Enrollment switch concerns Durham parents with children in after-school care

Many parents of elementary-age children in Durham Public Schools are concerned after the district announced its popular after-school care program is moving to a lottery system to fill slots.

The switch means a spot in the program is no longer guaranteed. On Wednesday, the district emailed parents, saying in part:

"We are excited to share that due to continued high demand for our elementary after school programs, we will launch a new lottery system for our elementary programs only..."

The email claims the lottery system, a random selection process, will ensure "more equitable" access to the elementary after-school care program, but Katherine Goldstein, whose 8-year-old is enrolled in aftercare at Morehead Montessori, is worried her son won't secure a spot.

"If our oldest son doesn't get in, this will cause stress ... he will probably be upset he can't be with his friends and this will cause uncertainty," Goldstein said.

The announcement came less than a week after the DPS Board of Education voted on a short-term fix to address a pay dispute for classified workers in the school system, which led to several canceled school days and sick-outs as staff rallied in protest.

Goldstein and her husband both work. Like many families, they would have to make other arrangements for their son if he doesn't win a space in the lottery. They told WRAL News this change to after school care causes more uncertainty.

"Durham Public Schools' aftercare is perhaps the best childcare deal in town," Goldstein said. "It's very affordable. In my experience I found it to be very high quality, my son loves going."

Goldstein explained the demand for aftercare at Durham's elementary schools has skyrocketed since the district moved the start time for elementary schools to 7:45 a.m., with the school day ending at 2:15 p.m., when many parents are still working.

"Durham aftercare going to a lottery, to me, feels like the white flag of surrender of actually fixing the problem that has been going on for years now," Goldstein said.

DPS has struggled with the district's aftercare program in the past. Last May, more than 300 elementary school students were on a wait list to get into the program. In 2022, more than 700 students were waitlisted because the district needed to fill dozens of positions.

WRAL News reached out to DPS to ask if there's a staffing shortage for elementary aftercare and why the district decided to implement a lottery and is awaiting a response.

Goldstein said, although she supports the classified workers in the DPS pay dispute, not knowing if her son will have after school care is stressful, especially after days of canceled classes.

"I really believe it should not be this hard to have a job and send your kids to Durham Public Schools," Goldstein said.

Goldstein says this issue impacts the entire city.

"This isn't just a small problem impacting a small number of people," she said. "We can't have a strong community and a strong workforce if our ability to take care of children after 2:15 is so anemic."

The lottery application window for DPS aftercare opens March 18 at 8 a.m. and closes April 5 at 5 p.m. Lottery participation is not required for before-school or middle school programs.