FAQ: Elementary School Programs

FAQs

• 1 Does my child need to attend After-School every day?

  No! Our program is extremely flexible. Parents can customize their after-school schedule, from one day to five days per week, one class to two classes per day, in any configuration.

• 2 How much does it cost?

  Elementary School (grades K-5) After-School includes one Class and one Choice Time activity per day. Middle School (grades 6-8) is funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development, for middle school information, please see the link associated with your child's middle school. Tuition is based on your child's total number of classes per week and charged monthly.

  Monthly payments are due by the 7th of each month. Our first semester runs through January 31st. We will automatically roll your registration over to the second semester beginning February 1st, unless you request a change. Any additional fees are charged once per semester.

  For tuition pricing, please click here.

• 3 How does my child get to the After-School program? Do I have to pick him/her up at school dismissal to bring him/her there?

  Children enrolled in the After-School program are dismissed directly to Manhattan Youth staff by their classroom teachers at the end of the school day. There is no need to pick up your child before After-School. Please remember to let your child's classroom teacher know which days he or she will be attending the Manhattan Youth After-School Program.

• 4 What happens each day in the After-School program?

  After-School care begins when the regular school day ends. Manhattan Youth staff members accept the children directly from their classroom teachers and bring them to their meeting places. Every child receives snack - usually consisting of apples, bananas, and pretzel rods. We separate the children into groups and our club teachers pick them up to escort them to an activity room, along with one of our counselors. After arrival and snack, the children participate in one of our "clubs", which are the activities that you select on the registration form. These classes typically last for an hour and fifteen minutes, after which the club teachers and counselors escort the children back to their meeting places to go to "Clubhouse" or their second class of the day. 

• 5 Where does the After-School program take place?

  After-School activities usually take place onsite at the same school that the child attends during the day.

  Some exceptions to this may be if the child attends one of our Community Center activities, including swimming, ceramics, and others. The Downtown Community Center is located at 120 Warren Street between Greenwich and West Streets, adjacent to P.S. 234, across the street from P.S. 89, and two blocks from P.S. 150. Children attending community center activities are escorted there from their schools by Manhattan Youth staff. If your child attends a community center activity, you must pick him or her up at the Downtown Community Center on that day.

• 6 When does the After-School program take place?

  The first day of 2024-2025 After School begins Monday, September 9th, 2024.

  The Manhattan Youth After-School Program is open from school dismissal until 5:50pm almost every day that school is in session. 

• 7 What time should I pick up my child?

  The After-School program ends at 5:50pm every day. Most club activities run until 4:40. The best time to pick up is between 5:00pm and 5:50pm so as not to interrupt club activities, however you are welcome to pick up your child at any time. Families who do not pick up their children by 5:50pm will receive late charges of $1 per minute.

• 8 Is there After-School on half days?

  If school is open, Elementary After-School is open, including half days.

  On half days, our staff is present at elementary school dismissal (usually around noon) to run special activities with the children until 3:30pm, when normal After-School programming resumes. We recommend that parents who do not need the childcare on those days pick up their children at noon. These are long days, and our program does not have access to most of the school facilities, particularly during parent/teacher conferences. Students who are not enrolled in the program for a day on which a half day occurs may sign up for half-day emergency care for an additional fee. Emergency care is only available to families currently enrolled in After-School.

  *Please note: If there is a half-day for just Kindergarten or Pre-K, we do not have access to the school building before regular dismissal time and will not be able to offer early pick up. Students may return to the building at the regular program start time to participate with the older students.

• 9 Is there After-School during school holidays?

  The After-School program is not open during holidays or DOE school closing days, but we do offer a series of Vacation Camps during Midwinter Recess (February), Spring Break (April), and many of the single day closures. These camps are not included in After-School tuition and require separate registration.

• 10 If the school is closed for a snow day, but the weather isn't that bad, is there After-School?

  If the DOE closes school for the day, After-School is closed. If school is open during the day, After-School is open, even if the DOE cancels its afternoon activities.

• 11 Who can enroll in the After-School program?

  To enroll in one of our school-based After-School programs, a child must already be enrolled in the school of the program they wish to attend. Children from any school, public or private, are welcome to register for activities that take place at the Downtown Community Center. (A parent or caregiver must escort the child from his or her school.)

  Don't attend one of our partner schools? Check the program offerings at our Downtown Community Center. 

• 12 How many days per week should I enroll my kindergartener?

  Every child is different. Some children entering kindergarten have been in preschool for three years, are almost six years old, and crave activity with their peers every afternoon. Other children are only four years old, and will be away from parents or one-on-one babysitting for the first time in their lives, and need to ease into the school routine. Kindergarteners generally become accustomed to After-School very quickly, and enjoy the different types of activities offered after 3pm. Many of our kindergarteners attend the program up to five days per week.

• 13 Some months have fewer school days than others. Is the tuition prorated for shorter months?

  For the convenience of parents and families, we split the After-School tuition into ten equal payments, for which we invoice monthly. Your bill will be the same every month, no matter how long or short the month is.

   

• 14 My child was sick last week. Can I schedule a makeup After-School class?

  We do not reschedule classes.

• 15 What do I do if I need emergency childcare on a day that my child is not enrolled in the After-School program?

  If you are enrolled in the After-School program, and in an emergency you need childcare on a day during which your child is not normally enrolled, you can call your Site Director to request an extra day for a fee of $75, inculding Half Days, (and for families who are enrolled in our partner schools, but not registered for after-school).

• 16 How do I enroll in a Manhattan Youth After-School program?

  Please visit our Registration Page to fill out our online form. We no longer accept paper registration forms.  Please know that registration fee's are non-refundable.  All other credits and/or refunds are subject to review and approval on a case-by-case basis.   

• 17 What are your After-school refund, cancellation, and changing classes policies?
  • All schedule changes, including withdrawal from the program, must be made in writing before the end of the month. Please note that we do not prorate partial months.
  • Please email the site director of your child's school any and all change requests.
  • We ask that your child attend class at least two times before requesting a change in schedule. You may change your class selection at no charge once per semester. Subsequent charges are subject to a $20 fee, per change.
  • If you re-enroll after withdrawing, you will pay another registration fee.
  • There are no refunds for extra class fees after the second class.