CA Adjusts Childcare Rates, Prioritizes Affordable Options For Families
Parents, great news! Columbia Association (CA) has reduced its rates for childcare during distance learning, offering families more accessible and affordable options for the upcoming school year.
“Kids in Columbia deserve the same opportunities as children across the county and beyond,” CA Vice President and CFO Susan Krabbe said. “Despite CA not being eligible for the CARES Act or other grant programs, we need to prioritize providing the best quality care for our community and making it possible for as many families as we can.”
CA programs go from September 8, 2020, through January 28, 2021. They will still be run out of ten schools throughout the Columbia community. New full program rates (children enrolled Monday through Friday for the entirety of the program) are as follows:
- Full Day (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): $4,128 *equates to $43/day*
- Mornings only (7 a.m. to noon): $2,064
- Afternoons only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.): $ 2,064
CA understands the need for flexible week-to-week and daily enrollment options as well. The new weekly and daily rates are as follows:
- Full Day (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): $50/day, $215/week
- Mornings only (7 a.m. to noon): $30/day, $108/week
- Afternoons only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.): $30/day, $108/week
The adjusted pricing equates to more than $100 of savings a week per child compared to previous rates. Anyone who has already registered their child at the higher rate will be notified and adjustments will be made accordingly.
“We understand firsthand the financial pressures this pandemic is putting on our community,” CA Community Services Director Michelle Miller said. “We hope by reducing our rates, our programming becomes a viable option for more parents this school year.”
On top of these adjustments, CA is still accepting Child Care Scholarship (or CCS, formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) Program vouchers to help those families whose incomes qualify.
The ten CA locations will provide supervised school work time and activities throughout the entire day with classes limited to 13 children for every two staff members. These programs are open to both CA residents and non-residents. Extensive sanitation protocols are also in place to ensure the safety of staff and children alike.
“It’s important to remember that space is extremely limited, so parents should register as soon as possible to ensure their children get a spot,” Miller said.
If you have questions about additional COVID-19 precautions, program locations and any other information, you can find a detailed FAQ about our School Aged Services on our CA Reopens page. You can also contact SAS@ColumbiaAssociation.org or Marilyn Watring at 410-715-3164.
