Academics · Subject Resources

Compare who has them
from three to six

After-school care fills hundreds of hours a year. Check the license first, weigh supervision and hours against your real work day, rate each program at pickup time and enter the monthly cost to see the school year.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: a school-based club, a community center and a learning center for a second grader, where the cheapest program closes before the family can get there. Use initials or a code for the child.

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What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per decision: how much licensing, staff, the afternoon, hours and cost matter; each program rated 1 to 5 with monthly cost and children per adult; seven questions such as inspection reports, pickup rules and holiday closures marked answered or still to ask; and a next step. The flags rank the programs, turn monthly cost into a school year, flag busy ratios and call out a must-have rated 2 or lower. A side-by-side table prints.
Who it is for
Parents and guardians choosing after-school care for an elementary or middle school child.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Look up each program's license.
  2. Visit at pickup time.
  3. Enter cost and children per adult.
  4. Rate each program.
  5. Print the side-by-side table.

Start a comparison

Checking a program before you sign

Five checks before you sign1LicenseLook up the program on yourstate's licensing site.2InspectionsRead the last two inspectionreports and any violations.3PeopleBackground checks for everyadult, and who is in charge.4PickupWho may collect the child andhow ID is checked.5ClosuresEarly-release days, holidaysand summer.Five checks before you sign1LicenseLook up the program on your state'slicensing site.2InspectionsRead the last two inspection reports andany violations.3PeopleBackground checks for every adult, andwho is in charge.4PickupWho may collect the child and how ID ischecked.5ClosuresEarly-release days, holidays and summer.
Programs run by schools, recreation departments and some youth groups may be exempt from licensing; ask what standards they follow instead.

Licensing and exemptions

Each state licenses child care and sets its own rules for staff ratios, training and inspections. Some school-age programs, such as those run by public schools or recreation departments, are exempt. childcare.gov links to every state's licensing search, where you can read inspection reports.

Help paying

Families who qualify can get help through the Child Care and Development Fund, run by each state, and many programs offer sibling discounts. Dependent care accounts through an employer can also cover after-school care for children under 13.

Sources

  1. childcare.gov. Find child care and state licensing and inspection information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
  2. Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families. Child Care and Development Fund (acf.hhs.gov/occ).
  3. Afterschool Alliance. America After 3PM (afterschoolalliance.org).
  4. Internal Revenue Service. Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses (irs.gov).

The worked example and its programs are made up. Licensing rules and ratios are set by each state. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.