How much do after-school kids care programs cost?
How much do after-school kids care programs cost?
$40 – $125 weekly before & after care
$150 – $500 monthly before & after care
$1,350 – $4,500 yearly before & after care
After school kids care program costs
After school care costs $140 to $400 per month for public school extended day programs. Day care after school programs cost $280 to $750 per month. YMCA before and after school care programs cost $160 to $480 per month. Federal and state tax credits may reduce after school care costs.
| Care type | Hours per week | Cost per month | Cost per school year (Sept. – May) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day care after school program | 25 | $280 – $750 | $2,500 – $6,750 |
| Public school extended day program | 25 | $140 – $400 | $1,300 – $3,600 |
| Private school extended day program | 25 | $200 – $800 | $1,800 – $7,200 |
| YMCA care program | 10 – 25 | $160 – $480 | $1,400 – $4,300 |
| Babysitter | 10 – 25 | $840 – $2,000 | $7,600 – $18,000 |
| Home day care | 35 – 40 | $500 – $800 | $6,000 – $9,600* |
| Full-time nanny | 35 – 40 | $2,300 – $4,300 | $27,000 – $52,000* |
| Nanny-share program | 10 – 25 | $400 – $1,500 | $3,600 – $13,500 |
*Includes school year and summer months.
Before and after school care cost by program
| Program type | Before school care | After school care | Before & after school |
|---|---|---|---|
| School-aged care at day care/preschools | $150 – $250 | $250 – $650 | $280 – $750 |
| Public schoolextended care | $75 – $200 | $100 – $320 | $140 – $400 |
| Private school extended care | $120 – $420 | $200 – $500 | $200 – $800 |
| After school babysitter | $160 – $800 | $840 – $1,200 | $1,400 – $2,000 |
| Part-time nanny-share | $400 – $600 | $600 – $900 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Full-time nanny* | $2,300 – $4,300* | $2,300 – $4,300* | $2,300 – $4,300* |
| YMCA care program | $160 – $300 | $240 – $360 | $240 – $480 |
*Includes watching younger siblings during school hours.
Before school programs typically run for 2 hours daily before school starts.
After school programs typically run for 3 hours daily after school ends.
After-school care program costs at preschools and day cares
Day care costs $400 to $1,500 per month for full-time care of younger children. Before and after school programs for school-aged children at day care centers cost $280 to $750 per month.
Preschool costs $400 to $1,300 per month for the early education programs for 3- to 5-year-olds. Free preschool costs nothing for eligible families in many states. Many preschools offer extended care before and after school hours at an added cost.
Public school extended care cost
Public school extended care costs $140 to $400 per week for before and after school every day. Parents pay $75 to $200 per week for the short morning sessions only or $100 to $320 per week for after school care only.
After-school babysitter cost per hour
An after-school babysitter costs $14 to $20 per hour during daytime hours. An overnight sitter costs $75 to $150 to stay with the kids all night.
Babysitters that transport students to and from school should have a safe driving record and be reimbursed for gas and car maintenance.
Before & after school nanny costs
A full-time nanny costs $525 to $1,000 per week to watch younger children all day and school-aged siblings before and after school.
A full-time nanny share costs $350 to $600 per week to split the cost of a nanny with another family.
A home day care costs $125 to $225 per week on average for full-time care of infants and toddlers all day and older siblings before and after school hours.
YMCA after school program cost
The YMCA costs $60 to $120 per week for kids attending before & after care every school day. Some centers offer part-time schedules at a reduced cost.
| YMCA program | Before & after school care | Before school only | After school only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (4-5 days/week) | $60 – $120 per week | $40 – $75 per week | $60 – $90 per week |
| Part-time (1-3 days/week) | $40 – $100 per week | $40 – $55 per week | $35 – $50 per week |
Part-time vs. full-time after school care cost
Full-time programs before and after school programs cost $40 to $125 per week. Some programs offer part-time schedules for students to attend only in the mornings, afternoons, or a few days per week.
| Program length | Before & after school care | Before school care | After school care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (4-5 days/week) | $40 – $125 per week | $20 – $60 per week | $35 – $100 per week |
| Part-time (3 days/week) | $24 – $75 per week | $12 – $36 per week | $21 – $60 per week |
| Part-time(1-2 days/week) | $8 – $50 per week | $4 – $24 per week | $7 – $40 per week |
After-school care cost breakdown
The following factors affect after-school care costs:
Hours – Most extended day programs are open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays. Before school care typically lasts 1 to 2 hours and costs less than after school care, which lasts for 3 hours or more.
Number of children – Programs often offer a discount of up to 10% for each additional child enrolled.
Location – Off-site after care programs may charge additional fees for school pick up.
Quality of care – Centers accredited through a national accrediting organization may charge higher rates for their higher quality of care.
Discounts:
Sliding-scale fees – Non-profit, church, and YMCA programs may offer rates based on family income.
Military discount – Military service members may be eligible for a tuition reduction.
Pre-payment discount – Some programs offer up to 5% off when you pay the annual tuition in one lump sum.
Absence and closures – Most programs charge full fees when children are out due to illness but may pro-rate holiday or vacation weeks.
After-school care fees and late charges
In addition to tuition, after-care programs may charge these additional fees:
Application/Registration/Enrollment fees – Most programs charge $50 to $125 for registration or enrollment fees for new and returning students
Supply fees – Many programs charge an annual $50 to $200 material fee to cover materials like crafts and school supplies.
Penalty fees:
Late pickup fees – $1 to $2 per minute for parents that run late picking up their child.
Late payment fees – $5 to $20 per day when tuition is not paid on time.
Returned check fees – $25 to $30 if the tuition check is returned for non-sufficient funds.
Trace fee – Some centers charge a fee to trace a student’s location when not alerted to an absence.
Drop-in fees – Students incur a separate fee for drop-in care outside their regular schedule.
What is included in after-school care?
Before and after-school care programs include supervised child care, nutrition, structured activities, and free play.
Before-school programs typically include breakfast, while after-school programs include a snack.
Many programs offer enrichment activities, including:
Homework help and tutoring
Art and music programs
Technology education
Sports and fitness activities
Clubs and social programs
Is after school care tax deductible?
After school programs are tax deductible for eligible families using the Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit program. The credit is a percentage of child care expenses based on gross income, when the parents are working during any months the children are in school.
In addition to federal programs, 12 states offer additional tax credits for working parents, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
Does after school care qualify for dependent care?
After school care expenses qualify for a Dependent Care FSA, allowing parents to pay for before and after school programs with pre-tax money.
Tips for finding and hiring after school care
When searching for after school care be sure to:
Ask for referrals from trusted teachers, friends, and family.
Look for licensed programs with hours and rates that suit your needs.
Check their reviews on TrustedCare and Google.
Tour locations in person to evaluate the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Make sure the spaces are clean, friendly, and safe.
Confirm the class sizes, teacher-to-child ratios, and daily schedule.
Find a program that offers hands-on and age-appropriate activities, with plenty of outdoor play and exposure to nature.
Request a list of references and ask the parents about the program.
Visit the program with your child.
Questions to ask
Are you licensed and accredited?
Are your teachers credentialed? CPR/First aid trained?
What is your class size and student-teacher ratio for each age group?
What are your hours and rates?
How much time do children spend in free-play and outside?
What meals and snacks are provided?
What enrichment programs/activities are offered?
Does your program offer homework help or one-on-one tutoring?