Vista AM/PM Comprehensive Program Sees Massive Growth
Vista Unified School District’s before-and-after school program has enjoyed impressive growth, more than tripling the number of students involved in just a few years. The increased demand is due in large part to a growing awareness of the opportunities the program provides, and a simpler path to enroll.
The AM/PM Comprehensive Program, as it is now known, is a combination of several before-and-after school programs the district has previously offered at its elementary and middle schools. “By combining all the separate programs into one, we provide all students the same opportunities through the single comprehensive program,” says Cheri Borger, Before and After School Program Manager for Vista USD.
Borger says that simplifying the system by tying the various programs together has resulted in increased enrollment. The numbers doubled from the previous year during the 2023-24 school year and have increased again this year.
District Celebrates Rapid Growth of Program
There are currently close to 3,000 elementary school children enrolled in the program, and close to 800 students in the middle schools. Last year’s middle school numbers were around the 320 mark, so enrollment has grown considerably this year. There is currently a waitlist for the elementary school sites, but Borger says there are still open spots in the middle school program; there is a possibility that more elementary school spots could open up if staffing can increase.
“The program has helped out enormously at our middle schools because they have a late start on Mondays,” explains Borger. “We have that extra option for parents who need to drop their kids off at school because of the late start. We provide programs and opportunities for the students on site, plus breakfast, and then they go on to school.”
Reflecting on how quickly the program has grown, Borger tells of how just two years ago VUSD elementary schools were serving around 740 kids in the after-school program and not even 100 middle schoolers.
Far Beyond Babysitting
As for the stereotype of before-and-after school programs essentially being a form of babysitting, Borger sets the record straight.
“We have a very structured program,” she explains. “One of the basic components is the ‘academic hour’. We have academic games and activities, and we also have a social-emotional element to give extra support.”
The children also have both organized and free play outside time. The enrichment component is comprehensive and this year includes miniature golf, Bollywood and hip-hop dance, culinary classes, yoga classes, soccer, and STEM workshops.
Middle schoolers get engineering opportunities as well as more sports options including soccer, volleyball, and basketball.
“Our biggest goal with middle schoolers is to expose them to enrichment activities to keep them involved as they move through school,” says Borger. “We try to find things that match the pathways that are at high school. It's hard for kids when they've never had opportunities they get to high school and their parents are saying, ‘You’ve got to get involved in something’.
“We want to expose them to all those things so they see the opportunities available when they are in high school so they’ll think, ‘I know this, I can do this’.”
Assemblies & Inspiration
The program also arranges assemblies at school sites with motivational speakers whose core values align with the district’s theme this year, that of ‘being
compassionate, and champions of hope and joy’.
Borger largely attributes the success of all programs to working with the kids themselves regarding the content: “We make it open. If kids come in and say, ‘we really want to do this’, then we look into it, set it up and bring it in. It's not just us saying ‘this is what it is’. It really is kid-driven.”
Every student is eligible for the program, and the program is open to all students registered at the school. The AMPM Program is free to the following students:
Students who are defined as homeless youth, as defined in the federal McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a)
Students who are in the foster youth program
Students who are eligible for free and reduced-priced meals {EDC 8483(c)(1)(A)}
For families who do not fall into one of the above categories, a fee-based structure will apply.
One Student: Each additional student within the same family)
AM Care only: $7.00 per day AM Care only: $3.50 per day
PM Care only: $15.00 per day PM Care only: $7.50 per day
AM & PM Care: $20.00 per day AM & PM Care $10.00 per day
Borger sees more success in the future: “We're making that impact that we've always wanted to but didn't quite have all the resources to do before. Now we do, and we’re aligned and working collaboratively with the schools. It's awesome.”
For more information on the AMPM Comprehensive Program:
Visit the website here or email:
Jessica Pittman jessicapittman@vistausd.org,
Christine Diaz-Ramirez christineramirez@vistausd.org
Claudia Vidrio claudiavidrio@vistausd.org (Spanish)