Sometimes, there is not enough time for your child to enjoy school despite spending most part of the day there. But most of the time, it is you who do not have enough time to take care of your child due to work, or even enough time to assist in his or her homework.
That is why the child care sector has become an important part of the economy of the United States with nearly one in three families or 32% spend 20% or more of their annual income on child care alone.
While some families opt to hire nannies or baby sitters, most prefer to enroll their child in some before and after school care to ensure the proper supervision and guidance of their child that is almost similar to a regular classroom setting. Only that, the school care tends to be more activity-based rather than study-based.
Just exactly how much do after school programs cost? And how much is the going rate for the equally-important before school care services?
Average Cost of Before and After School Care
The average before and after school care prices range between $100 and $550 per month for those run by public schools, with some programs charging by the hour, by the day, or by the week. Typical rates by the schedule of payments include $5 to $9 per hour, $10 to $20 per day, or $120 to $170 per week.
Some of the average cost of different school care as reported by parents in different areas around the country reveals the following information:
Geographical Area Cost
- Alabama – $5 per day
- Arkansas – $45 per week or $8.75 per day
- California – $16 per day
- Delaware – $125 per week
- Louisiana – $16 per day for both before/after or $12 for either
- Michigan – $400 for whole school year
- Nevada – $80 per week
- New Hampshire – $12 per day or $30 on non-school day
- Ohio – $40 per week
- Oregon – $35 per week
- Pennsylvania – $17 per day for both before/after
For private facilities or those which are not operated by the school district, the price can range from $250 to $600 or more per month, mostly for programs that last until 6 PM after school dismissal.
Some schools like the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina charge their before and after school care prices separately, to wit:
Before School
|
Schools starts |
Before School Starts |
Before School Ends |
Pay Period |
Registration |
Yearly Fee |
|
8:10 |
6:30 |
7:40 |
$64.35 |
$15.00 |
$594.15 |
|
8:15 |
6:30 |
7:45 |
$68.75 |
$15.00 |
$633.75 |
|
8:30 |
6:30 |
8:00 |
$82.50 |
$15.00 |
$757.50 |
|
9:05 |
6:30 |
8:35 |
$114.40 |
$15.00 |
$1,044.60 |
|
9:10 |
6:30 |
8:40 |
$119.35 |
$15.00 |
$1,089.15 |
|
9:15 |
6:30 |
8:45 |
$123.75 |
$15.00 |
$1,128.75 |
|
9:20 |
6:30 |
8:50 |
$128.15 |
$15.00 |
$1,168.35 |
|
Schools starts |
Before School Starts |
Before School Ends |
Pay Period |
Registration |
Yearly Fee |
|
7:45 |
6:45 |
7:15 |
$27.50 |
$15.00 |
$262.50 |
|
8:10 |
6:45 |
7:40 |
$50.60 |
$15.00 |
$470.40 |
|
8:15 |
6:45 |
7:45 |
$55.00 |
$15.00 |
$510.00 |
|
8:30 |
6:45 |
8:00 |
$68.75 |
$15.00 |
$633.75 |
|
9:05 |
6:45 |
8:35 |
$100.65 |
$15.00 |
$920.85 |
|
9:10 |
6:45 |
8:40 |
$105.60 |
$15.00 |
$965.40 |
|
9:15 |
6:45 |
8:45 |
$110.00 |
$15.00 |
$1,005.00 |
|
Schools starts |
Before School Starts |
Before School Ends |
Pay Period |
Registration |
Yearly Fee |
|
8:10 |
7:00 |
7:40 |
$36.85 |
$15.00 |
$346.65 |
|
8:15 |
7:00 |
7:45 |
$41.25 |
$15.00 |
$386.25 |
|
8:30 |
7:00 |
8:00 |
$55.00 |
$15.00 |
$510.00 |
|
9:05 |
7:00 |
8:35 |
$86.90 |
$15.00 |
$797.10 |
|
9:10 |
7:00 |
8:40 |
$91.85 |
$15.00 |
$841.65 |
|
9:15 |
7:00 |
8:45 |
$96.25 |
$15.00 |
$881.25 |
|
9:20 |
7:00 |
8:50 |
$100.65 |
$15.00 |
$920.85 |
The West Chester Area Day Care Center in Pennsylvania has the following rates for their before and after school care:
- Before & After School Care Kindergarten through age 12 $110.00 per week
- Before School Care Kindergarten through age 12 $55.00 per week
- After School Care Kindergarten through age 12 $55.00 per week
In terms of informal industry, how much do after school programs cost? The average cost of after school care for after-school sitters is $15 per hour in 2016 or a total of $232 per week for 15-hour work.
What are Included
The inclusions or scope of the service are case to case basis depending on the center or facility where your child is enrolled. But the common denominator in terms of the programs includes:
- Supervision by the staff member or members or faculty of the daycare
- Some activities such as games, sports, playing music, or watching movies to keep the children occupied and learn at the same time.
- Some snacks
- Some centers provide a quiet room where the students can do their homework and may even be assisted in doing them.
- These programs typically run for two to three hours per day on the average where the usual schedule would include the arrival, distribution of snacks, doing some activities, doing their homework, then dismissal or pick up time.
Additional Costs
Some of the extra costs you would incur when enrolling your child to a before and after school care are the following:
- A child care center would typically charge a one-time registration fee upon enrollment ranging from a few dollars up to $50.
- If not yet included in the package, some centers would offer to include pick up and drop off service for an additional fee so you do not have to worry about it after work.
- Some facilities are very strict about the schedule of pick up. A late fee is usually charged per minute if this is the case, typically around $1 to $5 per minute while some charge $5 per 15 minutes after the supposed pick up time and goes up to $10 per 15 minutes after the 30-minute mark on top of the cost of after school care.
- You may opt for a half day schedule if the center offers them, of course, with an additional fee.
- There may be situations that you would need the service even during holiday breaks. But be aware that the cost of these programs may sometimes be two or three-fold the original price.
- Payment issues like returned and late checks are charged $10 each.
Shopping for Before and After School Care
When considering enrolling your child to a before and after school care, it is best to look around your community as most schools especially the public ones offer this kind of service. You may also inquire to some of the churches and different clubs in the community, as well as private facilities in your area.
If you want to entrust your child only to those who are well-known for the quality of their service, you can search for some KinderCare Learning Centers near you.
Factors Affecting Before and After School Care Cost
Public or Private – the services offered by centers run by public schools are typically priced lower compared to those of the private sector
The center – the service fees also differ depending on your choice of the facility where you think your child would be taken cared of properly. Some centers would charge higher than others because of the quality of service and amenities.
Location – your place of residence can also dictate the price you have to pay for this service as the cost of living and cost of doing business always play the part in the cost of almost anything. Some states may even extend some kind of subsidies to their constituents, thereby decreasing the amount that parents have to pay.
Schedule – the amount of time and the time of day you entrusted your child in the hands of the child care centers also make a difference in the overall cost.
Your family’s income – some centers offer some form of subsidized fee scheme where the rates would be made affordable based on your family’s income. But you must be able to meet certain requirements in order to qualify to these payment schemes.
The scope of the program – most of the reasons why some centers charge way higher compared to others are the inclusions in the programs. Some well-known facilities would include some indulging activities for the children to enjoy that others do not have thereby increasing the cost.
The number of enrollees – there are some centers that wherein the tuition fees are dependent on the number of student enrollees. There may also be instances where the program would be dropped altogether when the target number of enrollees are not met.
Additional perks – some before and after school care centers even offer additional services such as picking and dropping your child to and from school so you do not have to worry about it if you have limited time to spare due to work.
The number of children enrolled – you may also find some schools offering a discount to a second child enrolled on the facility thereby minimizing your overall cost for the service.