Aftercare programs for MalcolmX (TK)
Hello parents friends,
Our 4 year old daughter is enrolled for Malcolm X TK for 2025-2026 school calendar. We will be new to the BUSD and are excited about that. However, we are anxious about the cumbersomeness that is to get aftercare. We have added her to all the possible aftercare programs I have heard from the community. See below.
We are currently waitlisted on multiple aftercare programs including LEARNS, the City of Berkeley programs that includes Live Oak, Willard Clubhouse, James Kenney Afterschool, Frances Albrier Performing Arts, and others including New School, JCC, Berkwood Hedge, the Berkeley School, and Bahia. We are getting concerned that we might not get any of them. Beyond that challenge, we still need to figure it out the transportation if we get any of them. Both of us work full-time Mon-Fri 9-6 pm onsite so we do need to get aftercare for her. Part of me wants to try private schools due to the huge challenge that has been to find a spot in any of the aftercare programs.
I am looking forward to hearing the aftercare advice from the Berkeley Parents Network here or if we missed any aftercare programs we need to consider.
Thank you in advance for any info or advice you can share!!
Natacha & Leif
Parent Replies
Try Kids in Motion at John Muir Elementary. Kids can get bussed their from other public schools in the area.
You can also try Via Nova - they have a program for TK/K students and handle the pick up from MX.
Unfortunately, I can’t be of any help here, but I’m posting in the hopes that BUSD or City of Berkeley is paying attention.
We also got into MX TK this year. During the enrollment time, we tried to figure out aftercare logistics. Was told my MX that our chances of getting into LEARNS are 0 because we are not part of a priority group. Was told by Berkeley Rec that, at that time, the after school programs would are not open to TKers, but that may change, and to check back in June, and check back in July to register. Bahia and other programs did not having transport from MX. It was impossible to contact New School to get any information. Obviously MX after-school admin know which programs have transport from MX, but they don’t bother to share that information publicly to make life easier on incoming parents.
JCC was the only option with transport from MX, but unfortunately, it’s on the other side of town for us, complicating pickup logistics. As two full time working parents, we decided on another year of private school. And honestly, if we continue to have such logistical challenges with aftercare, we’ll probably continue with private.
Sadly, the young kids are last in line for the LEARNS programs, yet they are the ones who need the most supervision and support, with fewest after school options and earliest dismissal. Doesn’t make any sense to me. I understand the need to prioritize low income families, but I also believe that middle and high income families would be happy to pay more in order to support those kids while also getting on-campus aftercare or transportation to more aftercare options. Instead, this situation forces us to choose private school.