Improving After-School Care in Sudbury

Sudbury families have struggled with after-school programming for too long. As a parent of two young children, I understand these challenges firsthand. Our community deserves better solutions.

What is Out-of-School Time (OST)?

OST programs in Massachusetts provide care and activities for children outside school hours, including before/after school, vacations, and summer. These programs support academic growth, social-emotional development, and working families while improving student outcomes.

SPS’s Current After-School Landscape

SPS offers three OST programs:

• SMILE & Explorer – Four-week summer programs run by SPS staff.
• After-School Programming – A third-party provider operates in SPS cafeterias and gyms under a contract awarded through a Request for Proposal (RFP).

What is an RFP?

It’s important for school districts to use a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for enrichment programs to ensure equity, quality, and oversight in after-school programming. A RFP is a formal process that allows organizations to bid on providing a service. Sudbury School Committee, working alongside SPS administration, determines after-school programming needs by assessing student needs and defining required services. Based on these findings, an RFP is issued, inviting third-party organizations to submit proposals outlining how they will meet these needs. The Sudbury School Committee then evaluates the proposals and selects the provider that best aligns with the district’s goals and student needs.

Currently, Sudbury Extended Day (SED) holds a three-year contract awarded through this process, with an option to extend for two additional years. 

Challenges & Gaps

• Limited Capacity – Demand has outpaced availability, creating long waitlists and gaps in coverage.
• Accessibility Issues – Some students, particularly those with disabilities or medical needs, lack proper accommodations.
• Unequal Enrichment – Opportunities vary across schools; some offer computer programming or art clubs, while others do not.
• High Costs – Enrichment programs can be cost-prohibitive for some families, limiting access.

The School Committee’s Role

While after-school care happens outside school hours, the School Committee determines facility use. Other districts incorporate enrichment activities—such as music, STEM, and arts—into after-school care, held in classrooms and libraries. Enrichment opportunities can be a single activity for a student who registers, or, if desired by the parent, a child could attend the enrichment activity and then be released to the third-party after-school care provider. 

Enrichment programs enhance student learning but must be affordable and accessible.  Without an RFP for enrichment, SPS has limited oversight on cost and inclusivity.

A Better Approach: A Comprehensive RFP

Right now, SPS and its school committee doesn’t offer enrichment opportunities for students across all its schools. It also has never had an RFP process for enrichment. Without an RFP, enrichment opportunities can be inconsistent—some schools may offer high-quality programs like coding, arts, or STEM, while others have limited or no options. An RFP sets clear expectations and ensures all students, regardless of school location or background, have access to enriching activities.

As a school committee member, I will advocate to for SPS to offer enrichment opportunities to students across all schools in addition to an after-school care. If it is determined we need third-party providers to provide such enrichment, I will advocate for a well-structured RFP that addresses:

1. Capacity – Define space needs and student limits.
2. Accessibility – Ensure all students, including those with disabilities, can participate.
3. Enrichment – Partner with local businesses that can provide high-quality programming to support academic and social-emotional growth of our students.

Wayland Public Schools recently issued an RFP for enrichment across all elementary schools—SPS should follow this model to ensure equitable opportunities for all students.

Why It Matters

• Accessibility – Every student deserves quality after-school care, regardless of ability. Our school buildings are ADA compliant and have all accommodations a child needs to be successful to further friendships with their peers.
• Enrichment – Programs like music, drama, coding, and sports support child development, ease family schedules, and strengthen community ties.
• Missed Opportunities – Structured after-school time could provide tutoring to address learning loss and improve academic performance.

We Need a New Perspective on After-School Care

Students need after-school care programming and enrichment to have more access to programming that can develop critical thinking skills and build and foster friendships with their peers. Parents also need engaging programming for their children, so they can work. This “same as last year” approach isn’t working. Sudbury needs leadership that prioritizes students and families.

I am committed to forming a working group to issue a detailed RFP addressing capacity, accessibility, affordability, enrichment, and potential rental income for SPS. Other towns have solved this—so can we. Let’s prioritize our families and make meaningful change.Learn more about my campaign at www.Sues4SPS.com.