Hanover County School Board considers expanding after-school program access

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — School leaders in Hanover County are weighing the possibility of expanding after-school options for families.

The Hanover County School Board plans to discuss ways to offer new opportunities that could benefit both students and parents during its meeting on Tuesday, June 10.

Currently, after-school programs are offered at all but four of the district’s elementary schools. That may soon change as the district looks to expand access ahead of the upcoming school year.

School leaders turned to parents for input with a community survey to help school officials better understand what types of programs families are most interested in. More than 1,600 parents weighed in and showed a strong demand for after-school care to be available Monday through Friday, not just on select days.

Parents also shared their priorities when it comes to the types of activities offered. According to the results, homework help and a caring environment ranked higher than structured routines or social time with peers.

The majority of parents also expressed interest in daycare being available during the summer.

In addition to expanding access, school leaders are also considering partnerships with outside vendors to offer on-site daycare and additional before and after-school activities.

The Hanover County School Board meeting is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, at the Hanover County Administration Building, located at 7516 County Complex Road.