School Age Before and After Care FAQs

How do I register for before or after school care for my school age child?

Find your school and begin registration by creating an account on our Parent Portal.

I’ve been added to the waitlist for my preferred location. When will I be notified if space is available?

Once space becomes available, families will receive an email to confirm whether they are still interested in attending. The waitlist will reflect the order in which a family has applied. If a space becomes available, you will be given 48 hours to respond. If we don’t hear from you within that time, we will move on to the next family on the wait list.

A current annual membership is required to enroll on the waitlist for a program. No payment is due at time of registration if you are placed on the waitlist for a program.

What are the before and after school childcare hours?

Before school program: 6:30 a.m. - start of school.

After school program: End of school - 6:00 p.m.

What is the staff to youth ratio for the school age program?

Staff to youth ratio is currently 1 staff to 20 students.

Can I request my child be in a group with one of their friends?

Families can request that their child be in a particular group or with a particular member, but BGCB can make no guarantees about placement. Many factors are taken into consideration when creating groups and groups can change from week to week. Requests should be directed to the Site Director at your location.

Who do I inform if my child has a special diet or medical needs?

Any information pertaining to diet or medical needs must be communicated to the Site Director at your Club location so that we may assist within our capacity. Allergies, medications, and doctor information can be updated online through our Parent Portal, under the Submit a Form tab. A medication authorization form is required for staff to administer medications during the time your child attends before or after school care. This form is also included in the welcome email sent before the program begins. Ask your Site Director for additional information.

How does the check-in and check-out process work each day

Members are received and checked in by Club Staff upon school release and/or their arrival at the Club. At pickup you inform staff who you will pick up at the front desk. Staff will notify your child and you will sign them out.

Anyone picking up your child will need to be listed as an Authorized Pick Up on their account, including parents. Anyone picking up your child should be prepared to present a valid photo ID to staff.

For all licensed sites: State licensing laws require that the parent/guardian, or a person authorized in writing by the parent/guardian to take the child to or from the facility, must sign the child in on arrival and out when leaving the facility.

If my child was absent from school, can they attend the Club?

In support of the Bellevue School District's attendance initiative, students who do not attend school during the day are not eligible to attend the Club that day. Please notify the director at your site if your child will be absent.

How are staff trained for the school age program?

Our programs employ youth professionals who take seriously the work they do with children. Prior to being hired, each staff must undergo a criminal background check, reference check and in-depth interview. Our professionals receive Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and Boys & Girls Clubs of America training. Training courses include but are not limited to: child safety and harassment training and trauma informed care trainings are required of all staff (including seasonal summer staff). To create a space in which youth can thrive, Youth Development staff and directors directly working with children are trained in the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality’s approach. Current CPR/First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens and Food Handler’s card certifications are mandated.

Are Clubs open when schools are closed?

Some Club locations are open on days when schools are closed for breaks and BSD professional development, while others may close for holidays or staff training. For the most up-to-date information, visit our School Out Day and Upcoming Club Closures pages.

All BGCB Clubs will be closed June 22-26, 2026, for Summer Training Week.

What if I am late picking up my child?

Prompt pick up is an important acknowledgement of our staff's time. While we understand that situations can happen when you are running late, please understand that we have a responsibility to our staff to have them leave the Club promptly after their shift. If you are running late, please call the site to inform staff. If a child has not been picked up by the time the club is closed, the parent is responsible for paying additional fees. A $1/minute/child fee will be incurred each minute you are late to pick up your child. This fee is due at time of pickup.

Schools are closed due to severe weather or power outages. Are Clubs open?

In the event of inclement weather, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue will follow the schedule of the Bellevue School District. If Bellevue School District closes due to severe weather, all club programs for that day will be canceled.

If BSD is delayed (1 or 2 hours) or closed, school programs will be canceled.

In the event of a power outage, affected locations will be closed.

For the most up to date information regarding Bellevue School District closures, please visit the BSD website at www.bsd405.org or the BSD closure webpage. All efforts will be made to close the Club prior to children arriving. If children are in the building, parents are expected to make efforts to pick up their child/children as soon as possible.

How does BGCB support multilingual learners?

Resources for families are provided in multiple languages including subsidy information/instructions, flyers, and meetings with translator phone services. Supports in programs for children include but are not limited to translated activity instructions, visual support for routines and schedules, and bilingual staff considerations especially for sites with emersion programs.

How can I contact my child while they are at the Club?

We ask youth to put away their devices while at the Club to better engage in many activities throughout the day! However, if you need to contact your child while they are at the Club, please either call the location your child is attending or contact the Downtown Clubhouse at (425) 454-6162.

What information does BGCB review to understand if a child can be successful in our current group structure?

We may review:

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
504 Plans
Behavior Support Plans
Medical Care Plans
Parent input
School recommendations (with permission)
Individual Care Plans

This information helps us understand how we can support your child in our program setting.

Why do you ask for an IEP?

An IEP provides important information about:

Educational supports
Behavioral strategies
Communication needs
Safety considerations
Successful accommodations

The IEP is one piece of information used during our individualized assessment process.

Does having an IEP guarantee enrollment?

No.

An IEP helps us understand a child's needs, but enrollment decisions are based on whether the Club can reasonably support the child within our current program structure while maintaining a safe environment for all participants.

What is a"reasonable accommodation"?

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that allows a child to participate in our program without fundamentally changing the nature of the program or creating a direct safety risk.

Examples may include:

Visual schedules
Behavior support strategies
Modified activities
Staff training
Seating accommodations
Communication supports
Environmental modifications

Accommodations vary based on individual needs and program capabilities.

Does the Club provide one-to-one (1:1) aides?

Currently, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue does not provide dedicated one-to-one aides or individual support staff.

Our programs operate in a group setting with established staffing ratios. While we continually work toward expanding our inclusion services, we do not currently have the funding, staffing structure, or specialized training necessary to consistently provide individual aides.

Can my child bring their own support person?

Requests for outside support personnel are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may require additional approvals, documentation, and coordination with the family.

If my child's school provides 1:1 support during the school day, will the Club provide the same support?

Not necessarily.

School-based services are determined by the school district and are specific to the educational setting. Community-based programs such as Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue must independently evaluate whether they can reasonably accommodate a child's needs within their own program model.

How do you determine whether a child can participate successfully?

We conduct an individualized review that considers:

Safety of the child
Safety of other participants
Ability to participate in group activities
Supervision requirements
Behavioral support needs
Medical needs
Available accommodations
Staff skills and training

Our goal is to identify supports that allow the child to be successful while maintaining a positive experience for everyone.

Will my child be denied solely because of a disability?

No.

We do not deny participation solely because a child has a disability, diagnosis, or IEP.

Any decision regarding participation is based on an individualized assessment that considers whether reasonable accommodations can support successful participation in our program.

What happens if additional needs are identified after enrollment?

We recognize that a child's needs may evolve over time.

If concerns arise, we will:

Meet with the family.
Review support strategies.
Consider additional accommodations.
Evaluate whether modifications can address concerns.
Work collaboratively to identify next steps.

Our goal is always to support successful participation whenever possible.

Why might a child not be a good fit for the program?

In some situations, a child's needs may exceed what can reasonably be provided within a group-based recreational setting.

Examples may include:

Continuous individual supervision needs
Personal care or bathroom assistance requirements
Specialized medical support beyond staff training
Safety concerns that cannot be addressed through reasonable accommodations

When this occurs, the decision is based on program capacity and safety considerations, not on the child's disability or diagnosis.

Our Commitment

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue is committed to inclusion, dignity, and respect for every child. We partner with families to understand each child's unique needs and strive to provide reasonable accommodations that support meaningful participation whenever possible.

Our mission is to create safe, welcoming, and engaging environments where all young people can learn, play, and thrive.

Family feedback

"I am truly grateful for your continued help and support in helping both my children through various programs at school club location and sports club location."

"Every time when I pick up my kid they are engaged with some interesting projects. No matter if I pick up late or early, they are occupied."

"(The Club is) always a positive experience. Never a mad or sad face when I came for pick ups. Actually, he wanted to stay longer most of the time! Looking forward to next Fall!"

"We love the program! The staff are AMAZING and it really feels like a family environment. We know our son is in great hands!"

"Although our son has special needs, the staff have worked with him on independence skills and always happy to see him. We appreciate the staff always being so supportive and asking questions to serve him better."

"They really enjoy the diversity in activities offered and is never bored. She is becoming more creative because of the exposure to the variety. She is making lots of friends too."