Such an excellent distillation. Even when childcare is available, the skyrocketing fees are shameful. I live in Southern CA, where I grew up. Many of the problems you cite are with me now as a mom, and were around when I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. In the 80s. To have made so little headway in 40 years is a bummer an I appreciate you continue to shine light on this even though it is so wearying. I wish I could make it to the Zoom hangout on Friday! Looking forward to the next one.
the fact that these problems have persisted for so long is really demoralizing. And it's because people in power are still equating access to childcare to the same as getting a slot on a disney ride.
I wish I had been more surprised he said that, but... a few years ago, our elementary wanted to change from its hours from 8:55-3:25 to 7:30-2 or something like that. There was an outcry. So many families "choice" into this school because the late start/end time makes it more possible for them to patch together childcare. The asst. superintendent was flabbergasted by the anger. When we told him there are too few viable aftercare options in the area, he pretty much shrugged and told us he had to ride 3 public buses to get to school and get home every day. And I was, like, "yeah, but that sucked for you. Don't you want better for these kids?"
The fact that it is so normalized for people who are in charge of children to not care about what happens to them outside of school hours is so enraging
Yes to all of this. The solution has to be a radical shift. I wonder if part of being the firewall instead of safety net is decreasing the need for care (here on women’s equal pay week), that is, how do we create less need for patchwork and less need for working moms to fill all the gaps?
We got a very rare large state government grant to study child care in Gregory County, SD. A rural, frontier County with three school districts and 3 licensed child care centers with budgets they’re barely surviving on.
This was hugely exciting because it created access to high-quality professionals, which will accelerate and professionalize this work. I’m proud to have led the grant writing and planning work, which was possible because of years of local organizing through relationship and capacity building (with almost entirely women).
We’ve not had a longterm, sustainable after school program for all kids ever in our County (and currently have none). We used our planning work to write another grant for after school and summer care that should also alleviate pressure on daycares for infant and toddler spots and bring in revenues to boost those workers wages. Not to mention create safe supervised care for school age kids. Even more essential since my district just voted to move to a 4-day school week.
I’m super proud of all of this, and find it empowering that when statewide and national organizing feel out of reach, local work does not
Thank you so much for giving language and shape and passion to the care movement — I’m all in!! I use your ideas and resources in my community and workplace all the time.
Wow Katherine, I would be spitting fire too, it's completely mind blowing that our work day and school day doesn't line up, but 2:15!! It's insane how much we pay just to be able to work. I feel lucky that I've never had to deal with elementary after school shortages and cost since I work from home and have the schedule flexibility to pick up my kids (previously at 3:30 and now I just have to be home for the bus drop off at 3:45, big difference from 2:15). And yet your article is making me realize how much I've told myself I have to have a WFH flexible job so that I can avoid this dumpster fire. Not loving this feeling.
"your article is making me realize how much I've told myself I have to have a WFH flexible job so that I can avoid this dumpster fire. " imagine what different professional realities we'd have if he had a REAL safety net!
Exactly!!! It's a similar situation to onsite employer sponsored childcare essentially trapping you into your job. If our childcare (and healthcare and medical leave for that matter as I'm also facing that reality right now) weren't tied to our jobs we'd have so much more freedom with our vocational choices.
Just AMEN. Thank you for writing this, for keeping the fire going, for being a strong voice on how completely messed up this "system" is. Perfect analogies. Now back to taking care of sick kids with no safety net, juggling two-part time jobs in the name of "flexibility", and dreaming of quitting it all because I just can't keep juggling all the things without any social support. KEEP GOING KATHERINE!
Amen! Thank you Katherine for your tireless (and I can only image how tired you are) campaigning and speaking out on this super important issue of after school care in elementary school. My child attends a LA Unified elementary school and I feel fortunate to have a choice between three different after school programs on his school campus. I honestly don't know what I would do without it.
This is such a great rundown of a crisis that is playing out across the country. It feels like we are playing both defense and offense and, of course, the game is rigged.
Similar situation here in central Virginia (a very blue area as well). We have a lottery-based afterschool program and a few other options for private afterschool programs. Because I wasn't willing to risk the lottery I opted for the more expensive and less convenient private program. One major issue with our lottery is that it only guarantees admission for one child at a time... so my if only one of my elementary school kids get into the program, then what am I supposed to do with the other one? Have them in two different after school programs? It's outrageous. I have been shocked that the local parent community is seemingly quiet/ok with this issue, but I guess I shouldn't be. I know most of this labor falls on mothers (many working) to fill the gap. You are giving me a kick in the pants to start to be the firewall (but I'm already tired!)
the acceptance of these unacceptable situations is so demoralizing. mainly because people don't realize things don't have to be this way. DPS has botched the situation so badly multiple times that at least parents are awake to the problems. also, non sibling link is the biggest nonsense that ever occurred in childcare, WTF.
I also live in a blue city and our district’s aftercare has been lottery-based for years… and it literally never occurred to me how incredibly bizarre that was until I read this. 2 years ago they expanded the program to include my child’s school (previously those kids had to bus to another school 15 minutes away) and I managed to luck into a spot. We opted for care 3 days a week this year (for the same cost as 5 days) because of evening activities, and this week I let that precious spot go because my almost 10 year old is capable of coming home on the bus and amusing herself while I work in the corner of the living room. I’m very aware that the fact my company decided not to call us back into the office post-pandemic is what makes any of this possible, and even still I’m scrambling to make sure my husband can swap his in-office day in two weeks so I can attend an in-person work event. I’m still paying a fortune for no-school days and summer camps, because there’s a huge difference between 2 hours of self-entertaining (yes, her school day is 7:45-2:15) and an entire day. 😅 (Summer camps are a whole other thing; there are literally zero camps that run an entire workday in my area. 9-3 or 9-4 are the most common; don’t even get me started on the “camps” that run two or three hours a day.)
I’m also aware that pre-pandemic I wouldn’t have been able to use the school aftercare even if I got a spot, because I couldn’t guarantee getting off on time and traffic cooperating enough to get there before they closed. The private aftercare program she was in cost nearly twice as much but it was open 30 minutes later.
Our district has silently introduced ‘early release’ for next school year (kids will get out at 11:50 8 times or basically once a month) and another no school day (24 days next year where I also need to work). This is at the same time the school day is shifting to end at 2:30. (It’s currently 3pm). When I discovered this I started spreading the word making sure other parents are also aware. I am outraged at both the lack of transparency and the complete disregard for the burden this places on families. How would those making these decisions feel telling their boss ‘I’m sorry I know it’s not even noon but I have to pick the kids up from school?!?’ Why is this considered acceptable and how did we get here? I’m so angry and frustrated. I feel unseen and invisible as a working mom. I feel like I’m yelling into a void and feel powerless to change anything.
you are definitely seen right here, and it never ceases to amaze me how people in charge of schools can live in a disconnect around the realities of working families. The idea that it's "not their problem" needs to be challenged, and nothing will change until we make it someone with power's problem.
The school board for my kid’s public school met last week and decided to end the school year two school days earlier than originally planned, on May 31 instead of June 4. The majority of camps in our area (which all filled up super quickly) still aren’t starting until June 10th. Just the latest example of a last minute scramble / renegotiation / work rearrangement to make sure we have childcare so my husband and I can work. Still recovering from a week of 2 hour delays in January because “it’s too cold / windy” and an “asynchronous learning day” for the elections this month. On top of all the normal sick days and trying to get to last minute sick appointments. Tired of it all!
2:15 is so early! My kiddo has been getting out at 2:30 all week, and I feel like it's thrown off my whole week. My school district (the second largest geographically in the state of Iowa) does not have any afterschool program options for kiddos for our elementary (the other elementary does), and people have said there hasn't been enough interest in the past? We are going to make it work in kindergarten with me working from home 4 days a week and my husband picking up the 5th day, but how are families with significantly less flexibility making this happen?
I have an email drafted to the new principal next school year (current principal is retiring and a bit checked out) because this is silly. I also offered to be a volunteer and start a once a month afterschool learning program for Wednesday afternoons, when we get out at 2:30 every week. We'll see where anything goes.
There is a daycare center that does offer afterschool care, but only for 5 days a week (which I get from their end of logistics and staffing).
Such an excellent distillation. Even when childcare is available, the skyrocketing fees are shameful. I live in Southern CA, where I grew up. Many of the problems you cite are with me now as a mom, and were around when I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. In the 80s. To have made so little headway in 40 years is a bummer an I appreciate you continue to shine light on this even though it is so wearying. I wish I could make it to the Zoom hangout on Friday! Looking forward to the next one.
the fact that these problems have persisted for so long is really demoralizing. And it's because people in power are still equating access to childcare to the same as getting a slot on a disney ride.
I wish I had been more surprised he said that, but... a few years ago, our elementary wanted to change from its hours from 8:55-3:25 to 7:30-2 or something like that. There was an outcry. So many families "choice" into this school because the late start/end time makes it more possible for them to patch together childcare. The asst. superintendent was flabbergasted by the anger. When we told him there are too few viable aftercare options in the area, he pretty much shrugged and told us he had to ride 3 public buses to get to school and get home every day. And I was, like, "yeah, but that sucked for you. Don't you want better for these kids?"
The fact that it is so normalized for people who are in charge of children to not care about what happens to them outside of school hours is so enraging
Yes to all of this. The solution has to be a radical shift. I wonder if part of being the firewall instead of safety net is decreasing the need for care (here on women’s equal pay week), that is, how do we create less need for patchwork and less need for working moms to fill all the gaps?
Katherine, I’m so grateful for everything you for moms - the least of which is recommending me but thank you!
Grateful for your writing and framing. My blood is boiling at the rest.
at least we can be firewalls together
We got a very rare large state government grant to study child care in Gregory County, SD. A rural, frontier County with three school districts and 3 licensed child care centers with budgets they’re barely surviving on.
This was hugely exciting because it created access to high-quality professionals, which will accelerate and professionalize this work. I’m proud to have led the grant writing and planning work, which was possible because of years of local organizing through relationship and capacity building (with almost entirely women).
We’ve not had a longterm, sustainable after school program for all kids ever in our County (and currently have none). We used our planning work to write another grant for after school and summer care that should also alleviate pressure on daycares for infant and toddler spots and bring in revenues to boost those workers wages. Not to mention create safe supervised care for school age kids. Even more essential since my district just voted to move to a 4-day school week.
I’m super proud of all of this, and find it empowering that when statewide and national organizing feel out of reach, local work does not
this is so incredible. thanks for your amazing work and sharing a bit of the journey with us.
Thank you so much for giving language and shape and passion to the care movement — I’m all in!! I use your ideas and resources in my community and workplace all the time.
this makes my heart glow.♥️
Wow Katherine, I would be spitting fire too, it's completely mind blowing that our work day and school day doesn't line up, but 2:15!! It's insane how much we pay just to be able to work. I feel lucky that I've never had to deal with elementary after school shortages and cost since I work from home and have the schedule flexibility to pick up my kids (previously at 3:30 and now I just have to be home for the bus drop off at 3:45, big difference from 2:15). And yet your article is making me realize how much I've told myself I have to have a WFH flexible job so that I can avoid this dumpster fire. Not loving this feeling.
"your article is making me realize how much I've told myself I have to have a WFH flexible job so that I can avoid this dumpster fire. " imagine what different professional realities we'd have if he had a REAL safety net!
Exactly!!! It's a similar situation to onsite employer sponsored childcare essentially trapping you into your job. If our childcare (and healthcare and medical leave for that matter as I'm also facing that reality right now) weren't tied to our jobs we'd have so much more freedom with our vocational choices.
Just AMEN. Thank you for writing this, for keeping the fire going, for being a strong voice on how completely messed up this "system" is. Perfect analogies. Now back to taking care of sick kids with no safety net, juggling two-part time jobs in the name of "flexibility", and dreaming of quitting it all because I just can't keep juggling all the things without any social support. KEEP GOING KATHERINE!
thank you other Katherine! There are no easy fixes for what you are going through, but know that it is unjust and you aren't alone.
Amen! Thank you Katherine for your tireless (and I can only image how tired you are) campaigning and speaking out on this super important issue of after school care in elementary school. My child attends a LA Unified elementary school and I feel fortunate to have a choice between three different after school programs on his school campus. I honestly don't know what I would do without it.
thank you! california is a real leader on the aftercare issue, and it's good to have models of a better future.
This is such a great rundown of a crisis that is playing out across the country. It feels like we are playing both defense and offense and, of course, the game is rigged.
OOF. This hits hard - we're in the same boat here in Berkeley, and it's just preposterous.
Similar situation here in central Virginia (a very blue area as well). We have a lottery-based afterschool program and a few other options for private afterschool programs. Because I wasn't willing to risk the lottery I opted for the more expensive and less convenient private program. One major issue with our lottery is that it only guarantees admission for one child at a time... so my if only one of my elementary school kids get into the program, then what am I supposed to do with the other one? Have them in two different after school programs? It's outrageous. I have been shocked that the local parent community is seemingly quiet/ok with this issue, but I guess I shouldn't be. I know most of this labor falls on mothers (many working) to fill the gap. You are giving me a kick in the pants to start to be the firewall (but I'm already tired!)
the acceptance of these unacceptable situations is so demoralizing. mainly because people don't realize things don't have to be this way. DPS has botched the situation so badly multiple times that at least parents are awake to the problems. also, non sibling link is the biggest nonsense that ever occurred in childcare, WTF.
I also live in a blue city and our district’s aftercare has been lottery-based for years… and it literally never occurred to me how incredibly bizarre that was until I read this. 2 years ago they expanded the program to include my child’s school (previously those kids had to bus to another school 15 minutes away) and I managed to luck into a spot. We opted for care 3 days a week this year (for the same cost as 5 days) because of evening activities, and this week I let that precious spot go because my almost 10 year old is capable of coming home on the bus and amusing herself while I work in the corner of the living room. I’m very aware that the fact my company decided not to call us back into the office post-pandemic is what makes any of this possible, and even still I’m scrambling to make sure my husband can swap his in-office day in two weeks so I can attend an in-person work event. I’m still paying a fortune for no-school days and summer camps, because there’s a huge difference between 2 hours of self-entertaining (yes, her school day is 7:45-2:15) and an entire day. 😅 (Summer camps are a whole other thing; there are literally zero camps that run an entire workday in my area. 9-3 or 9-4 are the most common; don’t even get me started on the “camps” that run two or three hours a day.)
I’m also aware that pre-pandemic I wouldn’t have been able to use the school aftercare even if I got a spot, because I couldn’t guarantee getting off on time and traffic cooperating enough to get there before they closed. The private aftercare program she was in cost nearly twice as much but it was open 30 minutes later.
Why is this so hard?
Our district has silently introduced ‘early release’ for next school year (kids will get out at 11:50 8 times or basically once a month) and another no school day (24 days next year where I also need to work). This is at the same time the school day is shifting to end at 2:30. (It’s currently 3pm). When I discovered this I started spreading the word making sure other parents are also aware. I am outraged at both the lack of transparency and the complete disregard for the burden this places on families. How would those making these decisions feel telling their boss ‘I’m sorry I know it’s not even noon but I have to pick the kids up from school?!?’ Why is this considered acceptable and how did we get here? I’m so angry and frustrated. I feel unseen and invisible as a working mom. I feel like I’m yelling into a void and feel powerless to change anything.
you are definitely seen right here, and it never ceases to amaze me how people in charge of schools can live in a disconnect around the realities of working families. The idea that it's "not their problem" needs to be challenged, and nothing will change until we make it someone with power's problem.
The school board for my kid’s public school met last week and decided to end the school year two school days earlier than originally planned, on May 31 instead of June 4. The majority of camps in our area (which all filled up super quickly) still aren’t starting until June 10th. Just the latest example of a last minute scramble / renegotiation / work rearrangement to make sure we have childcare so my husband and I can work. Still recovering from a week of 2 hour delays in January because “it’s too cold / windy” and an “asynchronous learning day” for the elections this month. On top of all the normal sick days and trying to get to last minute sick appointments. Tired of it all!
The fact that school boards think it’s ok to do this boggles my mind. We need serious culture change
2:15 is so early! My kiddo has been getting out at 2:30 all week, and I feel like it's thrown off my whole week. My school district (the second largest geographically in the state of Iowa) does not have any afterschool program options for kiddos for our elementary (the other elementary does), and people have said there hasn't been enough interest in the past? We are going to make it work in kindergarten with me working from home 4 days a week and my husband picking up the 5th day, but how are families with significantly less flexibility making this happen?
I have an email drafted to the new principal next school year (current principal is retiring and a bit checked out) because this is silly. I also offered to be a volunteer and start a once a month afterschool learning program for Wednesday afternoons, when we get out at 2:30 every week. We'll see where anything goes.
There is a daycare center that does offer afterschool care, but only for 5 days a week (which I get from their end of logistics and staffing).
i have heard that more rural areas aren't even attempting to tackle aftercare, which is so dumb if they want to keep families in their communities.
This is reality for me!