Cuts threaten The A+ after-school program could shut down early next school year even if monthly fees are increased to $70 from $55 because of proposed budget cuts to the state Department of Education, Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said.
state A+ program
The after-school program
may close early next year,
the schools chief saysBy Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.comHamamoto told Board of Education members last night that even if parents pay more, the program may end in March or April or whenever the money runs out. The nine-month program usually ends in May or June.
"We know it would be a short year for A+," Hamamoto said.
Facing a $3.4 million cut to the $10 million program, the department put two proposals yesterday before the board, which needs to approve changes to the fee schedule. The program would not be hurt if the funds are restored, she said.
One proposal would charge every student $70 a month, wiping out discounts for parents who send more than one child to the program. It would also do away with subsidies for parents whose children are on free and reduced lunch status.
Another proposal would also increase the fee to $70 but maintain discounts and subsidies for parents, but at a lesser amount. Hamamoto said even with the proposed fee increases, the department would run short by a range from $221,743 to $1.7 million, depending on the proposal adopted. When the funds run out, the program would end.
The department estimates that it would lose about 3,000 children of the approximately 26,000 students served statewide because their parents could no longer afford the program.
The A+ program was designed to provide after-school care for latchkey students, Hamamoto said, meaning single parents or households with both parents working would be hit especially hard.
"Many parents will be having difficulty with after-school care," she said.
Hamamoto also said the department would probably not make up the shortfall by taking money from core programs.
"If we do not get our budget, anything the department can find to fund (programs required) by court order, law and regulations is always first priority," she said.
Francine Grudzias, an educational administrative services director, said the program is not self-supporting.
The Board of Education's Student Services Committee plans to discuss the matter next Friday.
State Department of Education
State Board of Education