A+ After-School Program
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The A+ After-School Program is a partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) to provide care after the school day.
Registration for the A+ Program for School Year 2024-2025 is now open.
All online and paper registrations will be dated and timestamped when submitted and processed in the order they are received.
The enrollment status for YMCA A+ schools fall into 3 categories:
(A+ Schools that are full due to the need for additional staff)
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What to Expect: Waitlists for each site have been created based on the date/time of registration submission. If a spot opens, families will be contacted by email - check both inbox and spam folders regularly for an email from [email protected].
(A+ Schools that have available spots. Please note, that while a school may show available spots, submitting a registration form does not guarantee enrollment. Your application might be waitlisted because we are still processing registrations submitted before yours, which could fill the available spots by the time we reach your application.)
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What to Expect: Please continue to monitor your emails for status notifications or requests for additional information and visit this page for the latest updates on OPEN schools.
(A+ Schools that have not met minimum enrollment)
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What to Expect: Families will be notified by email, when their A+ school site has met both minimum enrollment and staffing requirements and is ready to open. Check both inbox and spam folders regularly for an email from [email protected].
Q: What is the A+ Afterschool Program?
A: The A+ Afterschool Program is a state-supported childcare program aimed at providing consistent and quality afterschool care for students. The program was developed by the Legislature to reduce the incidence of latchkey children in the after-school hours. To qualify for the A+ program, parents/guardians must meet the following A+ Eligibility criteria:
Q: How has the registration process changed for the 2024-2025 school year?
A: The State updated the A+ registration forms and launched a new registration online system on its own DOE A+ website, in addition to those offered by A+ providers like the YMCA, to streamline the process and reach more families. Families can register either on an A+ provider's or the Hawaii State A+ online site. This resulted in some increased processing time.
Also please note that while all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are processing registrations in this order of priority:
Q: What are the different enrollment statuses for YMCA A+ schools?
A: Enrollment statuses fall into four categories:
Delayed Registration Processing:
When we review your registration, there may be information in your application that needs to be addressed in order for us to complete the processing.
Please respond to these requests as soon as possible. We cannot complete your registration processing until we receive ALL information. Once your document and/or information are submitted, we can continue processing your registration.
Please re-check your email (both your inbox and "SPAM" folders) to be sure that you did not miss an email from [email protected] that requested additional information. If you did not receive an email, please see the question “What should I do if I did not receive an email?”
Once your registration has been processed:
You will receive an email with your admission status. Be sure to check your email frequently, including your “spam” folder, to ensure you don’t miss this notification from [email protected].
Q: Which schools are currently waitlisted?
A: Waitlisted schools are those that are full due to staffing needs. For the most current list of waitlisted schools, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.
Q: Which schools have open spots?
A: Open schools are those with available spots (While a school may show available spots, submitting a registration form does not guarantee enrollment. Your application might be waitlisted because we are still processing registrations submitted before yours, which could fill the available spots by the time we reach your application.) For the most current list of schools with open spots, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.
Q: Which schools are tentative and still need to meet minimum enrollment?
A: Tentative schools are those that have not yet met minimum enrollment requirements. For the most current list of tentative schools, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.
Q: What is the timeline for processing applications and what do the different admission statuses mean?
A: Processing times may be delayed as we work through all submitted registrations.
Also please note that while all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are processing registrations in this order of priority:
Once processed, you will receive an Admission Status Notification email which will indicate one of the following statuses:
Delayed Registration Processing:
Please re-check your email (both your inbox and "SPAM" folders) to be sure that you did not miss an email from [email protected] that requested additional information. Please respond to these requests as soon as possible - as we cannot complete your registration processing until ALL information is received. Once your document and or information is submitted, we can continue processing your registration.
Once your registration has been processed:
You will receive an email with your admission status. Be sure to check your email frequently, including your “spam” folder, to ensure you don’t miss this notification from [email protected].
Q: How do I check on the status of my registration? What should I do if I did not receive an email?
A: Once your registration is processed, you will receive an Admission Status Notification email which will indicate whether your child has been enrolled or waitlisted. Or if your application was incomplete, you will receive an email from [email protected] requesting additional information. Please respond to these requests as soon as possible - as we cannot complete your registration processing until ALL information is received.
If you have not received any communication from us to date, please do a search for an email from [email protected] to ensure that our email did not go into your SPAM or promotional email box.
If, after searching, you have not received an email from us, please follow the directions below depending on when you submitted your registration:
If you submitted your registration during the month of May:
If you submitted your registration AFTER May 31, 2024, please follow the directions below based on the current status of your School Site: “Open or Tentative” OR “Waitlist” [Go to A+ Locations & Statuses to check on your School’s Current Status]
Your School Site is currently Open or Tentative
Your School Site is currently Waitlist
We are so sorry, but please consider your child to be waitlisted at this time, and arrange for alternate care for your child(ren).
When we have finished processing all registrations for Open/Tentative School Sites, we will process all Waitlist school site registrations and create a waitlist based on date and time submitted. Should there be openings, we will reach out via email. We are working hard to hire staff offering hiring and referral bonuses and competitive pay. [See below under “Job Opportunities and Hiring and Referrals Bonuses” for ways you can help!]
In the meantime, check both your inbox and spam email folders frequently for an email from [email protected].
Q: Why might I be waitlisted even if my school site is listed on the open spots list?
A: Due to the ongoing processing of registrations submitted before yours, available spots may be filled by the time your application is processed.
Q: What should I do if my child is waitlisted?
A: Plan for alternative childcare options, and monitor your email [search your inbox, SPAM/Promotional box for email from [email protected]] for status updates and further communication from the Y. Please know that the Y is working diligently to increase capacity – please see the section below about Job Opportunities and Referrals.
Q: What should I do if there is missing information in my application?
A: Check your email (including spam and promotional folders for an email from [email protected]) for a request and details for additional information and submit the required documents as soon as possible so as not to delay the completion of your registration processing. [If you did not receive an email, please see the answer to the question: “What should I do if I did not receive an email.”]
Q: How can I help with staffing shortages which is the primary reason for A+ waitlists?
A: You can refer potential employees to the YMCA – see the referral and employment benefits below!
Q: What are the benefits of referring someone to work at the YMCA?
A: For each new hire referral who remains employed for at least 30 days, referring members of the public will receive $250 in Y credit. This credit can be used for Y programs, camps, childcare, A+ fees, swim lessons, personal training, and more. YMCA employees can earn a $750 bonus for each successful referral for our A+ program. See details here.
Q: What incentives are offered to new hires?
A: New hires in our A+ Afterschool Programs receive a $750 hiring bonus [eligibility and details are here], competitive pay rates (up to $19/hr for Group Leaders and up to $21.50/hr for Site Coordinators), paid training, and supportive supervisors and trainers. Additionally, they receive a free Y membership and up to 60% off Y programs, camps, childcare, and more for themselves, their family, and siblings. See all details here.
Q: What is the monthly fee for the A+ Program?
A: The monthly fee is $160 per child.
Q: Is there a subsidy available for the A+ program fee?
A: Yes, families can apply for the DHS subsidy, which covers the full $160/month A+ program fee.
DHS has adjusted the eligibility schedule, increasing the maximum income eligibility levels. Families who previously exceeded the income eligibility may now possibly qualify for this subsidy. The subsidy will cover the full monthly program fee.
To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.
Q: How do I apply for the fee subsidy?
A: To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.
Q: Where can I find more information about the A+ Program?
A: Visit the Hawaii State A+ Website at https://hawaiicommunityengagement.com/after-school-plus/
All “latchkey” children enrolled in public elementary schools in K-6, are eligible to participate if they are living with parent(s), guardian(s)*, or foster parent(s)/guardian(s)** who is/are:
*If either biological parent is NOT authorized to pick up, explanation and custody documents are required to be submitted each school year.
**Foster documents are required to be submitted each school year.
Proof of employment/school/job training is REQUIRED from both parents/legal guardians to determine eligibility for the A+ program. Please provide one of the following:
Self-employed parents and independent contractors can usually make their own schedules and need to verify their working status.
The monthly fee for the school year is $200. For the 2024-2025 school year, the DOE will use federal funds to help offset $40/month per student in A+ fees, bringing the monthly cost down to $160 for all families who do not qualify for the Department of Human Services (DHS) income-based subsidy.
DHS has adjusted the eligibility schedule, increasing the maximum income eligibility levels. Families who previously exceeded the income eligibility may now possibly qualify for this subsidy. The subsidy will cover the full monthly program fee.
To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.
Monthly fees are due on the first program day of each month. Your first month’s program fee will be due on the first A+ program day. The fee is set by the DOE and may be subject to change if your child’s school implements a blended school schedule.
While all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are now processing registrations in this order of priority:
Once we have completed processing your registration, you will receive an email notification [“Admissions Status Notification"] on the status of your child’s/children’s enrollment, which includes whether your child has been:
Notes:
*Waitlist: Some A+ school sites have reached capacity due to staffing challenges, capacity limits or may not have reached the minimum 20-student enrollment requirement.
Please know that we are working on resolving these limitations with:
Promotions to hire more staff - including competitive pay, offering a $750 hiring bonus, and referral bonuses that include a $250 Y Credit to the public for each new hire referral and for Y employees, a $750 new hire referral bonus. Details are here.
Working with schools to expand capacity.
For those sites that have not met the minimum enrollment, we are promoting registration at those impacted school sites.
See the drop down menu item: “FAQ: A+ Registration, Enrollment, Waitlists, Notifications, and More” for more details.
Submit 2024-25 A+ Afterschool registration. Start your registration.
Upload sensitive documents securely using our secure site.
Review the A+ Parent Handbook for more information about the program.
Free Service: Sign up to pay your balance automatically to avoid late fees.
Review instructions to log in to your online account, view registration status, make payments online, update payment information.
Complete this form to update authorized pickups, address & email changes, request a drop from program.
If your child is unable to participate in a group setting and needs special accommodations, please fill out this form and submit to your Site Coordinator.
Submit 2024-25 A+ Afterschool registration. Start your registration.
Upload sensitive documents securely using our secure site.
Review the A+ Parent Handbook for more information about the program.
Free Service: Sign up to pay your balance automatically to avoid late fees.
Review instructions to log in to your online account, view registration status, make payments online, update payment information.
Complete this form to update authorized pickups, address & email changes, request a drop from program.
If your child is unable to participate in a group setting and needs special accommodations, please fill out this form and submit to your Site Coordinator.