What do you know about how the after-school program will be funded and staffed? Even after-school programs come with costs - both financial and potentially trade-offs re the quality and credentials of the people who would staff the program.

So I'd want to know:

Who will plan the curriculum? Are there time/costs involved in developing the curriculum?

Will a certified highly-qualified (etc) teacher be teaching, or will the program be led by parents/other professionals/parents? Will the staff running the program be volunteer or salaried?

What subjects will be covered? Is the goal covering materials to enable the studetns to move ahead of grade level eventually or is it just enrichment? If it's only enrichment, how will it compare to other enrichment opportunities already available in your community - will it offer something truly differential?

Another potential concern - our kids' first school offered an after-school language program for enrichment. It was really popular (because there was no in-school language program for elementary school children), but it had two challenges: 1) the kids came to the classes universally hungry and tired because it was right after school (not a huge challenge, but it's not necessarily the best time of day to offer up meaningful enrichment since the kids have already been in school all day and probably need a break where they can run around, snack etc and they aren't going to be at their 100% top focus). 2nd challenge - the school didn't have any advanced language classes the kids took take once they finished up the first two years of the classes, and the kids also weren't allowed to enroll in middle school language classes before 8th grade (even though middle school started at 6th) - so kids who started young and mastered the material offered then were left hanging with no follow-up learning options.

Might be just our family, but my EG ds tends to not want to sign up for after-school activities simply because he has a lot of homework, and adding an activity impacts both his homework and free time. I'm wondering if once the kids get into upper elementary, the achievement-oriented kids who care about doing homework well etc might choose to opt out of the program, yet if the program was offered during school those same students would most likely enthusiastically participate.

Good luck when you talk to the principal!

polarbear