Transportation to and from after-school programs

Transportation is one of the most common reasons a promising program does not work out for a family. Sorting it out before you enroll saves a lot of stress.

On-site programs are simplest

When a program runs at your child's own school, there is no transportation problem at dismissal — children simply walk from class to the program. This is one reason school-based programs are so popular and is worth prioritizing if logistics are tight.

District and provider transportation

Some districts extend bus service to after-school programs, and some nonprofit providers run their own vans to pick children up from school and bring them to a community site. Ask whether transportation is provided, what it costs, and what the routes and times are.

Safety questions to ask

If a program transports children, ask how drivers are screened and trained, how children are accounted for during transitions, and what the procedure is if a child is not where they should be. The handoff between school and program is the moment to scrutinize.

Your own pick-up

If you will pick up, confirm the end time, the grace period, and late fees, and make sure the program's authorized-pickup list is current. Build in a backup person in case work runs long.