03:01PM
School: K-8Type: Public
Our public school's after school program is $507 a month (or $5,070 a year). I thought it was a little pricey because it's for about 3 hours a day and sometimes I pick up my child early.
The one good thing is that if there's a teacher work day (a random day where there's no school because teachers are planning, training, etc.), then the after-school care is available all day (but the kids are just sitting around playing video games).
It costs so much that it'd be competitive to find a nearby program (like language lessons or supplemental programs) that picks up kids, but we didn't find one nearby we liked.
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Beffore and after school care
Amount: $0.00 per month
Posted by: a user in Oakdale, CT.Posted: November 24th, 2015 07:11AM
School: Charles Murphy ElementartyType: Elementary school
Live in Oakdale CT. No before or after school programs offered. No YMCA/community programs. No daycares within the area....whats a person to do?
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need help finding before and after care
Amount: $0.00 per month
Posted by: MAry Joy in Parkville, MD.Posted: August 13th, 2015 07:08AM
School: Pine Grove Middle MdType:
Recentley moved to Parkville area and I need Help in finding a sitter for before and after care
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External Resources:
  1.  www.cdymca.org/locations/southernsaratoga/youthdevelopment_ssy/childcare/schoolage...
  2.  www.sunshinekidsclubcamp.com/careprograms.htm
  3.  www.swain.org/admissions/tuition-information/kindergarten-8th-grade.html
  4.  mmcharter.org/before-and-after-school-care/
  5.  www.crownsportscenter.com/crown-care/before-after.cfm
  6.  www.bgchv.com/our-programs/before-after-school/
  7.  www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T054-C001-S001-faqs-on-the-child-care-tax-credit.html
  8.  www.foh.dhhs.gov/NYCU/schoolcare.asp
  9.  www.aps.edu/before-and-after-school-programs/how-to-pick-the-right-program-for-you...
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