District staff outline afterschool expansions, warn of funding limits and wait lists

Jennifer Lorac, program director of expanded learning and staff supports for Jefferson Elementary School District, told the board the district will continue to offer afterschool programming at all Jefferson sites but that two grants with different rules shape who is prioritized.

“We are proud to share that thanks to the ASUS and the ELOP grant funds, we are able to offer afterschool programming at all of our Jefferson Elementary School sites,” Lorac said. She explained that ASUS funding is site‑based while ELOP is district‑based and requires the district to prioritize “unduplicated students”—“foster youth, homeless students, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and English language learners,” she said.

The distinction matters for enrollment. Lorac said most sites are at capacity and that some ELOP sites have long wait lists; where possible, providers have been offered the ability to offer paid spots to families who do not wish to wait. “At some ELOP sites like Daniel Webster…Daily City Parks and Recreation was able to bring in extra staff to offer additional spots on a pay‑based model,” she said.

Trustees pressed staff on how quickly families move off wait lists and what parents can do to speed enrollment. Lorac advised families to complete the meal/eligibility form in spring or fall so administrators can confirm eligibility sooner. “Once all of those students have been offered a spot and space still remains, then we can open it up to the rest of our Jefferson families,” she said.

Board members also sought clarity about a three‑hour‑a‑day, five‑day‑a‑week requirement attached to ELOP/ASUS funding. Lorac said programs must document attendance for audit purposes and that before‑school programming at four sites can count toward a nine‑hour school day in some cases, but early releases require written forms to document exceptions.

Lorac addressed a possible move from paper sign‑out to electronic systems, but noted a remaining requirement for a wet signature under ASUS until the CDE confirms acceptable e‑signature practices. “The CDE is open to an e sign out, but several practices must be in place in order for that to happen,” she said.

Students and families also raised staffing concerns tied to provider practices. Two students representing Fernando Rivera Middle School told the board they were supporting a staff member they described as a trusted adult who had been fired by an outside provider. “Mr. Ryan was caring and we were very close with him,” one student said, calling the termination unfair. Board leaders and staff responded that the board does not directly employ that staffer and that the person was an AYRP employee, a provider decision outside the board’s personnel jurisdiction.

Lorac closed by flagging budget changes: ELOP rollover funds that previously softened costs have largely been spent, and the district expects smaller annual allocations going forward. “Next year with little to no rollover, we will have to maintain a more tame budget within the annual allocation and really lock in to what families would like us to prioritize in the afterschool space,” she said.

What’s next: Trustees asked administration to continue working with providers on paid‑spot options where feasible, to expand early enrollment practices, and to update families on wait‑list status; staff said they will return with additional data on eligibility processing timelines and provider capacity.