A+ After-School Program

General Information

Q: What is the A+ Afterschool Program?

A: The A+ Afterschool Program is a state-supported childcare program aimed at providing consistent and quality afterschool care for students. The program was developed by the Legislature to reduce the incidence of latchkey children in the after-school hours. To qualify for the A+ program, parents/guardians must meet the following A+ Eligibility criteria:

• School-Age Student: The child must be in Kindergarten to 6th grade and attending a public elementary school with a participating A+ program.
• Parent/Guardian Activities During A+ Operation Hours: Parents or legal guardians must be engaged in one of the following activities during A+ operation hours:
  • Employed (having a job or being self-employed)
  • Attending school (college, university, or other types of schools)
  • Engaged in job training
  • Working for the A+ program
• Documentation: Parents/guardians must provide written documentation to verify their employment and/or attendance in school or training programs. All documentation must confirm that these activities occur during A+ operation hours.

Q: How has the registration process changed for the 2024-2025 school year?

A: The State updated the A+ registration forms and launched a new registration online system on its own DOE A+ website, in addition to those offered by A+ providers like the YMCA, to streamline the process and reach more families. Families can register either on an A+ provider's or the Hawaii State A+ online site. This resulted in some increased processing time.

Also please note that while all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are processing registrations in this order of priority:

1. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that currently have open spots.
2. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that still need to meet minimum enrollment requirements.
3. All other registrations in the order received.   
    

Enrollment Status

Q: What are the different enrollment statuses for YMCA A+ schools?

A: Enrollment statuses fall into four categories:

• Waitlisted: Schools that are full due to staffing needs.
• Open: Schools with available spots (While a school may show available spots, submitting a registration form does not guarantee enrollment. Your application might be waitlisted because we are still processing registrations submitted before yours, which could fill the available spots by the time we reach your application.)
• Tentative: Schools that have not yet met minimum enrollment requirements.
• Ineligible: Your child does not meet the Hawaii State A+ Qualifications. The A+ Programs were developed by the Legislature to reduce the incidence of latchkey children in the after-school hours. Therefore, all A+ programs must qualify students based on the definition of “latchkey,” which refers to children who have no adult present in the home to provide after-school supervision. Parents/guardians must meet the following A+ Eligibility criteria to participate:
  • School-age student (grades Kindergarten to 6th grade) attending a public elementary school with participating A+ program.
  • Parent/legal guardian(s) who participates in any of the following activities during A+ Operation Hours:
    • Employed (have a job or are self-employed)
    • Attend school (college, university, or other types of schools)
    • Engaged in job training
    • Work for the A+ program
  • Provide written documentation to verify employment and/or attendance in school or training programs for each parent/guardian. All documentation must verify that these activities take place during A+ Operation hours. For more details, please visit A+ Eligibility Criteria

Delayed Registration Processing:  
When we review your registration, there may be information in your application that needs to be addressed in order for us to complete the processing.

Please respond to these requests as soon as possible. We cannot complete your registration processing until we receive ALL information. Once your document and/or information are submitted, we can continue processing your registration.  

Please re-check your email (both your inbox and "SPAM" folders) to be sure that you did not miss an email from [email protected] that requested additional information. If you did not receive an email, please see the question “What should I do if I did not receive an email?”

Once your registration has been processed:  
You will receive an email with your admission status. Be sure to check your email frequently, including your “spam” folder, to ensure you don’t miss this notification from [email protected].

Q: Which schools are currently waitlisted?  

A: Waitlisted schools are those that are full due to staffing needs. For the most current list of waitlisted schools, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.

Q: Which schools have open spots?  

A: Open schools are those with available spots (While a school may show available spots, submitting a registration form does not guarantee enrollment. Your application might be waitlisted because we are still processing registrations submitted before yours, which could fill the available spots by the time we reach your application.) For the most current list of schools with open spots, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.  

Q: Which schools are tentative and still need to meet minimum enrollment?  

A: Tentative schools are those that have not yet met minimum enrollment requirements. For the most current list of tentative schools, please see "A+ Locations & Statuses" section on this webpage.  

Application & Registration Process  

Q: What is the timeline for processing applications and what do the different admission statuses mean?  

A: Processing times may be delayed as we work through all submitted registrations.

Also please note that while all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are processing registrations in this order of priority:  

1. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that currently have open spots.  
2. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that still need to meet minimum enrollment requirements.  
3. For school sites that have reached capacity (see list at A+ Locations & Statuses section), we have date and time-stamped registrations and will begin processing them after we have completed processing registrations for sites that are still open or need to meet minimum enrollment requirements.    

Once processed, you will receive an Admission Status Notification email which will indicate one of the following statuses:

• Enrolled: Your child has been successfully enrolled in the program.  
• Waitlisted: Your child is on the waitlist due to full enrollment.  
• Ineligible: Your child does not meet the Hawaii State A+ Qualifications. The A+ Programs were developed by the Legislature to reduce the incidence of latchkey children in the after-school hours. Therefore, all A+ programs must qualify students based on the definition of “latchkey,” which refers to children who have no adult present in the home to provide after-school supervision. Parents/guardians must meet the following A+ Eligibility criteria to participate:  
  • School-age student (grades Kindergarten to 6th grade) attending a public elementary school with participating A+ program.  
  • Parent/legal guardian(s) who participates in any of the following activities during A+ Operation Hours:  
    • Employed (have a job or are self-employed)  
    • Attend school (college, university, or other types of schools)  
    • Engaged in job training  
    • Work for the A+ program
  • Provide written documentation to verify employment and/or attendance in school or training programs for each parent/guardian. All documentation must verify that these activities take place during A+ Operation hours. For more details, please visit A+ Eligibility Criteria
• Tentative: Your child’s school site has not yet met the minimum enrollment requirements.  

Delayed Registration Processing:  
Please re-check your email (both your inbox and "SPAM" folders) to be sure that you did not miss an email from [email protected] that requested additional information. Please respond to these requests as soon as possible -  as we cannot complete your registration processing until ALL information is received. Once your document and or information is submitted, we can continue processing your registration.  

Once your registration has been processed:  
You will receive an email with your admission status. Be sure to check your email frequently, including your “spam” folder, to ensure you don’t miss this notification from [email protected].  

Q: How do I check on the status of my registration? What should I do if I did not receive an email?  

A: Once your registration is processed, you will receive an Admission Status Notification email which will indicate whether your child has been enrolled or waitlisted. Or if your application was incomplete, you will receive an email from [email protected] requesting additional information. Please respond to these requests as soon as possible -  as we cannot complete your registration processing until ALL information is received.

If you have not received any communication from us to date, please do a search for an email from [email protected] to ensure that our email did not go into your SPAM or promotional email box.

If, after searching, you have not received an email from us, please follow the directions below depending on when you submitted your registration:  

If you submitted your registration during the month of May:

1. Please email us at [email protected] and add in your subject header: Registration submitted in May  
2. Please arrange for alternate care for your child(ren) until we can contact you about your registration. 
   
   [Email is our preferred method of communication as we are working from very early in the morning through late in the evening and diligently processing a large number of A+ registrations. Be sure to add in your subject header: Registration submitted in May. We appreciate your continued patience and support.]

If you submitted your registration AFTER May 31, 2024, please follow the directions below based on the current status of your School Site: “Open or Tentative” OR “Waitlist” [Go to A+ Locations & Statuses to check on your School’s Current Status]

Your School Site is currently Open or Tentative

1. If you did not receive an email, please email us at [email protected] and add in your subject header: Registration submitted after May 31, school site is open or tentative.
2. Please arrange for alternate care for your child(ren) until we can contact you about your registration. Note that due to the ongoing processing of registrations that could have been submitted before yours, available spots may be filled by the time your registration is processed. 
   
   [Email is our preferred method of communication as we are working from very early in the morning through late in the evening and diligently processing a large number of A+ registrations. Be sure to add in your subject header: Registration submitted after May 31, school site is open or tentative. We appreciate your continued patience and support.]

Your School Site is currently Waitlist  

We are so sorry, but please consider your child to be waitlisted at this time, and arrange for alternate care for your child(ren).

When we have finished processing all registrations for Open/Tentative School Sites, we will process all Waitlist school site registrations and create a waitlist based on date and time submitted. Should there be openings, we will reach out via email. We are working hard to hire staff offering hiring and referral bonuses and competitive pay. [See below under “Job Opportunities and Hiring and Referrals Bonuses” for ways you can help!]

In the meantime, check both your inbox and spam email folders frequently for an email from [email protected].

Q: Why might I be waitlisted even if my school site is listed on the open spots list?  

A: Due to the ongoing processing of registrations submitted before yours, available spots may be filled by the time your application is processed.  

Q: What should I do if my child is waitlisted? 

A: Plan for alternative childcare options, and monitor your email [search your inbox, SPAM/Promotional box for email from [email protected]] for status updates and further communication from the Y. Please know that the Y is working diligently to increase capacity – please see the section below about Job Opportunities and Referrals.  

Q: What should I do if there is missing information in my application?   
A: Check your email (including spam and promotional folders for an email from [email protected]) for a request and details for additional information and submit the required documents as soon as possible so as not to delay the completion of your registration processing.  [If you did not receive an email, please see the answer to the question: “What should I do if I did not receive an email.”]

Job Opportunities and Hiring and Referrals Bonuses

Q: How can I help with staffing shortages which is the primary reason for A+ waitlists?

A: You can refer potential employees to the YMCA – see the referral and employment benefits below!  

Q: What are the benefits of referring someone to work at the YMCA?

A: For each new hire referral who remains employed for at least 30 days, referring members of the public will receive $250 in Y credit. This credit can be used for Y programs, camps, childcare, A+ fees, swim lessons, personal training, and more. YMCA employees can earn a $750 bonus for each successful referral for our A+ program. See details here. 

Q: What incentives are offered to new hires?  

A: New hires in our A+ Afterschool Programs receive a $750 hiring bonus [eligibility and details are here], competitive pay rates (up to $19/hr for Group Leaders and up to $21.50/hr for Site Coordinators), paid training, and supportive supervisors and trainers. Additionally, they receive a free Y membership and up to 60% off Y programs, camps, childcare, and more for themselves, their family, and siblings. See all details here.

Fee and Subsidy Information

Q: What is the monthly fee for the A+ Program?  

A: The monthly fee is $160 per child.  

Q: Is there a subsidy available for the A+ program fee?  

A: Yes, families can apply for the DHS subsidy, which covers the full $160/month A+ program fee.   
DHS has adjusted the eligibility schedule, increasing the maximum income eligibility levels. Families who previously exceeded the income eligibility may now possibly qualify for this subsidy. The subsidy will cover the full monthly program fee.  

To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.

Q: How do I apply for the fee subsidy?  

A: To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.

Additional Resources

Q: Where can I find more information about the A+ Program?

A: Visit the Hawaii State A+ Website at https://hawaiicommunityengagement.com/after-school-plus/

All “latchkey” children enrolled in public elementary schools in K-6, are eligible to participate if they are living with parent(s), guardian(s)*, or foster parent(s)/guardian(s)** who is/are:

• Employed during the hours of A+ operations;
• Working in the A+ Program;
• Attending colleges, universities, or other types of schools during the hours of A+ operations - class schedule including day/time is required; or
• Engaged in job training programs during the hours of A+ operations.

^{*If either biological parent is NOT authorized to pick up, explanation and custody documents are required to be submitted each school year. 
**Foster documents are required to be submitted each school year.}

Proof of employment/school/job training is REQUIRED from both parents/legal guardians to determine eligibility for the A+ program. Please provide one of the following:

• Employed Parents:
  • Most recent paystub with hours worked indicated.
  • If you are not able to submit a paystub: a letter from your employer indicating days & times worked (may be a sample schedule if hours vary) will be accepted.
• Self-employed/independent contractor parents: Please submit the following:
  • GE Tax license AND 
  • Previous year's tax return (1040) with Schedule C OR a voided business check/business bank statement with company name.
  • If the business is new or you are unable to provide the required documents, eligibility may be denied until these conditions can be met.
• Parents/legal guardians attending school:
  • School Schedule on official school letterhead with the school's name, name of the student and course schedule with date and time.
• Parents in Job Training:
  • DHS_728 First to work approval letter.

Self-employed parents and independent contractors can usually make their own schedules and need to verify their working status.

• If you do NOT receive a W-2 at the end of the calendar year from your employer, or you receive a 1099 form from the company you work with, additional documents will be required.
• Please submit a copy of your GE tax license AND a copy of either
  1. income tax return including your Schedule C or
  2. printed business checking account

The monthly fee for the school year is $200. For the 2024-2025 school year, the DOE will use federal funds to help offset $40/month per student in A+ fees, bringing the monthly cost down to $160 for all families who do not qualify for the Department of Human Services (DHS) income-based subsidy.

DHS has adjusted the eligibility schedule, increasing the maximum income eligibility levels. Families who previously exceeded the income eligibility may now possibly qualify for this subsidy. The subsidy will cover the full monthly program fee.

To apply and learn more, please visit the DOE A+ Financial Assistance website which includes the DOE A+ Income Eligibility Table for DHS A+ Subsidies to check your eligibility. After you have applied for financial assistance, please upload supporting documents to our secure website.

Monthly fees are due on the first program day of each month. Your first month’s program fee will be due on the first A+ program day. The fee is set by the DOE and may be subject to change if your child’s school implements a blended school schedule.

While all registrations have been date and time-stamped when received, we are now processing registrations in this order of priority:

1. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that currently have open spots.
2. Registrations in the order received for all school sites that still need to meet minimum enrollment requirements.
3. Registrastions in the order received fro all school sites that are currently waitlisted.

Once we have completed processing your registration, you will receive an email notification [“Admissions Status Notification"] on the status of your child’s/children’s enrollment, which includes whether your child has been:

• Enrolled, or
• Waitlisted*, or
• Determined ineligible, or
• The A+ program at your child's school is not available due to insufficient enrollment  [A+ sites require enrollment of at least 20 children.]

Notes:

• Incomplete Applications: If there is missing information on your application, we are not able to complete your registration processing, and you will receive an email.
  • Check your email (both your inbox and "SPAM" folders) to be sure that you did not miss an email from [email protected] that requested additional information.
  • Please respond to these requests as soon as possible -  as we cannot complete your registration processing until ALL information is received.
  • Once your documents are submitted, we can continue processing your registration.
  • If you did not receive an email, see the drop down menu item “FAQ: A+ Registration, Enrollment, Waitlists, Notifications, and More” - and the Question “What to do if I didn’t receive an email?”

*Waitlist: Some A+ school sites have reached capacity due to staffing challenges, capacity limits or may not have reached the minimum 20-student enrollment requirement.

Please know that we are working on resolving these limitations with:

• Promotions to hire more staff  - including competitive pay, offering a $750 hiring bonus, and referral bonuses that include a $250 Y Credit to the public for each new hire referral and for Y employees, a $750 new hire referral bonus. Details are here.

• Working with schools to expand capacity.

• For those sites that have not met the minimum enrollment, we are promoting registration at those impacted school sites.

See the drop down menu item:  “FAQ: A+ Registration, Enrollment, Waitlists, Notifications, and More” for more details.

• May 2024 A+ School & Summer DOE Newsletter
• July 2024 A+ School DOE Newsletter