Extended Care

Offering licensed child care is a major priority in our district so it can be accessible to all families across the school district.

The possibility of licensing the district-run extended care program has been explored. Through this exploration, it became clear that this work is best performed by an outside agency that specializes in operating a licensed child care program. Detailed and thoughtful examination of the many factors at play has led to the difficult decision to move before- and after-school K-5 child care services to a third party(ies).

The district does not have staffing and budget capacity to start and maintain and sustain a licensed child care program in all K-5 elementary schools due to:

• Expense
• Organizational complexity and state requirements
• Staffing (direct, school, and district support)

The district is fully utilizing its resources for the basic K-12 education program as funded and mandated by state and federal government

Renting the facility to an agency that specializes in licensed child care will provide for child care to remain on site for child and family access and expand access to include families who are eligible for childcare subsidies

Out of School Time is an industry and profession in its own right, with agencies and organizations that specialize in this work.

• A licensed program requires additional logistics, knowledge, and management outside of the district’s expertise and staffing capacity
  • Additional requirements will increase the need for staffing, materials, training, and infrastructure
• Requires additional budget capacity
• The position of Director of Shoreline Children’s Center was eliminated in 2020 due to budgetary constraints
  • This position would be critical and would lead, administer, and provide direct oversight of the program

Operating a state-licensed child care program translates to increased workloads for existing staff and would require additional staff for the following:

• Billing Department Requirements
  • Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) billing process would need to be handled by the district accounting department
  • Reimbursement model through the State of Washington (services provided and paid for in order to receive the funds)
  • This work is not part of the district’s current accounting staffing model
• Food Service Department Requirements
  • Meal plans and menus must meet licensing requirements
  • Plan for child food preferences
• Human Resources Requirements
  • Recruit and hire staff
  • Track and manage staff qualifications and requirements as required by state law
• Individual School Nurse Requirements
  • Health plans for each student are required, which would add significant workload to school nurse staff

We anticipate that the third-party provider of child care services will continue to operate on site at Shoreline school buildings.

The practice of the extended care program has been to prioritize families that are in the program, so that a family's child care arrangements are not potentially disrupted each school year.

The District has heard from community partners that they are interested in providing licensed before- and after-school care to the Shoreline community, and we are confident that as a result, community access to before- and after-school care will not be reduced as a result of this change. We hope to have a provider identified in November or December 2023, in time to be present at Kinderfest in January 2024.

Assuming a community partner (or partners) does offer increased levels of licensed before- and after-school child care, eligible Shoreline School District families will be able to receive child care subsidies that were not previously available due to Shoreline’s Extended Care Program not being licensed, which will increase equitable access to child care for our families.

We are not able to guarantee services to all families. The size of each site varies, and is determined by the history of demand, space and staff available.

We currently serve students at the following elementary schools: Briarcrest, Brookside, Highland Terrace, Meridian Park, and Ridgecrest.

Priority enrollment means being included in the first round of lottery for slots, if a lottery is needed. If no lottery is needed, priority enrollment means first to enroll.

Returning student is defined as a student currently enrolled (and enrolled through the end of the school year) in Shoreline School District's elementary extended care program.

No, our waitlists are only for the current (2022-2023) school year. If you do not receive a spot for this year, you will need to reapply as a new student for next year (2023-2024). 

No, we do not bus between sites due to staffing and safety.  Students can enroll only in a program at the school they attend.

No, only families that are currently enrolled have priority enrollment.

If a space becomes available during the school year, you will be contacted via email if you are next on the waitlist.

No, there is not a sibling discount.

No, all of our schedules are only 5 days a week.

During conference weeks, which typically follow a half-day release schedule, families enrolled in after-school care have those additional hours included with their tuition if there is enough available staff to provide coverage.

Tuition fees are not prorated for illness, absence, holidays, or emergency closure of a school.

Yes, there is both an annual registration fee of $100/child and an annual material fee of $100/child that are non-refundable.

While it isn’t possible to hold spots for all the potential outcomes for every family, we will transfer if there is a spot.

Kindergarten students are considered returning students at their neighborhood schools. If there are more returning students at a school than there are spots,  a lottery will occur. 

No, enrollment in each of our programs is separate.  

A snack is provided every day, typically between 3:00 and 3:45 pm, depending on your child’s school dismissal time. If you think your child will be hungry again before they are picked up, please feel free to send in an additional snack to school with them.