City Council Discusses Funding and Feedback for New Afterschool Programs Amid Rising Demand

During a recent City Council executive budget hearing, officials focused on the anticipated rollout for the Compass and Sonic afterschool programs. Held on May 19, 2025, this meeting served as a platform for lawmakers and service providers to discuss funding timelines and gather community feedback.

Council members learned that a concept paper for the new RFP (Request for Proposals) for the Compass programs is expected to be released by the end of May 2025. Stakeholders were informed that the goal is to engage with community members during the summer months to enhance the feedback process for the RFP, especially considering the pressing demand for afterschool slots (Source: https://youtu.be/4MIahdeVaNw&t=12830).

The hearing underscored the pressing need for funds to stabilize these programs. Although the city plans to introduce 5,000 new slots for the Compass program in fiscal year 2026 and an additional 15,000 by 2028, concerns were raised about the ongoing financial strain on providers due to outdated contract rates that have not been adjusted since 2015. Providers emphasized that these stagnant rates do not adequately reflect the actual costs of providing quality services (Source: https://youtu.be/4MIahdeVaNw&t=19370). Council members urged the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to incorporate a phased approach to increase rates in the next fiscal year to ensure stability and incentivize quality programming (Source: https://youtu.be/4MIahdeVaNw&t=12830).

Additionally, community representatives expressed their desire for the city to better integrate feedback into the RFP process. They highlighted the importance of incorporating the insights of those most affected, including students and families, into the program design (Source: https://youtu.be/4MIahdeVaNw&t=12727).

As the timeline for these initiatives approaches, stakeholders remain hopeful that the city will implement a transparent and responsive RFP process, allowing for adequate resources to be allocated where they are most needed, thus ensuring effective afterschool programming across New York City.