MUSD providing numerous child-care options

Parents of children in district elementary schools can now drop them off earlier and pick them up later.

The Maricopa Unified School District is offering interested parents the opportunity to use their Copa Kids Care before and after-school kids’ care program.

This unique program, which maintains a child to adult ratio of 20:1, is completely non-profit, offering parents an alternative to costly child-care providers, said Laura Salter, site lead for the Santa Rosa Elementary program.

There are two payment options available through the program, every two weeks or every four weeks.

Parents who take the four-week option receive a five percent discount; parents who pay an entire semester’s tuition up front receive a 10 percent discount. Additional discounts are also available if a child is on reduced/free lunch or the parent has multiple children in the program.

Parents can choose whether they want to use before-school care, after-school care or both.

The cost for only before-care service is $25 per week for five days or $15 per week for three days. Students enrolled in the before-school program can be dropped off as early as 6 a.m.

“When they get here, we basically feed them and get them warmed up for school,” Salter said.

The after-school program runs from the time school is out until 6 p.m. “In the after-school session we have a snack, play games and do other activities,” Salter said. “But the most important thing is that we make sure students have their homework completed before allowing them to play.”

The cost of the after-school session is $50 for five days and $40 for three days.

If parents are interested in using both the before and after services, the cost is $75 for five days and $45 for three days.

In addition to the weekly sessions, a plan is available to parents who wish to use the program sporadically. Called the Copa Kids Day Pass, this plan can be purchased for $75 (five days) or $150 (10 days).

“The great thing about these programs is that there is no transporting of your kids to and from child-care facilities,” Salter said.

Submitted photo