Oversight Hearing on Afterschool Expansion & Concept Paper

Committee on Children and Youth to Hold Oversight Hearing on Afterschool Expansion and DYCD’s Concept Paper

For Immediate Release

Point of Contact: Jahtah Brown | Jbrown@council.nyc.gov | (917) 565-2404

City Hall, NY – On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM, the New York City Council’s Committee on Children and Youth, chaired by Council Member Althea Stevens, will convene an oversight hearing to discuss the DYCD’S Concept Paper and Afterschool Expansion.

The Committee will examine the Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) recently released concept paper on its COMPASS and SONYC afterschool programs, which will shape the City’s first afterschool Request for Proposals (RFP) in over a decade.Testimony will be heard from DYCD officials, social service providers, advocates, and members of the public.

In April 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard announced a $331 million investment in afterschool programming, branded as “After-School for All.” The initiative aims to provide universal access to afterschool programs for public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade by FY 2028, creating 20,000 new seats and expanding services to a projected 184,000 students citywide.

While the expansion is a significant step, providers and advocates have raised concerns about the feasibility of the proposed models.

Key issues include:

Funding Gaps: Proposed per-participant reimbursement rates fall short of provider estimates, raising questions about long-term sustainability.
Contract Length and Startup: Providers argue that a one-month start-up period is insufficient to recruit staff and prepare programming.

Program Design Clarity: Stakeholders have highlighted unclear expectations for hybrid learning, SONYC summer curriculum, and balancing academic vs. recreational needs.

Council Member Stevens emphasized the importance of the hearing:

“Afterschool programs are essential to the success, safety, and development of our young people. This oversight hearing will give us the opportunity to hear directly from DYCD, providers, and advocates to ensure the City’s investments meet the real needs of families and children.”

The Committee on Children and Youth looks forward to a robust discussion to inform the development of DYCD’s forthcoming RFP and ensure that afterschool expansion delivers on the promise of universal access for New York City students.

"Afterschool programs are a vital resource for our city's young people, communities, and families. The Adams Administration's expansion plan and upcoming Request for Proposals show important progress, but more must be done to ensure that we are creating an afterschool system for the future. Program options must meet youth's needs and staff must be paid livable wages to create engaging and sustainable programs," said Kate Connolly, Senior Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses. "We look forward to the City Council's hearing and the opportunity to hear more about the City's vision for afterschool."

"As one of the largest afterschool providers in NYC, the YMCA thanks Chair Stevens and the City Council for conducting this oversight hearing on the current state and future of the City's afterschool system," said Sharon Greenberger, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. "The current City-funded afterschool system was designed more than a decade ago and is long overdue for a redesign. The new system should better reflect the needs of our families, the capacity of our providers, and the changing demographics of our City.”

For more information or media inquiries, please contact the Office of Council Member Althea Stevens at (718) 588-7500 or at District16@council.nyc.gov

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