Expansion of Free After-School Programs Announced for City Students

This fall, dozens of new locations will open to provide free after-school programs for city children. The initiative is part of a $331 million investment secured by City Hall during recent budget negotiations, aiming to expand access and opportunities for students across the city.

Announcing the move from P.S. 152 The Evergreen School in the South Bronx, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that the expansion will ensure children from working-class families have a safe, enriching space to learn and grow. “Now children from working-class families will have a place to thrive,” he stated.

The new sites include 37 public schools and three charter schools, creating space for an additional 5,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade starting this September, at an investment of $21 million. Over the next few years, nearly 20,000 more seats will be added, with a goal to serve 184,000 students annually by 2027, at an estimated total cost of $755 million.

This marks the first large-scale citywide expansion in almost a decade, addressing the needs of low-income neighborhoods, areas with high crime rates, and communities with many English language learners or students with disabilities. Priority was given to schools lacking existing after-school options, ensuring broad accessibility across diverse districts.

City officials, including Keith Howard of the Department of Youth and Community Development, highlighted that the program expansion is designed to support working parents while also fostering youth development. Howard, who grew up in the Bronx and now sends his children to similar programs, noted the importance of targeted placement based on community needs.

The full list of new locations includes 14 schools in the Bronx, 12 in Queens, nine in Brooklyn along with one charter, two schools in Staten Island, and two charter schools in Manhattan. With this update, the total number of free after-school programs in New York City next year will reach approximately 1,050.

Among the early providers participating in the expansion is New York Junior Tennis and Learning, which will operate at P.S. 152. Their president and CEO, Udai Tambar, expressed the belief that while talent is universal, opportunity is not, and these programs are vital in helping young people realize their full potential.