District 65 Keeps School Age Child Care

Parents of kindergarten through fifth-graders can keep their before- and after-school care arrangements in place.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Child Care

Screen-print poster illustration of a child's backpack hanging from a brass hook above a mustard bench, evoking everyday before- and after-school routines. — Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will keep its School Age Child Care program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students after proposing to eliminate it in October budget cuts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will not cut its School Age Child Care program, a before- and after-school option for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The district had proposed eliminating it in sweeping budget cuts presented at the Oct. 13, 2026 board meeting.

Why it matters

Many working parents in Evanston rely on the before- and after-school program, so cutting it would have reshaped weekday logistics for families with young children. The reversal followed organized pushback from the Evanston Association of Childcare Professionals, which worked with district administrators on the outcome.

The program serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade and is hosted at King Arts and all elementary schools except Washington. The district's original plan put the savings from cutting it at $400,000 a year.

The players

Evanston/Skokie School District 65

The public school district that runs the School Age Child Care program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Evanston and Skokie.

Evanston Association of Childcare Professionals

A local group of childcare workers that worked with district administrators to save the program from elimination.

Illinois Education Association

The statewide teachers' union that issued the press release announcing the decision to keep School Age Child Care.

The details

School Age Child Care is run by the district for a fee and operates before and after school. The district first proposed cutting it, along with closing Lincolnwood and Dewey elementary schools, as part of budget cuts presented at the Oct. 13 board meeting. The Evanston Association of Childcare Professionals then worked with district administrators to keep the program running, and the Illinois Education Association announced the decision in a press release.

Oct. 13, 2026: The district presented sweeping budget cuts, including eliminating School Age Child Care, at a board meeting.
Nov. 5, 2026: A press release announced that School Age Child Care would be saved.

The Home Front

School-age childcare is a recurring pressure point for working households when districts look for budget savings. This decision shows how before- and after-school programs can be treated as a cost line that families depend on for daily schedules.

If your child attends an elementary school in District 65, the School Age Child Care program remains available for the fee the district charges, so there is no need to make new arrangements right now. Parents who rely on before- and after-school care should keep their current schedule in place and confirm enrollment details directly with their school.

The takeaway

Keeping School Age Child Care in place means working families in District 65 can keep their before- and after-school routines steady. Parents should check with their child's school for current enrollment details and fees.