C.A.R.E. (Before & After School)

About The C.A.R.E Program

C.A.R.E. is a before-and after-school program provided by Palatine Park District for families with children attending a Community Consolidated School District 15 elementary school, located in Palatine. Children must attend school at the C.A.R.E. location they are applying to in order to be eligible to register for or attend the C.A.R.E. Program at that school. We are not able to accept transfers to a C.A.R.E. location if the student attends school at a different location in the district during the day. More information on the C.A.R.E. Program can be found on the C.A.R.E. Forms page, including enrollment guidelines & pricing, the parent calendar and handbook and the schedule change/withdrawal form.

We provide safe, quality childcare right at your child’s school. Children can work on homework, focus on their interests and play with friends, while engaging in a variety of structured and non-structured activities including arts and crafts, hands-on projects, board and card games, as well as active play outside and in the gym.

2025/2026 Registration Information

Priority Pre-Registration begins Monday, April 7 – Friday April 18

Once a child is admitted to the C.A.R.E. Program, families will be invited to re-enroll for the following year’s C.A.R.E. Program during the pre-registration period (before enrollment is open to the public).  Priority pre-registration will also be extended to siblings entering the C.A.R.E. Program. 

Open Enrollment begins Monday, May 5

Anyone applying during the Open Enrollment period will be placed in any remaining spots in the program on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Registration Closed August 1 – August 31 

Enrollment Applications will not be processed from August 1^st – August 31^st.  Registration will resume September 1^st for any remaining spots in the program.  

2025/2026 Registration Information:

• A $65 non-refundable, non-transferable processing fee is due at the time of registration.  Families will not be charged the registration fee until they are offered and accept a spot in the program. 
• Automatic billing is required for C.A.R.E. accounts.  Payments will be withdrawn from your credit or debit card account on the 1^st of each month, August through May. 
• A discount is available for two or more children enrolled in the C.A.R.E program. The additional child(ren)’s fee is reduced by approximately 10%.  Discounts are applied to the lowest priced options.
• Registration cancellation requests received by July 25, 2025 will receive a full refund, minus the $65 registration fee.   Any changes made after July 25 will be billed for the August 1 installment and any drops or changes will not take effect until the September billing installment.  Park District Policy is FIRM. 

If there is a program not listed but is in the guide, please check our registration system to see if it is available: Online Registration