What is the Current State of K-12 School Funding?

Funding for before & after-school programs in public schools in the United States presents unique challenges due to the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of K-12 school funding. These schools rely on a combination of local, state, and federal resources for funding. While nearly 87% of their budget comes from state and local dollars, federal contributions still represent a significant portion essential for schools to operate and thrive each year.

Ongoing regulatory changes have a substantial impact on a school or district’s ability to plan effectively. As these changes unfold, it’s critical to have a flexible financial plan in place that can support your school if K-12 funding levels shift again.

Many areas within K-12 education are impacted by unpredictable changes. For instance, cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – commonly known as food stamps – may make it harder for students who previously qualified for free or reduced-price meals to access these benefits in the future.

How are Before & After-School Programs Funded?

Beyond nutrition, other aspects of schools are also impacted by funding changes. For example, prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year,  before & after-school programs experienced threats to funding, including a brief period when it was frozen altogether. Although it has since been restored, uncertainty remains about potential future changes and what lies ahead that can make financial planning for K-12 before & after-school programs difficult.

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) offers funding specifically for before & after-school programs and summer programs.  Currently, these grants are available to schools that qualify and meet specific guidelines, such as maintaining daily attendance and serving a minimum number of students. The 21st CCLC stands out as the only federal funding source dedicated specifically to these programs. Any significant changes to this funding could greatly impact schools, students, and families who rely on these programs.

Given the current climate of ongoing policy changes and budget uncertainties, schools are also concerned about potential shifts to the grant requirements themselves, involving changes that could make it substantially more difficult for districts across the country to secure these funds in the future. As this continues to unfold, it is important to assess your school's current needs, review how these funds were previously used, and plan ahead in case before & after-school funding is impacted in the future.

How Can Funding Challenges Be Addressed?

While before & after-school funding has resumed for the 2025-26 school year after the brief freeze from the federal government, at the time of this writing, many administrators still worry that the issue may present itself again next school year. It’s important to plan ahead for these types of challenges in case they arise. Carefully assess your school’s current needs and understand how and where funds are allocated.

Identify where funds may need to be supplemented if a future freeze were to take place. This process will help identify areas that require sustained support as well as opportunities for cost savings and even potential revenue generation that can go back into programs. 

There are a range of options that could help to supplement funding gaps. An increasingly popular strategy is to implement fees or co-payments for certain programs, such as charging families for before & after-school services. While for many schools this offering is free, there is the risk that if the federal funding to support that disappears, the programs could as well.

While implementing parent payments would require thoughtful communication and sensitivity to families’ financial situations, it can be an effective revenue stream that allows schools to continue on with current programs, rather than having to eliminate the program completely. Programs can also consider alternative sources like fundraising that can also help to diversify funding streams.

Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Your School District

To support establishing and implementing these strategies, a trusted software partner can provide great support when looking to enhance both the financial stability and operational efficiency of your K-12 school programs. Look to find a partner that offers a singular platform with multiple products that can expand with your school’s growing needs.

By doing so, you’ll minimize the continuous need for new training and onboarding, saving on expenses along the way. Singular platform softwares can offer integrated payment and management solutions that help with administrative tasks, simplify fee collection, and improve transparency for parents through communication, all within one system.

Many of these softwares offer options for specific needs, such as a dedicated school program management product. Tools like this can provide the resources to collect payments, registrations, and handle sign-in and sign-out each day. By adopting such platforms, schools and before & after-school programs can streamline their billing processes, better track enrollment and attendance, and build stronger relationships with families, all while saving administrators work on these often manual, time-consuming tasks. 

Alongside technology, partnering with a software platform that offers a responsive customer support team is key to schools success during challenging times. When regulations and funding can shift rapidly, having access to knowledgeable support staff who are up-to-date and ready to assist can help to guarantee smoother transitions and uninterrupted operations. upport like this is a necessity for districts striving to effectively manage ongoing changes while also making sure they get the most out of their software and best support their schools and students. 

Navigating the uncertainty of K-12 funding for before and after-school programs requires proactive planning, strategic resource management, and the right technological tools to streamline operations. By understanding the current funding landscape and exploring different alternative revenue options, schools can better position themselves to sustain and even grow essential programs that support students and families. As you consider your next steps, you can turn to partners, like MSB Activities, that can help you not only collect and manage before and after care funds, but help you manage the day-to-day tasks of your programs too like registration sign-in/out, and more. With the support of a software platform like this, you have an efficient way to not only keep your program alive, but thriving.