NYC after-school providers warn programs could close without more funds
On Thursday, 62 organizations — representing about 2 in 5 of those contracted to run after-school programs for the city — sent a letter warning that more than a decade of disinvestment has pushed them to a breaking point, with the best-case scenario still jeopardizing the quality of their programming.
'This puts providers in an impossible position,' read the letter drafted by United Neighborhood Houses, an umbrella organization representing local settlement houses. 'If we refuse to sign the extensions, it means closing programs that our families rely upon and laying off valued and dedicated staff.
'However, if we do sign the extensions, we are greenlighting the City's underinvestment and committing ourselves to barebones programs or utilizing lines of credit just to be able to meet the basic requirements of the program,' their plea continued.
Instead of running its own after-school programs, the city's Department of Youth and Community Development awards contracts to independent operators, mainly through two programs: the Comprehensive After School System of NYC (COMPASS NYC) and School's Out New York City (SONYC).
The families of up to 93,000 children rely on the system for childcare and enrichment after regular school hours. The programs typically run from school dismissal through the end of the workday, and may focus on homework help, leadership development, civics, sports or arts, among others.
'I don't know of many families who have the ability to have one parent staying home like they used to — New York is just too expensive,' said Nora Moran, director of policy and advocacy at the United Neighborhood Houses. 'So after-school really helps to fill that gap.'
But rather than renegotiate those contracts, Adams and his predecessors have circumvented the standard procurement process with a series of short-term contract extensions, according to the letter. Paired with persistent delays during the Adams administration in paying city contractors, providers say they are in a bind.
'Our real fear is that if we wait another year, we're going to see organizations start to say, 'I can't do this anymore,' or 'I can't swing it or wait another year until there's a new contract in place,'' Moran said.
As of this year, rates were negotiated at least a decade ago, with some after-school contracts dating back to 2011. The letter's signers — which also include the nonprofits Children's Aid, Citizens' Committee for Children of New York and the YMCA of Greater NY — claim the city's youth development officials have been promising a new request for proposals, or RFP, 'for months' to no avail.
City officials who work with young people said they expect the more than 150 after-school providers will continue programming under their existing contracts and confirmed a concept paper is in development — the precursor to a request for proposals.
'COMPASS remains the largest afterschool program of its kind in the nation,' said Mark Zustovich, spokesman for the Department of Youth and Community Development.
'Extending COMPASS contracts through fiscal year 2026 helps ensure uninterrupted services for young people, and a safe place for families to send their children after regular school hours. DYCD looks forward to receiving ongoing feedback from our outstanding providers, as we work together to build the next generation of COMPASS programs.'
The pressure campaign comes as Adams' challengers have seized on childcare as a top issue in this year's mayoral race. Zellnor Myrie, a Democratic state senator, has made free after-school a central tenet of his campaign. Other candidates have called for extending universal childcare programs to the families of 2-year-olds.
United Neighborhood Houses has proposed a phase-in process for higher contract rates, starting next school year with a halfway base rate, per pupil increase of COMPASS elementary to $4,900 and SONYC middle school programs to $4,150. By the 2027 fiscal year, researchers said the city should cover the 'true cost' of high-quality care — which covers the cost of labor, state-mandated health and safety guidelines, and other services, such as licensed social workers.
'In this moment when you rightly have focused on making New York City more affordable for working families,' the letter said, referencing Adams' recent State of the City address, 'we must focus on equitable and sustainable funding for one of the basic supports the City provides them — after-school.'
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