Introduction to Afterschool Services in New York City
New York City is at a critical juncture. As we look toward a pivotal mayoral election, city leaders have a profound opportunity to build better, safer and more affordable communities across the five boroughs. One of our best tools to shape the future of our city is investing in accessible, affordable high-quality afterschool services. These programs are critical to both supporting the healthy development of young people and ensuring families can participate in the job market.
The Current State of Afterschool Programs
In New York City, however, many afterschool programs are out of reach for families, operating with limited capacity, long waitlists, and inconsistent quality. Today, 80 percent of families can’t afford afterschool services, according to an analysis by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. Programs like New York City’s Comprehensive Afterschool System (COMPASS) for students through fifth grade and School’s Out New York City (SONYC) for sixth-through-eighth grade students are particularly scarce and unevenly distributed. This has led to countless school-aged children being unsupervised and at risk after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Recent Investment in Afterschool Services
Thankfully, Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a $331 million commitment to create a total of 20,000 new afterschool slots by Fiscal Year 2028 as part of his vision to build an afterschool system that is accessible to all. The investment is a critical step in the right direction and presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a truly universal afterschool system—one that will help prevent learning loss, reduce community violence and crime and enable families to continue to work and put food on the table.
Addressing the Staffing Crisis
Unfortunately, the proposed investments overlook one key piece of the puzzle. Afterschool programs are experiencing a staffing crisis. At a time when demand for afterschool programs from families is high, there is not enough capacity to care for children because of a lack of funding from the city. Across the city, providers are forced to operate in the red just to meet the needs of their communities. As a result, children and youth suffer. Advocates have called for higher reimbursement rates for years, but the mayor’s proposal unfortunately does not address the issue of insufficient rates until 2027. That is too late.
The Need for Immediate Action
Children, youth and families are in desperate need of quality services now. To cover the true costs of operating the critical afterschool programs New York’s families rely on, New York City must increase rates for COMPASS and SONYC in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. In this moment when the mayor has rightly focused on making New York City more affordable, it’s critical that the administration focus on the urgent investments needed to sustain one of the basic supports the city provides working families. Increasing the base rates of afterschool programs would help ensure that we are building and expanding capacity upon a stable foundation.
Conclusion
Investing in quality afterschool services now is not only fundamental to supporting the next generation of New Yorkers. It is critical to building a stronger economy, enabling more parents—particularly mothers—to participate fully in the workforce. Regardless of the outcome of the mayoral election, a clear vision for how to move the city toward a universal afterschool system requires investments now to ensure stable and sustainable growth. Let’s not miss this opportunity to build a quality system that meets the needs of children, youth and working families. Our city’s future depends on it.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of afterschool programs in New York City?
A: Many afterschool programs in New York City are out of reach for families due to limited capacity, long waitlists, and inconsistent quality, with 80 percent of families unable to afford afterschool services.
Q: What is the proposed investment in afterschool services?
A: Mayor Eric Adams has announced a $331 million commitment to create 20,000 new afterschool slots by Fiscal Year 2028.
Q: What is the main challenge facing afterschool programs?
A: Afterschool programs are experiencing a staffing crisis due to insufficient funding, leading to providers operating at a loss and unable to meet the needs of their communities.
Q: What action is needed to address the staffing crisis?
A: New York City must increase reimbursement rates for COMPASS and SONYC in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to cover the true costs of operating afterschool programs.
Q: Why is investing in afterschool services important?
A: Investing in quality afterschool services is crucial for supporting the next generation of New Yorkers, building a stronger economy, and enabling parents to participate fully in the workforce.
