Minneapolis Kids Resources
- Quality Programming
- SY25-26 Non-School Days and Site Closure Schedule
- Terms and Conditions
- FAQ
- Financial Assistance
- Transportation
Quality Programming
Quality Standards
All Minneapolis Kids sites participate in an internal quality standards process to ensure they meet standards of excellence. Through intensive self-study involving families, administrators, and staff, each site creates plans for continued improvement to best meet the needs of its community.
In addition to meeting internal quality standards, each Minneapolis Kids site is a certified child care center through the Department of Human Services (DHS), demonstrating they meet standards for care and physical environment. This commitment to quality allows more families to access our services through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
Staff
Our staff are MPS employees and skilled professionals dedicated to youth development and upholding the program mission. Staff are First Aid and CPR certified and receive on-going professional development to best meet the social, emotional and physical needs of youth and families.
Family Involvement
Family involvement is encouraged in every part of the program. Feedback is gathered through annual surveys and frequent communication between staff and families. In addition, each location elects a delegate to the Minneapolis Kids Parent Advisory Council. This is an active group that gives invaluable support and input to the program.
SY25-26 Non-School Days and Site Closure Schedule
Terms and Conditions
FAQ
Programming
What are the hours of operation?
Care is available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday with Before and After School, Minneapolis Kids Jr, and Non-School Days.
Summer care is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays.
What is the ratio of staff to students?
Childcare sites operate at a ratio of one staff member for every 15 children. If there are High Five/Pre-K children in the program, that group will be staffed at a 1:10 ratio.
What will my child be doing at Minneapolis Kids?
During their time at Minneapolis Kids, youth participate in choice-based activities led by highly qualified staff that focus on physical, social, emotional and academic development. Youth are also given opportunities to plan and lead activities. Youth can further explore interests through individual and group play. Each childcare site makes use of school building facilities with access to playgrounds, gyms and media centers. Youth are given time to complete homework as needed, and afternoon snack is provided.
Is there a minimum enrollment requirement?
For before/after-school care, families must register for a minimum of two days per week per component (before, after school).
Is drop-in care available?
Currently enrolled children have the option of attending on days they are not scheduled, based on site availability. Requests must be made via your Eleyo account at least 48 hours in advance. A $5 drop-in fee will be added to the daily rate for school-year care; a $10 drop-in fee will be added to the daily rate for summer care.
Is transportation available?
While Minneapolis Kids is not located in every elementary school, there is a location in nearly every MPS transportation zone. If your school does not have a Minneapolis Kids location onsite, MPS bus transportation can be arranged by contacting the child's home school office or by submitting a Save Your Seat form on the MyRide app.
Note: Transportation is not available between home and Minneapolis Kids. Families must drop-off in the mornings and pick-up in the afternoons (including on non-school days).
Is financial assistance available?
While Minneapolis Kids does not provide scholarships, the state Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps families pay for child care so parents can pursue work or school. To see if you qualify for this assistance, please call 612-348-5937, or apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov.
Learn more about CCAP
What if my child has a health or special need?
When there is a request to enroll a child with special needs, a pre-enrollment consultation with parents/guardians and the Program Specialist or Program Coordinator will be held to determine how Minneapolis Kids can meet the child's needs. The program will work with the family and other resource persons to develop a plan for serving the child.
What if my child needs medication while at Minneapolis Kids?
If your child needs to receive prescribed or over-the-counter medication while attending Minneapolis Kids programming, you must complete a Medication Authorization Form before any medication can be dispensed. Medication must be in its original packaging or prescription bottle. All medication will be securely stored onsite.
Enrollment
How and when do I register?
All contract requests for childcare are submitted online using the Eleyo platform. Families can create an account or login to Eleyo by following this link.
**Save time on registration day by creating an Eleyo account and/or updating your account information in advance.**
Contract requests are processed by timestamp within 10 business days from the date a family registers. Acceptance is based on available space, and an email confirmation will be sent to families when their contract request is accepted. Once a site has reached capacity, families will receive a waitlist notification email from our central office.
Accounts must be in good standing with no past-due balances prior to registering for any season.
Registration Timeline
Late January: Minneapolis Kids Jr registration opens
Mid-February: Summer registration opens
Mid-April: Before and After-School registration opens, with current families registering one week prior to new families
Mid-August: Non-School Days registration opens
Exact registration dates are posted on our website at the top of each season's page (Before and After School, Minneapolis Kids Jr, etc.). If you have questions about the registration process, please call the Minneapolis Kids central office at 612-668-3890.
Who is considered a current family for before/after-school care registration?
Current families are enrolled in Minneapolis Kids Jr and/or have active before/after-school care contracts as of registration day.
If you are a current family with an incoming kindergarten, High-Five or Minneapolis Kids Jr student, you may register the incoming student during current family registration.
**Be sure to only have one account created for your child(ren). This saves confusion during registration processing (e.g., a child appearing as a new family because they were registered under a different account number the previous year.)**
Who is considered a new family for before/after-school care registration?
If you have a non-school-day contract only, a summer contract only, or are waitlisted for before/after-school care, you are considered a new family. If your active contract ended before registration day, you are considered a new family.
Does my child have to be enrolled in before/after-school care to register for Non-School Days?
No, families not enrolled in before/after-school care can register for non-school-day-only contracts.
Note: High Five/pre-kindergarten students must be enrolled in Minneapolis Public Schools (or Minneapolis Kids Jr) to be eligible for non-school-day care. Children in grades K-5 do not need to attend Minneapolis Public Schools to be eligible for non-school-day care.
Are breakfast and lunch served on Non-School Days?
Breakfast is not served on non-school days, and families must pack a lunch unless otherwise noted. Afternoon snack is provided at no additional cost.
Billing & Contracts
How will I be invoiced, and how do I pay?
Accounts are invoiced on or around the 1st of each month, and payment is due on the 16th of the month. Families are billed for all days contracted, regardless of attendance. Monthly invoices and payments can be viewed and managed in your Eleyo account.
What is the cancellation/schedule change policy?
Please see the Terms and Conditions tab on this page for season-specific cancellation and schedule change policies.
How do I obtain a yearly tax statement?
Follow this Eleyo help article to view, download, and print yearly tax statements.
Attendance
Whom do I notify if my child will be absent?
Email or call the Program Coordinator at your Minneapolis Kids site if your child will be absent on a day they are scheduled for care. A $5 Absence Confirmation Fee will be assessed (starting with the second occurrence) if a family does not inform their Minneapolis Kids site of an absence by the end of the child's school day.
Weather
What if school or after-school activities are cancelled due to inclement weather?
If school is cancelled due to inclement weather, Minneapolis Kids care will also be cancelled. Should after-school activities be cancelled due to inclement weather, Minneapolis Kids locations will remain open until the last child is picked up.
Financial Assistance
Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps families pay for child care so parents can pursue work or school. To see if you qualify for this assistance call 612-348-5937, or apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov.
Rate Assistance
Loring, Pratt and Webster Minneapolis Kids locations: reduced before and after school component rates are available for families that do not qualify for MN Child Care Assistance but are experiencing financial hardship. Rates are determined by school bell times.
- Before School Early = $7.25
- Before School Late= $14.50
- After School Early = $19.50
- After School Late= $14.50
*These rates reflect the 2025-26 School Year
Transportation
Minneapolis Kids sites are conveniently located throughout the city with programming designed to meet the needs of children and families. Bussing is available between Minneapolis Public Schools and Minneapolis Kids, and families can arrange transportation by contacting the child's home school office or by submitting a Save Your Seat form on the MyRide app.
Children must be enrolled in High Five-5th grade. There is no additional cost to parents if children are Minneapolis Public School students.
Minneapolis Kids programming my child can attend based on their grade level:
| MPS High Five/Mpls Kids Jr. | MPS K-5 | MPS 6-7 | Non MPS PreK | Non MPS K-5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before/After School Care |
√ |
√ |
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| Non-School Days Care |
√ |
√ |
|
|
√ |
| Summer Care |
√ |
√ |
√(limited programs) |
√(must be attending K the following year) |
√ |
Minneapolis Kids Family Handbook
About Us
Mission
The program mission is to provide quality, year-round child care services for families during periods when youth are not involved in regular school programs. The goal of Minneapolis Kids is to provide a safe, enriching, educational and recreational program where youth are encouraged to pursue interests, build friendships, develop leadership skills, independence, and confidence.
Minneapolis Kids Jr is an all-day experience that fosters critical thinking skills and social & emotional growth in a guided, discovery-based setting designed to set 4-year-olds up for success when entering the academic learning environment of kindergarten.
Staff
Minneapolis Kids staff are passionate childcare professionals who are responsible for developing a caring, compassionate, and enriching environment committed to high-quality care. Programming is structured to meet the developmental needs, cultural diversity, and unique abilities of each youth through positive experiences, appropriate behavior expectations, and freedom for individual choice.
Quality Programming
Minneapolis Kids follows an ongoing annual process to maintain high-quality standards for care. Through stakeholder surveys, observations and site reflection, site teams continuously adjust and adapt the programming they are planning and offering to best meet the needs and interests of the youth and families they are serving.
