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District says free after‑school childcare enrollment doubled in a month as state funding rises
Summary
Ocean View officials said new ELAP eligibility and expanded hiring doubled after‑school childcare capacity to 1,393 enrolled students by Sept. 5; the district cited a rise in state allocation and moving toward more district staff for quality control.
Ocean View School District officials told trustees on Sept. 9 that expanded learning and after‑school child‑care enrollment has grown rapidly after changes in state eligibility and that the district is shifting toward hiring more in‑house staff.
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Alice Lee and Carrie Grace, director of expanded learning and child care, said the district meets the new state threshold for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELAP) at 59% unduplicated pupil count, which allows free after‑school child care to be offered district‑wide. Grace said enrollment reached 1,393 students as of Sept. 5 and that the program doubled capacity between Aug. 1 and Sept. 5.
Grace said the district's ELAP allocation rose from about $4,500,000 in 2024–25 to about $7,700,000 in 2025–26. She told trustees that staffing costs have increased, noting the share of the childcare budget paid to district staff rose from 34% to 46%, and that administrative expenses remain at roughly 9% of the program budget.
Officials described steps to increase district capacity, including hiring five new department staff, expanding partnerships (including the Boys and Girls Club) and planning an Oct. 18 job fair for after‑school UIA positions. Grace said the district is buying materials (LEGO kits, Ozobots), scaling in‑house enrichment such as music and sports, and prioritizing daily homework support and read‑alouds.
Trustees praised the rapid staffing and enrollment progress and asked staff to continue reporting on wait‑list reductions and staffing ratios. The board did not take further action beyond receiving the presentation and approving related consent items later in the meeting.
Officials said some components remain fee‑based (morning care and some break/summer offerings) even as after‑school care is available at no cost for eligible students under ELAP.
