Parents and elected officials in southern Brooklyn are outraged after the state cut funding for several after-school program providers, just two weeks before the start of the new school year.

Elected officials estimate the decision by the state’s Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) could impact more than 1,300 students who rely on the free after-school programs, including those at PS 185 in Bay Ridge.

What You Need To Know

  • Parents and elected officials in southern Brooklyn are outraged after the state cut funding for several after-school program providers just two weeks before the start of the new school year

  • Elected officials estimate the decision by the state’s Office of Children and Family Services could impact more than 1,300 students, including those at PS 185 in Bay Ridge

  • The issue appears to stem from the implementation of the state’s new funding program for after-school services, in which criteria to qualify for that funding differs from the existing program

Parent Teacher Association president Michelle Magnus says families who previously paid nothing could have to shell out thousands of dollars for after school care now that the NIA Community Services Network, which provides those services for the school, was among the groups whose funding was not renewed.

“If you have two kids, that’s $6,000,” Magnus said. “Or if you’re making only a certain amount of money, that’s a lot. We have about 30-40% low-income families.”

The issue appears to stem from the implementation of the state’s new funding program: the New York State Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports (LEAPS). Criteria to qualify for funding differs from that of the existing Advantage and Empire State after-school programs.

Magnus says PS 185 parent volunteers who have been in touch with the state were told they would not be given the new criteria to qualify for funding until after the start of the school year.

“They’re kind of getting a runaround,” Magnus said. “They wouldn’t release information on the criteria to get approved for the funding until November.”

The state said the new funding program is meant to expand access to social and emotional support services for students. But a spokesperson for the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Brooklyn, another after-school provider whose funding was not renewed, said the agency told them they had simply run out of money.

“It is my understanding not only FIAO but anybody who applied for the grant in districts 20 and 21 were not allocated that money,” Orsola Bonilla, FIAO of Brooklyn, said. “And that if things would change, then we’re still being considered for the grant if they were funded more.”

Some lawmakers said they’ve been voicing their concerns to the agency since early June before the end of the previous school year and that the state assured them they’ll be awarding funding to other after-school providers to fill the gap.

However, just weeks before the start of the school year, it’s unclear who those providers are.