San Diego Unified School District faces a long-standing issue of providing adequate before- and after-school care for families, a necessity given the unconventional school schedule.
Schools typically begin around 8 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m., creating a challenging scenario for working parents who struggle to find sufficient childcare.
The limited availability of care options, often accompanied by high costs, places many parents in a difficult position, balancing the need to work with the lack of affordable childcare solutions.
One illustrative case is Jared Goossens, who previously found himself unable to hold a full-time job due to the absence of after-school care for his child.
Thanks to securing a spot in San Diego Unified’s PrimeTime program, which offers free before- and after-school care to over 10,000 students, Goossens transformed his life path.
He transitioned from precarious food delivery work to a stable career as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service after gaining access to necessary childcare.
In April 2023, San Diego Unified Trustee Shana Hazan expressed her ambition to eliminate the district’s waitlist, which at that time counted approximately 3,130 families.
Hazan emphasized the importance of equitable access to after-school care, stating, “Everybody should have access to after-school care, period, and it should not be so hard…to gain access.”
Despite the challenges, there has been progress. By July 2023, San Diego Unified reduced the waitlist by two-thirds, aided by increased funding for the PrimeTime program, known as Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs at the state level.
However, the waitlist has since rebounded to approximately 4,200 families, prompting renewed hopes for future improvements following a significant new funding initiative.
Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2025-26 budget plan, the state proposed a critical adjustment in how districts are funded for before- and after-school care programs.
Previously, districts with at least 75% of students identified as English learners or low-income received tier one funding, while others faced reduced tier two funding levels.
The new budget proposal lowers the threshold to 55% of students, significantly expanding the number of districts qualifying for tier one funding—San Diego Unified included.
This upgraded status comes with substantial financial support.
While tier two districts receive $1,580 per student, tier one districts will receive $2,750 per student.
Hazan indicated that this transition could lead to San Diego Unified acquiring an additional $36 million for its PrimeTime program.
Moreover, district leaders successfully advocated for the funding to take effect at the start of the new school year rather than January, a move aimed at maximizing the financial impact at the outset.
With these new funds, the district’s strategy focuses on hiring additional staff for the 144 TK-8 schools that operate PrimeTime sites.
The goal is to expand capacity substantially, potentially accommodating 18,000 students by the conclusion of the next school year and thereby alleviating the persistent waitlist issue.
Hazan acknowledged that staffing up would be a significant challenge, which may require all year for providers to achieve.
However, the expected outcomes extend far beyond just the financial benefits for families.
Hazan remarked, “This is going to be really transformative… it’s the mental relief that comes with not having to worry about ‘What is my child going to do in the afternoon?'”
By alleviating this burden, parents can focus more fully on their responsibilities at work and at home.
Aside from immediate childcare needs, Hazan has envisioned utilizing the extended care time for educational enrichment—incorporating arts, STEM, and other compelling activities.
She has set a longer-term aspiration of collaborating with academic partners to conduct research assessing the impact of accessible childcare on working families.
Hazan’s unyielding belief is that improved access to free childcare could represent a high-impact strategy worthy of consideration not only across the state but nationwide.
In a related vein of news, the Grossmont Union saga remains a hot topic of conversation, characterized by public controversies among its board members.
Recent revelations by Kristen Taketa and Jemma Stephenson highlighted a secretive communication network among conservative board members discussing personnel decisions traditionally handled by administration.
Key figures, including Jerry Hobbs—a former teacher previously implicated in racially and sexually charged behavior—played central roles in these discussions.
After being fired last month with a discernible severance of $187,000, Hobbs’ controversial history continues to stir debate.
Some message exchanges in the chain may have violated the Brown Act, designed to ensure transparency in public agency dealings by limiting discussions outside official meetings.
In other district developments, the San Diego Unified board recently appointed Interim Superintendent Fabiola Bagula to a permanent position after a tumultuous period following Lamont Jackson’s dismissal over allegations of sexual harassment.
Bagula is now the district’s third consecutive superintendent cultivated from within its ranks, indicating a shift towards stability following a series of administrative upheavals.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
