PUSD Extended Student Services (ESS)
Grades TK-5
(858) 521-2800
Melvetta Owens, Director (858) 521-2850
For general inquiries, please contact (858) 521-2848.
About ESS
ESS is a voluntary use program. All PUSD elementary schools have an Extended Student Services program on their campus. Our organization works diligently to accommodate and serve working families in need of before and after school care. A student's enrollment at an elementary school does not guarantee them ESS enrollment. As a growing organization, each ESS site may experience limitations that factor into the enrollment capacity and may prohibit the acceptance of additional students at any given time.
ESS Enrollment Interest List Application
Families Interested in ESS for the 2025-2026 School Year:The ESS Interest Application is open and will remain open for the remainder of the school year. All interested families may apply at any time. Parents are encouraged to wait patiently until their child's enrollment has been completed by the school site and they have received access to their ParentVue account before attempting to use the ESS Application Management System. We will be re-assessing capacity at all sites. The next draw will occur in the first week of January. Families will be notified via email if they are offered a spot or placed on the wait list. If you are already on the waitlist and your status does not change after the draw, you will not receive an email. However, you are welcome to follow up with us directly at the email below. If you have any questions about ESS enrollment, please email [email protected]. |
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Click the link below to fill out the interest list.
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Effective for the 2024-2025 school year, new applications to the ESS program will be centrally managed by the District Office, Before/After School Department through a single application and interest list.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Your child(ren) must be enrolled at their neighborhood school to which you are applying for ESS, this also applies to families with TK students. All families with children in elementary school interested in participating in ESS during the 2024-25 school year are required to submit an online application.
APPLICATION PROCESS
An application must be completed for each child applying for ESS. You will need your ParentVue account login information and internet access to complete an application. The application must be completed and submitted online. You may access the application through a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet with internet connection.
All information provided on the application is subject to verification. Falsifying any of the information may disqualify the applicant from receiving ESS services.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENROLLMENT IN ESS
ESS is a highly impacted program, and demand exceeds capacity at most schools. Applicants are accepted into the program based on the rating system outlined below, up to the capacity for each school's program.
Monthly Placement Timeline
ESS Enrollment Prioritization Criteria
APPLICATION/LOTTERY RATING SYSTEM
Children will be accepted for enrollment based on prioritization assigned through the lottery. The lottery rankings will be based on the prioritization criteria detailed below, up to the capacity for each school's program. Once ESS has reached its capacity, children not accepted for enrollment will be automatically placed on a waitlist, in the same order of priority determined by the lottery and will be offered an opportunity to enroll as space becomes available throughout the school year.
Parents/guardians may choose to have their child(ren) attend either the before-school and/or after-school programs, if applicable.
Students currently enrolled in ESS can continue their enrollment until they withdraw or are promoted. New students applying to the program will be prioritized for enrollment based on the following focus criteria:
- Unduplicated Pupil (UPP): Foster, McKinney-Vento (Homeless), Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, or English Language Learner
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- PUSD Employee
- Siblings of Enrolled Students
- Families with one parent/guardian currently on military deployment (a copy of orders may be required upon request)
- Single-parent household
- Dual parent working family (both parents working at least 40 hours a week)
- Was on the waitlist for the previous school year
- Families requiring full-time, five-day-a-week care will be considered a higher need than those requesting part-time care
Please note: These are focus priorities and are all weighted differently in our application management system.
All homeless and foster youth will receive the highest priority for enrollment. Students that meet multiple criteria will be ranked higher in priority, accordingly.
For additional information regarding ESS enrollment at your child's school, you can email [email protected].
FAQs
How is my child eligible for the ESS Program?
Children must be enrolled during the regular school day at the school where you are applying for ESS.
Is there criteria for priority enrollment?
Under the California Department of Education (CDE) Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) grant requirements, students who meet at least one of the following criteria will be given priority registration:
- Unduplicated Pupil (UPP): Foster youth, McKinney-Vento (Homeless), Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, or English Language Learners
- PUSD Employee
- Siblings of enrolled students
- Families with one parent/guardian currently on military deployment (a copy of orders may be required upon request)
- Single-parent household
- Dual-parent working family (both parents working at least 40 hours a week)
- Previously on the waitlist for the last school year
What is the online application process?
The application will be available online starting April 22, 2025. You will need your PUSD-issued ParentVue login to complete the application. If you need help with your username or password, assistance is available here: Poway Unified School District (PUSD).
Does submitting an application guarantee participation in ESS?
It is anticipated that the demand for ESS services may exceed the program capacity at most schools. Therefore, it is critical that applications are completed and submitted within the initial application timeline. Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed for the initial enrollment period. Children will be accepted for participation based on CDE ELOP grant requirements, up to the capacity of each school's program. Once capacity is reached, children not accepted will be placed on a waitlist, in order of priority, and will be accepted as space becomes available.
What is the initial application timeline?
Applications will be available online starting Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and must be completed and submitted by Friday, June 6, 2025, at 9:59 PM PST to be included in the initial review and enrollment process.
When and how will I be notified of my child’s application status?
Parents/guardians who complete and submit the application within the initial timeline will be notified of their application status via email by Friday, June 13, 2025. The email will inform families whether their child(ren) has been:
- Accepted to participate
- Placed on a waitlist
- Deemed ineligible for the before and/or after-school program
If my child is accepted, what do I need to do next?
Once notified of acceptance, a registration email will be sent to the email address used during the application process. Registration must be completed by the specified deadline to secure your child’s seat in ESS.
What happens if I submit an application after June 6, 2025?
Applications are accepted throughout the school year. Applications submitted after June 6, 2025, will be reviewed in priority order as space becomes available.
Is there additional information to help with the application or enrollment process?
For more information regarding enrollment, please contact the ESS enrollment team at [email protected].
What if I can’t remember my username and password?
If you need help with your username or password, assistance is available here: Poway Unified School District (PUSD).
What if one sibling gets a seat and the other does not?
While every effort is made to keep siblings together in the program, this may not always be possible due to staffing levels and available spots for each grade level.
What if I have an IDT pending?
Seats in ESS are determined by school of enrollment. If you receive a seat at a school and you have and IDT pending, the seat will not transfer to the other school.
How do I qualify for free ESS?
You must complete the Food and Nutrition application. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you also qualify for free ESS. You will need to submit your qualification letter to our department after enrollment. https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
What if I get a seat but can’t log in to accept it?
You can try resetting your password or call 858-521-2845 for assistance with accepting the seat.
What happens if I miss the deadline to accept the seat or enroll in Procare?
The seat will be offered to the next person on the waitlist based on the priority criteria.
How much does ESS cost?
Here is the ESS fee schedule: 2024–2025 ESS Fee Schedule.
If I am enrolled in ESS and transfer to a different school, does my spot in ESS transfer to the new school?
No, your spot does not transfer. You will need to join the waitlist for ESS at your new school.
Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Financial Assistance Information
The State of California has passed legislation providing funding for afterschool, summer, and intersession enrichment opportunities for students in grades TK–6. In PUSD, access to these opportunities will be provided through our Extended Student Services (ESS) Program for students in TK–5. (6th-grade students may participate through the ASES program at their middle school.)
Enrollment in ESS through this state-funded program is based on the availability of funding, space at your school’s ESS (Extended Student Services) program and eligibility criteria
How to Apply:
Step 1: Complete the application using this link MySchoolApps - Getting Started or by going to the food and nutrition website at FOOD & NUTRITION
Step 2:
Once you receive your updated eligibility letter from the district, email a copy to: [email protected]
- If you're not currently enrolled in our program, you may submit the letter after receiving and accepting a spot offer.
- Submitting a letter does not guarantee a spot but does provide priority placement on our interest list. (Please refer to our eligibility criteria and interest list information above.)
Don’t Qualify Through Food & Nutrition?
If your family does not qualify for ELO-P through Food and Nutrition, you may still be eligible for a discounted rate through our sliding scale.
If you're offered and accept a spot in the program, complete the Sliding Scale Application here:
ESS Sliding Scale (Enrolled Families ONLY)
ESS Employment Opportunities
ESS Finance Team
Billing and Payment Questions:
Tracy Richardson, (858) 521-2800 ext. 2228
Alisa Mendenhall, (858) 521-2800 ext. 2232
Meghann Stralo, (858) 521-2800 ext. 2221
Laura Sachs, (858) 521-2800 ext. 2233