A Partnership That Delivers: How Valley Stream 13 Raised the Standard for Out-of-School Time
When a district says families come first, the real test is whether every family can actually get in the door. In Valley Stream 13, that test is the whole story.
The Long Island district partnered with Right At School in 2020 with a clear goal: make sure every family who needed before and after school care could get it. Today there are no waitlists, no families turned away, and a program running across all four elementary schools, with families using it in the way that fits their lives.
Leadership that knows the work
Dr. Judith LaRocca understands Valley Stream 13 from every angle. She served six years as Assistant Superintendent before stepping into the top role in 2022, and she was part of the leadership team that first brought on Right At School. When she became superintendent, she had every opportunity to change course. After weighing the district’s needs and the program’s impact, she chose to deepen the partnership instead. What she saw was not just a program that worked. It was a partner that could grow, respond, and deliver over time.
Raising the standard, then scaling it
Before 2020, demand for before and after school care was growing faster than the existing setup could keep up with. Waitlists formed and programs hit their caps. The issue was never effort or commitment. It was capacity. Other provider models could not flex or scale to meet the demand, so the district set out to raise the standard and open access to every family.
The results were immediate, and they held. There have been no waitlists since, and no families turned away. When the district later introduced pre-K, the licensing and staffing requirements changed overnight. Right At School moved just as fast, working immediately to meet New York State’s regulations for younger children so that no student was left out. That responsiveness became the pattern, not a one-time favor.
A partner, not a provider
For LaRocca, the distinction is clear. A provider delivers a service. A partner shares responsibility. Staff are trained and supported, programs are supervised consistently, and feedback is gathered and acted on. Small issues get resolved before they grow, which means the day-to-day never lands on the superintendent’s desk.
That partnership also shows up in how families actually use the program. Schedules shift throughout the year, and the program is built to meet that reality.
Built around belonging
Valley Stream 13 aligns its approach with New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate, emphasizing collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. Those skills are built through experience, and extended day programming is where much of that experience happens. Students build friendships, learn to navigate social situations, and grow more independent. The program does not replicate the school day. It supports and extends it, creating a consistent sense of belonging from morning to afternoon. As LaRocca puts it, a child’s connection to a trusted adult does more to support learning than adding more instruction ever could.
The bottom line
For Valley Stream 13, out-of-school time is not an add-on. It is a strategic extension of the school day. Access has expanded, waitlists are gone, and families have flexible options that reflect how they live and work. Students get a consistent, supportive experience, and district leaders have a partner they can count on.
Or, as LaRocca puts it more simply: “Bringing on Right At School is the best thing we ever did.”
Want to bring this kind of partnership to your district? Schedule a call with our team, and we’ll show you what Right At School could look like for your families.
