Durham Public Schools opens applications Monday for new after-school care program 'lottery' amid staffing shortages

On Monday, Durham elementary school parents will sign their kids up for a popular after-school care program. This time, though, the program will use a lottery system to fill slots.

The switch means a spot in the program is no longer guaranteed. This new system is going to impact a lot of working parents, many of whom are concerned.

The district said in an email to families that the lottery system, a random selection process, will ensure "more equitable" access to the elementary after-school care program.

Monday morning, the staff at Durham Public Schools Central Services will start taking applications. Even if parents sign their student up Monday, a spot in the after school program is not guaranteed.

This brings up a lot of concerns for parents, especially if they have multiple students – because of the possibility that one may be selected and others won't. That could mean different after-school arrangements within the same family.

The district said there are two factors at play here: Staffing and higher demand.

Enrollment switch concerns Durham parents with children in after-school care

"Durham aftercare going to a lottery, to me, feels like the white flag of surrender of actually fixing the problem that has been going on for years now," said one parent, Katherine Goldstein.

Goldstein explained the demand for aftercare at Durham's elementary schools has skyrocketed since the district moved the start time for elementary schools to 7:45 a.m., with the school day ending at 2:15 p.m., when many parents are still working.

Right now, there are more than 1,600 slots in the elementary aftercare program. But there are 15 staff vacancies and nearly 300 students on the wait list.

"I really believe it should not be this hard to have a job and send your kids to Durham Public Schools," Goldstein said.

Q&A: What is going on with Durham Public Schools?

The lottery comes just weeks after classes were canceled for several days due to ongoing employee pay issues.

The lottery application window for DPS aftercare opens Monday at 8 a.m. Applications will close on April 5.