Caring about
care: Colorado Springs school districts offer school child care for K–5 students
12
|
BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE
|
Sunday, July 31, 2022
By O’Dell Isaac odell.isaac@gazette.com Several Colorado Springs-area school districts are making access to child care easier and more affordable for busy working parents. Lack of affordable child care has been a chronic issue for parents in the El Paso County area for years, district officials said. In recent years, a number of school districts conducted needs assessments, surveying parents and stakeholders about ways to help students succeed and make parents’ lives easier. According to the survey results, a need for safe, affordable child care ranked high on the list of parents’ concerns. In response to this feedback, most area districts now offer free or reduced-cost child care for students in grades K-5. While some of the programs require payment, they generally cost less per month than most local facilities charge per week. Traditional child care facilities in Colorado Springs typically range from $160–$225 per week, according to the childcare website Care.com.
“It’s a huge financial savings for families,” said Angela Outlaw, Harrison School District 2’s program coordinator. “And it gives working parents peace of mind — one less thing to worry about.” “I think it takes one of the biggest stressors off of parents,” said YMCA executive director Melanie Zuniga, who oversees the nonprofit’s district partnerships. “They don’t have to wonder ‘Where is my kid gonna go? Will they be safe and taken care of?’” Colorado Springs District 11, Cheyenne Mountain District 12, Manitou Springs District 14, Harrison District 2 and FountainFort Carson District 8 have established care partnerships with YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region. Widefield School District 3, which has offered before- and after-school care for nearly 20 years, works with Junior Academy Children’s Centers in Colorado Springs. In addition to providing care during the school year, BASE49, District 49’s program, offers a summer camp at “limited SEE CHILD CARE • PAGE 13
