What They're Saying: New Yorkers Praise Mayor Adams' Ambitious Plan to Achieve Universal After-School

April 29, 2025

On 20th Anniversary of After-School Systems’ Creation, NYC Makes Unprecedented $331 Million
New Investment to Bring After-School to Over 20,000 More K-5 Students by Fall of 2027 

Investment Brings Annual Spending on After-School to $755 Million   

Total 184,000 K-8 Students to Be Served Across All  
Department of Youth and Community Development Programs 

First Increase to Afterschool Seats in Over 10 Years, Mayor Adams Commits to  
Developing First-Ever Comprehensive Plan for Universal Afterschool 

Part of Mayor Adams’ “Budget Week,” Unveiling “Best Budget Ever,” Which Invests in
Affordability, Public Safety, and Quality-of-Life Issues New Yorkers Care Most About 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard today announced a historic and new $331-million commitment — phased in starting in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget and fully baselined by FY 2028 — to support Mayor Adams’ vision of “After-School for All” to all public students from kindergarten through eighth grade. For the first time ever, the city is beginning a comprehensive effort to strengthen and scale after-school programs with the goal of achieving universal access for all students and families across the five boroughs. The new funding will support the addition of 20,000 new seats over the next three school years, bringing the total number of public school students served by universal after-school programming to 184,000 with a total investment of $755 million annually. 

Here's what New Yorkers are saying:  

“United Way of New York City’s True Cost of Living Report demonstrates that one of the financial burdens on already struggling families is finding reliable afterschool programs that help their children thrive and allow working family members to show up fully at their place of employment. Part of having reliable after-school programs in the City of New York means right sizing the system to meet the needs of our families and stabilizing the workforce so that a youth development career means living with dignity, while sustaining environments that are loving, creative, and help our youngest New Yorkers succeed academically,” said Grace Bonilla, president and CEO, United Way of New York City. “Today we applaud Mayor Adams and his administration for investing $331 million in new baselined funding for DYCD’s COMPASS/SONYC after-school programs for the next three years. This long-awaited investment will allow providers to increase worker salaries and provide additional seats that gets the afterschool system one step closer to universal afterschool for grades K-5.”  

“We applaud the Adams administration for making a critical investment in New York’s afterschool programs and look forward to working together on developing a sustainable plan to expand access,” said Phoebe C. Boyer, president and CEO, Children's Aid. “For too long, after-school providers have been stretched thin and underfunded. This announcement is an important step toward strengthening these vital programs and recognizing after-school as a lifeline for working families. High-quality after-school programs aren’t a luxury — they’re essential to economic stability, educational opportunity, and healthy communities.”  

“As working parents continue to struggle with finding child care, today’s announcement to expand and strengthen New York City’s vibrant after-school system through a $755 million investment serving 184,000 students is a historic step forward,” said Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO, Robin Hood Foundation. "Building on decades of investment and innovation, this expansion will make high-quality, free after-school programming available to more families across the city, helping to reduce costs for working parents, enrich children's learning and development, and make New York a better, more affordable place to raise a family.” 

“Grand Street Settlement strongly supports the city's investment in expanding after school programs, and we hope this is just the first step on the path towards universal after-school," said Robert Cordero, CEO, Grand Street Settlement. “After-school programming is essential for providing students and working families with stability and opportunities. At Grand Street, students in our after-school programs explore their passions and build confidence, whether in their academic work or their social-emotional development. We're proud to be a part of the movement to ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, has access to safe, enriching, and empowering afterschool opportunities.”  

“After-school programs are lifechanging. Successful programs nourish skills and talents, offer positive experiences and give children and young people opportunities to connect with consistent and caring adults,” Laurie R. Dien, vice president and executive director for programs, The Pinkerton Foundation. “They also give an economic boost to the city by providing safe spaces that allow parents and caregivers to be at work without worrying. Baselining funding brings financial stability. Providing additional funds will enhance program quality and give hardworking staff the pay they deserve. 'It takes a village' isn’t just a cliche, it is an obligation.”  

"We’re excited to see this major investment in after-school and summer programs," said Marielys Divanne, executive director, Educators for Excellence NY. "As the city expands these vital opportunities, we urge leaders to align them with the city's signature NYC Reads and NYC Solves initiatives — and just as importantly, ensure sustainable funding for all these efforts. Sustaining real progress in our classrooms demands long-term commitment." 

“Henry Street Settlement appreciates and applauds the transformative investment in the DYCD COMPASS/SONYC system announced today,” said David Garza, president and CEO, Henry Street Settlement. “After-school programs like ours, which serves close to 1,000 children from predominantly low-income families on the Lower East Side, provide an exponential return on investment. They advance the academic, social-emotional, and recreational development of our youth, while keeping them safe and allowing parents to work and provide for their families without fear for their children’s well-being. The crucial resources announced will enable nonprofits like ours to reach more youth, attract top-talent, and enhance programing, providing an even more holistic and high-quality afterschool experience. We know that programs don’t help people; people help people, and this investment puts us in a position not only to build our team but to make them better at what they do and make an even bigger difference in the lives of the children we serve.” 

“Mayor Adams’ investment in expanding after-school programs is not just an investment in today’s students — it’s an investment in the future leaders of New York City,” Rachael Gazdick, CEO, New York Edge. “By creating more opportunities for young people to explore their passions and develop their talents, we are tapping into the gifts and potential of our youth. We are building the next generation of scientists, athletes, artists, tech leaders, animators, authors, and so many others. After-school is where kids can explore, be exposed to a wide range of opportunities, and begin a pathway toward college and career success.”  

“After-school programs are truly the backbone of our community, providing safety and care for young people and peace of mind for working families,” said Danielle Ellman, CEO, Commonpoint. “We are so grateful for the mayor's office and our champions at DYCD for expanding programs that are immeasurably important for our community, and for giving children and their families the safety net they both need and deserve.”  

“We are heartened by Mayor Adams’ after-school expansion and the administration's commitment to engage with providers to strengthen and improve the system,” Sharon Greenberger, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater New York. “After-school programs are vital for working families and support our city’s economic health. We look forward to the concept paper, to the new request for proposal and to working with the administration to expand access to thousands more youth and families across New York City.” 

“We are thrilled with the increase of 20,000 COMPASS after-school slots over the next three years to help address critical needs,” Wayne Ho, president and CEO, the Chinese-American Planning Council. Thank you to the Adams administration for resourcing these increased slots which will provide much needed support for young people and working families. We look forward to working together with the administration, City Council, providers, and advocates to ensure that every child who needs an afterschool slot has one and that the rates are fully funded to ensure the best possible programming for children and support for staff.” 

“We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Adams for this historic investment in our city’s youth,” said Steven Matteo, CEO and executive director, United Activities Unlimited. “As a proud provider for many years, United Activities Unlimited has seen just how life-changing these programs can be for young people. They offer a safe, exciting space where children can discover new passions, build confidence, and strengthen their academic skills. We are thrilled that more students will get to experience all that these vital programs have to offer over the coming years!” 

“New York City has often paved the way for the afterschool field, creating the largest municipal afterschool system in the country,” said Alison Overseth, CEO, Partnership for After School Education. “We are excited to see the city once again respond to community needs by providing increased investment in high-quality out-of-school time programs at this critical moment for youth and families, helping to ensure that thousands more students have safe, enriching spaces to spend the afterschool hours. In addition to this significant and promising expansion in seats, we are hopeful to see an increase in the cost-per-student funding allocations in 2026 to more fully reflect the current cost of effective programming for community-based organization providers.” 

“CAMBA applauds the city’s decision to make a three-year, $331 million investment in baseline funding of COMPASS and SONYC, beginning with an expansion of K-5 slots in Fiscal Year 2026,” said Valerie Barton-Richardson, president and CEO, CAMBA. “With the $136 million pledged to create 20,000 additional K-5 slots to serve high-need families, the city is showing meaningful beginning steps that reflect years of collective advocacy and attention to what families and communities truly need.”  

“Citizens' Committee for Children of New York appreciates the Adams administration taking important steps towards achieving a universal after-school system,” said Raysa S. Rodriguez, executive director, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. “These are critical and long-awaited investments towards quality improvement and critical expanded capacity. We look forward to working with the administration and City Council to ensure necessary investments are made in Fiscal Year 2026 to stabilize the current system and to better meet the needs of children and families.” 

“After-school programs and the nonprofits who run them serve as a vital support network for New York City. By investing in this system, the city is investing in our children and families,” said Susan Stamler, executive director, United Neighborhood Houses. “We are pleased to see this long-awaited new investment, and hope it is just the first step towards a stronger and better afterschool system with funding rates that reflect the true costs of high-quality programming.”   

“I commend Mayor Adams for taking a meaningful step towards a universal after-school system for New York City elementary school students and working families,” said Udai Tambar, CEO and president, New York Junior Tennis and Learning. “Our North Star is to ensure that students from low-income communities in New York City receive the benefits of after-school programs. A record number of New York City kids will have access to a safe and nurturing environment that supports learning and social-emotional development for a lifetime of success, thanks to this investment in both the quality and quantity of after-school programs.”  

“This is an important milestone for children in New York City, responding to the urgent calls we hear from families, youth-serving nonprofits, employers, and others,” said Saskia Traill, president and CEO, ExpandED Schools. “We need more after-school spots for kids to thrive, and we need rates that keep pace with rising costs for quality. Investment in after-school is investment in our city's future.”  

“This $331 million investment isn’t just about expanding afterschool programs for K-5 youth, it’s about strengthening the ecosystem that helps young people thrive,” said Andre White, executive director and CEO, Phipps Neighborhoods. “By investing in both our young people and the educators who support them, this transformative step from Mayor Adams is creating a lasting foundation of opportunity that will continue to benefit New York City for generations. This funding is a commitment to building stronger communities and a brighter future for all.” 

“Good Shepherd Services welcomes Mayor Adams’ proposal to move the after-school system towards universality and improved quality and for the commitment to invest new resources to support these goals,” said Michelle Yanche, CEO, Good Shepherd Services. “We look forward to working with the Adams administration over the coming year to address pressing resource and operational challenges to strengthen the current system.”   

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