Commissioner highlights Compass RFP as largest after-school re-procurement in a decade
Escamilla-Davies details the Compass RFP with $727M in FY27 funding, 121 center-based awards with 7,840 seats, 806 school-based awards with 95,841 seats, 8,621 additional seats, and 52 new community-based organizations. She acknowledges providers who lost contracts.
First, I'll start with the Compass request for proposals.
Compass is the nation's largest after-school system serving elementary and middle school students across New York City through Compass Elementary and schools out New York City.
The release of the Compass Center-Based and School-Based Awards marks the very first major re-procurement and modernization of after-school contracts in more than a decade, and that is just so exciting.
This investment reflects what families, schools, and providers have consistently called for.
Expanded access, stronger program, quality, workforce stability, and greater equity across the after-school system.
For fiscal year 2027, the city committed to $727 million in Compass funding.
This investment supports the additional 20,000 new elementary school seats over three school years and increased the price per participant rate to better support provider stability, staffing, and high-quality program for children and families.
DYCD announced, and I want to highlight some of the things from this RFP, 121 center-based awards representing 7,840 seats.
800
six school-based awards representing 95,841 seats, expansions into 71 new elementary schools across 32 high-need community districts,
8,621 additional citywide seats, and 52 new community-based organizations joining the Compass portfolio, including at least one in every borough.
This RFP also introduced an updated program model designed to better reflect the evolving needs of young people and families, including strong expectations around social-emotional learning,
career exploration, and future readiness, expanded inclusion supports, enhanced program quality standards, and greater alignment between the after-school programming and broader youth development goals.
The increased investment in Compass represents an investment in stability for the sector by supporting stronger staffing structures, better wages, more sustainable programs,
models, and expanding access for children and families across New York City.
We are proud of this expanded access, strengthening program models, and new investments reflected in these awards.
It really is noteworthy.