We respectfully urge the immediate restoration of CCM afterschool program at PS 316 for the 2026–2027 school year.

How We Got Here

On June 11, 2026, families and community members were blindsided when PS 316 Principal announced at a School Leadership Team (SLT) meeting that PS 316 had lost its afterschool provider contract with CCM. The reason given was stunning in its indifference: the city simply wanted to give other vendors a chance. No needs assessment. No community input. DYCD did not put into consideration the relationships, trust, and services that have been built over years. A decision with profound consequences for hundreds of children and families was reduced to a vendor rotation — as if our children's well-being were interchangeable with any other city contract.

The stakeholders who matter most — students, families, teachers, School Leadership Teams, PTA leadership, and broader school communities — were shut out of this decision entirely. What resulted is a rushed, non-transparent process that has no legitimacy in the eyes of our community. We will not accept an outcome that was made without us.

Losing Community Counseling & Mediation (CCM) programs at PS 316 Elijah G. Stroud is not just about losing an afterschool option — it would deeply impact the children and families who rely on its invaluable services. CCM has been more than a care provider; it's a vital support system.

Our children, ages 5 to 14, benefit from supervised homework assistance, sports, arts activities, field trips, and reading programs. These activities are crucial for their development and well-being. More importantly, CCM offers counseling services that address the emotional and mental health needs of our kids. In today's ever-changing world, these services are indispensable.

The families of PS 316 have placed their deepest trust in CCM — and for good reason. CCM goes far beyond afterschool supervision. It provides a warm, stable, and enriching environment where children are known by name, supported in their growth, and kept safe while their parents work hard to provide for them. That trust has been built over years and cannot simply be transferred to an unfamiliar provider overnight.

Over the years, our PS 316 community has faced significant changes and challenges. Losing CCM would exacerbate an already fractured parent community. Replacing it with a provider that lacks comprehensive support services is simply not feasible.

Impact:
The impact of losing CCM at PS 316 cannot be overstated. Located at the northern tip of Crown Heights, our school serves a community where the social-emotional needs of children are profound and persistent. CCM is the only provider currently equipped to deliver both comprehensive wrap-around care and dedicated youth counseling services — closing the gap between what schools are mandated to provide and what our children actually need to survive and thrive. Neither the school administration nor the newly awarded provider has demonstrated the infrastructure, the expertise, or the community trust required to meet these needs. The consequences of this loss will be felt immediately — in our classrooms, in our homes, and in the lives of our most vulnerable children.

We respectfully call upon DYCD, DOE leadership, and City Hall to:

1. Pause implementation of the newly awarded afterschool contracts until a community needs survey has been completed
   Reinstate CCM for the 2026–2027 school year
   Release a transparent explanation of the provider selection and ranking process
   Provide schools and communities with a formal appeal mechanism

We urge Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels to maintain and support Community Counseling & Mediation's valued afterschool program at PS 316. It is essential for the continued growth and stability of our children and our community.

Please sign to preserve a service that is pivotal to our children's future and to the strength of our community.