C.A.R.E. is a Park District run program, housed in District 15 schools, which offers before and after-school care for children whose parents require extended childcare.  C.A.R.E. is a financially self-supporting program and is not supported by taxes or school district funds. Enrollment is limited. This Park District program is one of many childcare options offered in the community.

The program is structured to be relaxed and recreational to counterbalance the educational activities during the school day. C.A.R.E. offers quality childcare with a variety of structured and unstructured activities including: arts, crafts, sports, active games, outdoor play, and games they can play with their peers, such as card or board games. Children are also given time to work on homework. 

C.A.R.E. is offered cooperatively between Community Consolidated School District 15 and the Palatine and Rolling Meadows Park Districts.

• The C.A.R.E. Coordinator at School District 15 hires, trains, and supervises all C.A.R.E. program staff.
• Each site has a Site Director who reports to the C.A.R.E. Coordinator. The Site Director and the C.A.R.E. staff are responsible for the daily program under the direction of the C.A.R.E. Coordinator.
• The school district houses the before- and after-school programs.
• The Park Districts process applications and payments. All registration, drops, schedule changes, refunds, and additional fees are billed through the registering Park District.
• C.A.R.E. is a self-supporting program and is not supported by school district or tax funds.

Who can participate?
The C.A.R.E. program is offered at 15 of the District’s elementary schools for children Kindergarten through 6th grade (Kindergartners are able to participate on a limited basis—see below). Children must attend the participating elementary school in order to register for the C.A.R.E. program at that school.

Kindergarten C.A.R.E.

• Children who attend a morning Kindergarten class can apply for the Extended Day Kindergarten Program. Childcare is provided offsite from the time the morning kindergarten class is dismissed until the C.A.R.E. afternoon session starts at the school (3-6 p.m.).
• Children who attend an afternoon Kindergarten class can apply for the after-school session of C.A.R.E. There is no before-school C.A.R.E. option available for children who attend an afternoon kindergarten class.
• Children who attend full-day Kindergarten (where available) can apply for any of the before- and after-school sessions.

When do I apply for 2020-21?

Priority Pre-Registration is run through Friday, February 7, 2020, and is for children and siblings currently registered for the 2019-20 C.A.R.E. program. Families on the wait list must also apply during this time to keep their current spot on the wait list.

Lottery Application Period is from February 24 - March 6, 2020. During this period, enrollment applications will be taken at the Park District Community Center during business hours. If we have more enrollment applications than available spots in the program, there will be a lottery for the remaining spots. Families that dropped off applications during the lottery application period will be notified by phone whether their child has a spot in the program or if they are placed on a wait list the week of March 16. 

Open Enrollment continues March 23 - July 31, and August 24, 2020 ongoing. Anyone applying during this time period will be placed in any remaining spots in the program on a first come-first serve basis. Enrollment will be closed from August 1-21 and will resume August 24 if openings are available.

Notify your school if you plan to enroll your child in the Morning Kindergarten Extended-Day C.A.R.E. Program and request the morning Kindergarten class.

Where do I apply?
Enrollment application forms are available at the Palatine and Rolling Meadows Park District offices and on the C.A.R.E. website.  

Contact the Palatine Park District (250 E. Wood St., Palatine) to apply for:

• Frank C. Whiteley School
• Gray M. Sanborn School
• Hunting Ridge School
• Jane Addams School
• Lake Louise School
• Lincoln School
• Marion Jordan School
• Pleasant Hill School
• Stuart R. Paddock School
• Thomas Jefferson School
• Virginia Lake School
• Winston Campus Elementary

Contact the Rolling Meadows Park District (3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows) to apply for:

• Central Road School
• Kimball Hill School
• Willow Bend School

Wait List

Due to the fact that demand typically exceeds capacity for spaces in the C.A.R.E. Program, the Palatine and Rolling Meadows Park Districts maintain an ongoing wait list for new program enrollments.