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Champions reports 18% enrollment growth in district before/after school care, expands pre‑K wraparound pilot
Summary
Champions — the district’s before‑ and after‑school care provider — told the board enrollment increased 18% to 1,023 children, reported $873,000 in subsidy assistance provided this year, returned roughly $167,000 revenue share to the district and said it will pilot pre‑K wraparound care in six schools next year.
Champions, the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s before‑ and after‑school care partner, reported an 18% year‑over‑year enrollment increase and said it provided roughly $873,000 in subsidy assistance this year while expanding services.
Company presenters said enrollment rose from 820 students in 2023–24 to 1,023 in 2024–25 and that 288 families used subsidy programs, an 18% increase. Champions said no program sites were wait‑listed this year and that staff vacancies were filled for summer 2025. Champions also said it returned about $167,000 in revenue share to the district over the past two years.
Board members asked about the pre‑K wraparound pilot the provider plans to run at six elementary schools next year. Champions said the model will offer morning and afternoon care and will coordinate drop‑off to classrooms; staff said they are working with licensors to secure space to keep younger children separated from older groups and that each pre‑K classroom will have an on‑site supervisor. Champions said check‑in/out digitization is coming and that liaisons have access to survey breakdowns presented to the district.
Directors raised questions about equitable outreach and marketing to ensure consistent enrollment across schools. Champions said they are refining communication with liaisons, principals and families and asked the board to “embrace us as a community partner” to extend outreach. Champions also described their partnership with the district on PBIS and staff training and said they self‑report incidents to DHS liaisons and that licensing reviews show no open cases.
Board members thanked Champions for the revenue returned to the district and for serving as a partner on early childhood access; the board reiterated its commitment to early childhood education and asked Champions to continue coordination on logistics and outreach.
