As educators and school administrators, we all share a common goal: to nurture and empower the next generation of learners. And in recent years, school officials have felt a significant change in parents’ needs, especially for those in the workforce. Extended learning programs continue to be critical – to parents, children, and schools.
Recent data shows that the happiest, most confident parents are those who don’t have to stress about caring for their children. According to KinderCare’s 2023 Parent Confidence Report, 60% of parents shared that if they knew they would always have quality care, they could be more present when they’re with their children.
Securing before- and after-school care is essential to the well-being and confidence of working parents. Providing these kinds of programs can be a challenge for already busy school administrators if it means recruiting additional teachers, developing a curriculum, and managing additional operational tasks. The task of implementing before- and after-school programs shouldn’t be herculean; at Champions, a leading provider of extended learning programs across the U.S., one of our biggest offerings is intangible – it’s the ease of implementation and peace of mind for both parents and school leaders.
Helping Parents Secure Care Options Outside of the School Day
According to a recent study, 67% of today’s parents say that knowing their child is in a safe and secure environment gives them the most confidence in their parenting. One notable challenge or gap in care many parents face is outside-of-school hours, especially for families transitioning from early childhood education to elementary school. The hours of elementary school are often much different – and many times significantly shorter – than those of many early childhood education providers.
This leaves working parents with both a morning and evening care gap to fill, creating additional stress and struggle to align schedules, coordinate transportation, and ensure children are cared for while they begin and end the workday. In fact, there are roughly 24.6 million children nationwide who would likely attend after-school programs if they were available.
Champions can bridge the gap to provide care not only before and after regular school days, but also on in-service days, holidays, and school breaks. And Champions programs take place on school grounds, so parents don’t have to worry about multiple drop-offs and pick-ups. Parents can simply drop their children off at school before their workday starts and pick them up at the same school when their workday ends.
An Extension of Learning
Before- and after-school programs are also opportunities for enrichment, extended the learning beyond the traditional school day and providing opportunities for physical activity and socialization with peers. Research shows that after-school programs are linked to positive outcomes such as better school attendance numbers, higher grades, and better graduation rates.
At our nationally accredited Champions, programs are specifically designed to boost school readiness by continuing children’s learning experiences beyond school hours. Our team is comprised of professional educators who are trained in our age-appropriate curriculum to nurture children’s academic and social development. And, because we know that time at home is precious to parents, our educators help students with schoolwork and homework, so parents and children can focus on family time once they’re home.
Offering Turnkey Solutions for School Administrators
School leaders want the best for the families, but sometimes feel strapped for time and resources to implement supplemental programs. At first glance, managing a before- and after-school program feels like an additional strain on both staffing and budgets. To be successful, a program needs to be as easy as possible to implement.
That's why Champions takes care of every detail, from program rollout to enrollment and billing. We use schools’ existing space and take all the operational oversight off your hands so your educators can instead focus on staff and students. Our approach aims to provide a seamless experience for all involved. We coordinate directly with parents and guardians to handle enrollment, scheduling, and billing, streamlining the process for everyone. Our online portal and week-by-week approach offer parents the flexibility they need to accommodate their busy schedules.
Parents and school officials must work closely together as the future of work continues to bring on new challenges and surprising twists. Now, more than ever, there’s a clear need for a partnership that alleviates stress for working parents, offers a safe environment for children, and is a simple solution for school officials.
Education is a collaborative effort, and at Champions, we’re here to be a dedicated partner in supporting you, your families and your community.
