Mayor Adams Signs Executive Order to Establish New Commission on Universal After-School, Creates Roadmap to Deliver "After-School For All"

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the signing of Executive Order 54, creating the Commission on Universal After-School. The commission will bring together a cross-sector of leaders from community based after-school providers, advocacy groups, philanthropy, and the business sector to develop a strategy to deliver a universal after-school system that is sustainable in the long term and ensures non-profit organizations have the tools they need to hire and train staff and deliver quality programming. The creation of the Commission on Universal After-School supports Mayor Adams’ vision of “After-School for All” for all public students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The commission’s work will build on the Adams administration’s historic $331 million commitment to support the addition of 20,000 new seats over the next three school years, bringing universal after-school programming to a total of 184,000 public school students as funding is increased to a total investment of $755 million annually. 

“It takes a city to raise a child, but for too long, families in the five boroughs have not had access to affordable child care or after-school programming, forcing many to leave the city they love. Our administration listened to parents’ concerns and not only reduced the cost of subsidized child care for a family of four to less than one-tenth the cost it was before we came into office, but we also launched ‘After-School for All’ to make sure that all of our children have a safe space to learn and be taken care of after school,” said Mayor Adams. “Every parent knows that learning doesn't just take place in a classroom; our children are shaped by so much, and after-school is a critical piece of that. That’s why our administration is stopping parents from having to choose between an iPad as a babysitter or real after-school programming. The Commission on Universal After-School will work hand-in-hand with our administration to develop a sustainable roadmap to deliver after-school programming for all children across the five boroughs. I’m grateful to the commission members for working to make this historic program one that works for New York City families.” 

“Our administration is laser focused on making New York City the best place to raise a family, and that means making sure all children have a safe and enriching place to learn, grow, and play once the school day ends,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “The Commission on Universal After‑School will play a critical role in making after‑school for all a reality. I am proud to lead this long‑awaited expansion as we continue collaborating with New York City Public Schools, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and members of the Commission. I am confident that together we can achieve Mayor Adams’s vision of ‘After‑School for All.’” 

“I am honored to be appointed by Mayor Adams to serve alongside this group of incredibly dedicated individuals to establish a secure foundation of high-quality afterschool programming for the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Dennis M. Walcott, Commission on Universal After-School co-chair, and president and CEO, Queens Public Library. “It is crucial that children and families have affordable access to opportunities that provide continued learning, connection, and growth when the school day ends, and I look forward to the work ahead of us to support them.” 

“It is a privilege to co-chair this commission and drive innovative solutions that will empower every child — regardless of their zip code — with access to a quality after-school program,” said Grace Bonilla, Commission on Universal After-School co-chair, and president and CEO, United Way of New York City. “New York is a city of promise. Families across the five boroughs deserve the opportunity to tap into that promise and thrive here, in the city that they love. Addressing this need, universal after-school, a multigenerational approach, will level the playing field by providing enriching, safe environments for all children. Caregivers will also be able to actively engage in the workforce without fear that their child has no place to go after the school day ends. I am honored to be a part of this critical work.”

The members of the Commission on Universal After-School are:  

• Grace Bonilla (co-chair), president and CEO, United Way of New York City   
• Dennis Walcott (co-chair), president and CEO, Queens Public Library  
• Karen Alford, vice president of elementary schools and United Community Schools executive director, United Federation of Teachers  
• Phoebe Boyer, president and CEO, Children’s Aid  
• Charles Buice, president, Tiger Foundation  
• Christopher Caruso, managing director, school-age children, Robin Hood  
• Laurie Dien, vice president and executive director of programs, The Pinkerton Foundation  
• Marielys Divanne, executive director, Educators for Excellence – New York   
• Mark Dunetz, president, New Visions for Public Schools  
• Charissa Fernandez, president, Gray Foundation  
• Lauren Geer, chief human resources officer, IAC  
• Basha Gerhards, executive vice president of public policy, Real Estate Board of New York  
• Raj Goyle, co-chair, 5BORO Institute  
• Sharon Greenberger, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater New York  
• Wayne Ho, president and CEO, Chinese-American Planning Council  
• Brook Jackson, vice president,policy, Partnership for New York City  
• Rose C. Lovaglio-Miller, associate director, DC 37  
• Steven Matteo, executive director and CEO, United Activities Unlimited  
• Jamie McShane, communications director, Con Edison  
• Shawn Morehead, executive vice president and chief program officer, The New York Community Trust  
• Lisette Nieves, president, Fund for the City of New York  
• Alison Overseth, CEO, Partnership for After School Education  
• Meisha Porter, vising senior fellow, Bronx Center for Educational Innovation  
• Chad Purkey, vice president, Association for a Better New York  
• Raysa S. Rodriguez, executive director, Citizens' Committee for Children  
• Sonia B. Sisodia, executive director, South Asian Youth Action  
• Susan Stamler, executive director, United Neighborhood Houses  
• Julie Stein, executive director, Union Square Partnership
• Udai Tambar, president and CEO, New York Junior Tennis & Learning  
• Saskia Traill, president and CEO, ExpandED Schools 
• Andre White, executive director and CEO, Phipps Neighborhoods   
• Michelle Yanche, executive director and CEO, Good Shepherd Services   

Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard, and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos will serve as ex-officio members on the commission. Deputy Mayor Almanzar’s chief strategy officer, Michael Nolan, will serve as the executive director of the commission.  

The commission will produce strategic recommendations to address issues facing the after-school ecosystem, such as funding, provider capacity, program quality, areas for innovation, and improving equity and access for underserved populations. The commission will work closely with DYCD and New York City Public Schools as they develop their recommendations and will complement DYCD’s current after-school procurement process. In May, DYCD released a concept paper for the Comprehensive After School System of New York City and School’s Out New York City programs to receive feedback from the public. The comment period ended July 15, 2025, and the findings from feedback collected will help to inform a request for proposals that will be released in fall 2025.  

Over the last three years, the Adams administration has been focused on making New York City more affordable for families through popular and essential programs like early childhood education. Recently, Mayor Adams announced a child care pilot for 0-2 year olds that puts New York City on the path to universal child care for low-income families if the pilot is successful, and made a historic $167-million long-term investment and commitment to funding 3-K and special education pre-K programs annually. Under the Adams administration, a record 150,000 children are enrolled across the early childhood education system today, the out-of-pocket costs of child care have been reduced from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week today for a family of four with subsidies, and the administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K Lon time last school year — the first time this has ever been done in the city’s history. 

Additionally, over the Fiscal Year 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. Finally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, as well as $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs. 

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