Frequently Asked Questions

The DPIE After School Enrichment Program is currently only offering classes at Emma Smith Elementary School.  Classes are held 10 minutes after the final bell of the day.

Each school year three different seasons of the elementary after-school program are offered: Fall, Winter and Spring. Exact dates are determined based on the LVJUSD school calendar and vary annually. All courses offered are 600 minutes long and can be either 10 sessions of 60 minutes, 9 sessions of 67 minutes or 8 sessions of 75 minutes. The length and time of the course depends on the class type and the LVJUSD official school calendar.

We are now offering some 90-minute classes as well which are charged differently.

FALL: August through November

WINTER: December through March

SPRING: March through May

The State of California does not fund after-school enrichment courses for any California public school district. Without your fees, there could not be no Enrichment After School Program.

DPIE charges a fee for its After School Enrichment Program to pay the costs for teacher and staff salaries, additional mandatory employer expenses, utilities, custodial service, supplies and rental of classroom facilities, chrome books, and other related costs.

If the Pilot program at Emma Smith is successful and we open more classes in Livermore school, then DPIE will be offering donations back to each school site for their discretionary use. Therefore, a portion of your tuition cost is given directly to your student’s school for their benefit.

When you enroll online, you will be required to pay the enrollment fee with your credit card. Our website is secure and encrypted so you can feel safe in paying online. Your card number is not stored. Please contact us if you need additional payment information or have payment questions.

We now offer a 10% discount for registering two or more students  from the same household. This should automatically be reflected in portal when you register. 10% is taken off the most expensive class in your cart.  Please contact us if you believe you should receive this discount and don’t see it in your account.

Students currently enrolled in grades K-5 may enroll in the elementary after-school courses. Please review course details closely as appropriate grade level varies for each course offered.

Tuition varies depending on the course selected. All material fees (chess boards, art supplies, chromebook rental) are included in the fee.  Please keep an eye on our website for upcoming session course offerings and pricing. We offer discount pricing for early enrollments – Enroll Early and Save

At DPIE, we aim to provide enriching and rewarding experiences for all students in our STEAM Enrichment After School Program. To ensure our classes run smoothly, we rely on sufficient enrollment. If a class is canceled by DPIE, you will receive a full refund, credited directly to your original payment method or a credit added to your account.

However, we understand that life can be unpredictable, and plans may change. If you need to cancel your enrollment up to 7 days before the class begins, we’re happy to offer the following options:

1. Class Transfer: You can transfer to another class. Simply use the DPIE Class Management App or email us at [email protected], and we’ll handle the rest! If there is a difference in price, we will let you know.

2. Account Credit: Choose to receive full credit on your account, which can be used toward another DPIE class. This credit is valid for one year.

3. Refund: If you prefer a refund, we can process it back to your original credit card, minus a $30 administrative fee (covering processing and administrative costs).

Please note: **No refunds are available within 7 days of the class start date, or once the class has begun**, as we’ve already confirmed with our vendors and teachers and secured your student’s spot.  Also, there are no transfers once a class has begun.

DPIE does not prorate the tuition fee to accommodate any type of absence or tardy. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to thoroughly review your calendar for any conflicts prior to enrolling your student in one of our courses.

If you have a student with special needs, please call our offices prior to enrolling your student to discuss their specific circumstances and in which course you would like to enroll him/her.  We will then communicate with the teacher to see if they are able to meet your student’s needs and if the course curriculum is compatible with your student’s needs/abilities.

All ESS students can enrolled in the DPIE After School Program and must check in to ESS before going to their DPIE course. This will generally be by meeting on the blacktop as usual and then being dismissed.

Kindergarten students only will be checked out from ESS just prior to the beginning of the class meeting and will be checked back in to ESS at the end of the class by the DPIE vendor instructor or teacher. Students in grades 1-5 will be allowed to walk to ESS on their own before and after their DPIE class. ESS teachers will check the students in from their afterschool course.

For more information, please contact your ESS Site Director. 

Enrollment in our program takes place online at  www.dpie.org. Click on the word “Elementary” at the top of the site, then select your student’s school site which will take you to the list of courses offered at their school site and all details in relation to those courses.

Courses are filled on a first come, first served basis, as determined by the date stamp at the completion of enrollment. Seating is limited so please consider enrolling early. Once you have completed enrollment you will receive an email receipt.  You will receive a welcome email 5 and 2 days before the course begins verifying course details – dates, time & room #.

Yes. Because we offer different courses on different days of the week, you are able to mix and match multiple courses that fit together and work with your family schedule and the number of days out of the week in which you would like your student to be involved in our program. A student can take 1- 5 courses in each session if they so desire.

Enrollment for each session of our after-school program typically opens as follows:

FALL: July

WINTER: October

SPRING: February

Families who have previously participated in our program will receive email notification in advance informing them when enrollment will open as well as when it is open.

You will receive several emails from DPIE between the time you enroll and shortly before your student’s course begins

1. You will receive an enrollment receipt upon enrollment in the program. Please keep this for your records and proof of enrollment.
2. Approximately 5 and 2 days before instruction begins, you will receive a welcome email with details specific to your student’s course and a reminder email the day the course begins.
3. You will also receive an email the morning of the first class.
4. Additional emails will be sent during the after-school program to inform you of any program updates.

Instructors are asked to send an email communication to parents as follows:

1. Within the first two weeks of the beginning of instruction.
2. Approximately 5 – 6 weeks into the session
3. Two to three weeks before the end of the session

Some vendors/teachers send more frequent emails.  If you have a specific question, please email the instructor. The contact details can be found on the course description on the website and on the welcome email.

As an enrichment program, we strive to engage students in learning through fun. This fun learning occurs in the classroom with our teachers/instructors and their peers.  Because our teachers are “teaching their passion” and have no content standards to get through in an enrichment program vs. the quicker pace in the regular school year to get through all the content standards, they are able to go more in depth regarding their content through engaging and creative methods in the classroom. This richer and more varied educational experience provides a greater comprehensiveness than in a typical classroom getting students to a place of enduring understanding about that content.

The DPIE After School Program is an enrichment program therefore, there is no formal attendance policy, however, please be reminded that absences and/or tardies will create a gap in your student’s experience and can cause a disruption for other students enrolled in the course.

DPIE does not prorate tuition fee to accommodate any type of absence or tardy.

No. The DPIE After School Program is for enrichment only and is a chance for your student to learn while having fun.

If you need additional information or have a question that was not answered, please contact:

Angela Clifford
Program & Marketing Director

Or

Kristin Burtch
Program Coordinator

Dublin Partners In Education
925 587 5610

[email protected]