MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Cherokee County School District’s After School Program (ASP) is to strive to establish a safe and caring environment for students that allows opportunity for individual and social growth with a minimum of formal structure. Children engage in activities that encourage creativity, social relationships, appropriate behavior and a positive self-image.
GOAL OF PROGRAM
The After School Program of Cherokee County School District is designed to provide:
• After school care for students who would otherwise be home alone in an unsupervised situation
• After school care for students whose parents work and need the assurance that their children are in a caring, safe environment
• After school enrichment opportunities for elementary-age students.
Parents must schedule for ASP in advance, by 11:59 pm on Sunday for the coming week. This will allow for adequate staffing of the program. ASP usage needed after the weekly deadline is considered "drop-in" or emergency care and will be charged accordingly.
RATES
2024-25 FEE SCHEDULE:
Weekly Rate | $12/day (must pay full week at first time of purchase) |
Daily Rate | $15/day (if paying for individual days of the week) |
Drop-in Rate | $20/day (registration after 11:59 pm Sunday for the coming week) |
Late Pick Up (after 6 pm) | $15/15 minutes, per child |
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT: https://ccsd.graystep.com
In an effort to provide your child with the best possible experience in the After School Program (ASP) while also keep staffing costs manageable, we are making some procedural changes that will allow us to know in advance how many students we can expect in the Program each day. Previously, parents could sign up for ASP up until 10:00 a.m. on the day they wanted their child to attend, which made scheduling the correct number of ASP workers difficult (and as a result, led to turnover in ASP staff as some sought more reliable hours/schedules elsewhere).
To address this issue, we are implementing a new enrollment and payment system that we believe will improve the program. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, please be prepared to schedule your student for ASP in advance, in one of two ways:
1. Schedule online and pay by credit or debit card. Access the link below, select the week or specific days you would like your child to attend, then pay with either a credit or debit card. Please know that a convenience fee of 3.85% will be applied at check-out. https://ccsd.graystep.com
2. Schedule with your child’s teacher or school front office and pay by check or cash using the designated ASP envelope. You will be required to pay at that time for the upcoming days or week. Please remember to schedule/send payment to meet the 11:59 pm Sunday deadline each week-- this may mean sending payment to school on each Friday.
In emergency situations, parents can still sign up for ASP up until 10:00 a.m. on the day they need their child to attend by contacting the school front office. Please note, the “Drop In Rate” ($20 per day) will apply.
Notes:
- ASP dates must be pre-purchased by 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday prior to the scheduled dates
- ASP dates may be purchased on a specified day basis (at $15/day) or for a full week at a discounted price ($12/day)
- “Drop-ins” are defined as students who are registered after the Sunday prior to the ASP date.
- Fees are ½ price for CCSD full-time employees (parents/legal guardians)
- Fees are waived for ASP staff working on the days in which their child is enrolled.
- Credits for prepaid ASP dates will not be issued due to the fact staff have been scheduled based on projected enrollment.
ASP Parent Information
Welcome to our school’s After-School Program! In order to ensure each family has a working description of this year’s ASP program, all parents/legal guardians with students participating in ASP are required to read and sign for the ASP Parent Information Letter.
2024-25 Forms: All parents will need to complete a one-time registration form for their child. Check the ASP page on your school website (look for an ASP button with a small clock icon).
Enrollment
- Any elementary-aged student attending a CCSD elementary school is eligible to attend that school’s ASP. This excludes half-day or special education pre-school students and all (full day) Georgia Lottery PreK students.
- Parents or legal guardians must register their child or children by completing a registration form and signing the notification letter (linked above). If there are any address/contact information changes, the parent or legal guardian of the participating student must notify ASP staff of changes.
- Students must be enrolled in ASP in order to participate in classes/activities offered by the Service Providers (outside vendors).
Program Times
- ASP begins at the time of the school’s dismissal and extends until 6:00 PM.
Fee Schedules, Payments and Refunds
- ASP is a PREPAID program.
- Parents must pre-designate and pre-pay for ASP participation by the week (i.e., “everyday”, “M/W/F”). This is done for the safety of students by pre-determining staff coverage needs, as well as ensuring that students that should stay in ASP do not board the bus and go home to an unsupervised situation.
- ASP tuition is $12 per day if used daily, $15 per day if used less than a full week. Tuition must be paid in advance. Money or notification of participation received after the designated time/weekday will cause the student to be considered as a drop-in and parents will be charged $20 for that day.
- Checks must be made payable to the school for the exact amount and include only ASP payments.
- Breakfast and/or lunch money must not be included with the ASP payment.
- Parents will be notified of any returned checks. Permission will be obtained from the parent for re-depositing the returned check. If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds a second time, future payment will be on a “cash-only” basis.
- For purposes of personal income tax credits, parents are responsible for retaining all receipts.
STUDENT PICK-UP
- Only persons approved and designated on the registration form will be allowed to sign out/pick up your child—this is for the protection of your child! PHOTO IDENTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED.
- Each/every student not picked up by 6:00 p.m. (according to the school’s clock) will be charged a late fee of $15 for each 15-minute portion/increment (i.e., 6:01-6:15 p.m. = $15. 6:16-6:30 p.m. = $30).
- Failure to pick up a child by 7:00 p.m. will be considered an emergency situation, and a call will be placed by ASP staff to the CCSD School Police (or 911) on behalf of the student. Students may be withdrawn from the program upon a third late pick-up. All parents/guardians are encouraged to have an emergency backup person in order to avoid these types of situations.
Safety
- To ensure the safety and security of all students in ASP, a program safety plan is reviewed and utilized on an annual basis. ASP coordinators are authorized to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency should an emergency occur which threatens the welfare of a child.
Discipline
- ASP is a support program and your child is expected to behave properly.
- Students must comply with the discipline policies laid out in the CCSD Student/Parent Handbook & Discipline Code and the individual school discipline policy.
- Inappropriate/disruptive behavior may result in suspension or withdrawal of your child.
Suspension/Withdrawals
- Students will be suspended or withdrawn from the ASP for the following reasons: (a) Excessive Late Pick-up (3 times), (b) Discipline Problems (3 times), and (c) Nonpayment of Fees and/or Late Pick up Fees.
Inclement Weather
- If school is closed or dismisses early due to inclement weather (or any other reason), the school’s ASP will also close for the day. In such a case, the school will follow the instructions given to your child’s homeroom teacher on his/her Inclement Weather form. ASP personnel will be responsible for any further parent contacts for the pick-up of ASP students. Parents should also note that designated ASP personnel will remain at the school during such a closing to insure all students have been picked up by the parent, guardian, or authorized designee.