Shield14,600
supervised hours last year. Zero incidents.
Serving Metro District · Licensed by State Dept. of Education
The hours between the last bell and your key in the door — handled.
Shield is a vetted after-school program for grades K–8. Structured tutoring, supervised arts, and safe play — every weekday, no exceptions. Built for shift workers, long commutes, and parents who need certainty, not hope.
Staff-to-child ratio
Every eight children have one dedicated Shield staff member — not a volunteer, not a student teacher. Our ratio exceeds the state requirement of 1:15 by a factor of two. That means your child is never lost in a crowd, and our team can actually see them.
Every Shield staff member clears a federal background check, a state sex-offender registry search, and a reference verification before their first shift. No exceptions, no provisional hires. The policy is published on our website and renewed annually.
Background-check completion rate
of enrolled students improved at least one letter grade
Across 247 enrolled students in the 2024–25 school year, 73% showed measurable academic improvement over their prior-semester report card. Our tutoring hours are aligned to each school's curriculum — not generic worksheets.
Surveyed quarterly via anonymous form. The question is direct: "Would you recommend Shield to another working parent?" 94% answered "Absolutely." The 4.9 average is not rounded up — it is the raw mean across 312 responses collected since January 2024.
Average parent satisfaction score
What happens between 3 and 6 PM
Every hour is accounted for. No grey zones, no unsupervised transitions. Here is the full schedule, published and held to.
Mon – Fri · 3:15–4:30 PM
Academic Tutoring
Curriculum-aligned homework help and targeted instruction across math, reading, and writing. Each child's session is tracked in our progress log, shared with parents weekly.
Tue & Thu · 4:30–5:15 PM
Arts & Creative Studio
Drawing, collage, and mixed-media projects led by a credentialed arts educator. No screen time, no passive consumption.
Daily · 5:15–5:55 PM
Supervised Play & Movement
Structured outdoor or gym time. Physical activity, cooperative games, and free play under direct staff supervision — never unattended.
Daily · 3:05–3:15 PM
Snack & Nutrition Break
A healthy, allergen-disclosed snack on arrival. Menus posted weekly. Dietary restrictions logged and strictly followed.
Every dismissal
Daily Pickup Report
At pickup, parents receive a one-page daily summary: attendance, homework completed, behavior notes, and any incidents. Nothing is withheld.
What working parents actually say
Names, roles, and ZIP codes used with permission. No incentives offered for reviews.
I work 6 AM–2 PM at the hospital and my shift doesn't end until 2:45. Shield is the reason I can take that job. My daughter is in third grade — her reading score went from a C to a B+ in one semester. I've never once had to wonder if she's okay.
Denise Okafor
CNA, Metro General Hospital · Westfield, 07090
We vetted four programs before Shield. The others couldn't show us staff credentials on request. Shield handed us a binder. Every background check, every certification, the state inspection report. That's when we knew.
Marcus & Priya Tran
Dual-income household, two kids enrolled · Riverside District, 08701
As a principal, I was worried about liability in that 3 PM window. Shield absorbed it completely — they carry their own insurance, they communicate with our staff, and they've never had an incident. I recommend them to every working parent at dismissal.
Sandra Kowalski
Principal, Jefferson Elementary · Eastview USD, 07302
My son has ADHD and three other programs turned him away or couldn't manage him. Shield had a protocol. They adapted his schedule, communicated with his teacher weekly, and he's been there two years. That's the whole story.
James Alvarado
Logistics coordinator, single father · Northgate, 07054
Get your enrollment estimate — no commitment
Two minutes. We'll confirm your child's spot availability and send a written cost estimate before you decide anything. No sales call unless you ask for one.
Not ready to book?
Download our Safety Standards PDF — 12 pages covering staff protocols, emergency procedures, and accreditation details.