After-school programs are a lifeline for families with working parents. But the Decatur Public Schools District #61 will end its Extended Day program due to budget cuts.

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - After-school programs are a lifeline for families with working parents. But the Decatur Public Schools District #61 will end its Extended Day program due to budget cuts. 

"I understand that there are going to be some really hard times ahead in terms of trying to find something. But the reason that we want to make this announcement now is to give families at least five months prior to the start of school," said DPS #61 Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark.  

For the past four years, the DPS Extended Day program has helped support working families. Students can arrive at 6 a.m. and stay until 5:30 in the evening. The program offered homework support, a light meal and time to build academic skills. Those services were at no cost to families. Now, federal COVID funds used to pay for the program have run out, and district leaders said they cannot sustain the program. 

Families must now find new options for their student outside of school hours. Clark is working to find another vendor to help the district.

"Even though we do have a lot of community partners here, I'm trying to be proactive in case there's not enough room to serve our families," Clark said. 

Clark said she is considering options that would charge a small fee or fees based on income. In the meantime, she encourages families to start considering other options.

"Rely on the same childcare avenues that they took during the summers, summer days. So, hopefully, they will continue to utilize that avenue. But you also have community, partners like KinderCare, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club," Clark said. 

Clark said cutting this program will save the district millions of dollars, and more cuts are expected to come. 

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