KEY Zone

K.E.Y. Zone stands for Knowledge, Enrichment and Youth Development. The philosophy of K.E.Y. Zone, as a collaborative program of the Duluth Y and Duluth Public Schools is to offer a safe and engaging out-of-school time program that complements the school day and creates an enriching environment that fosters positive youth development and academic success.

To fit the developmental requirements, cultural background and characteristics of each child, K.E.Y. Zone makes provisions and plans for a caring, compassionate and challenging environment, positive group experiences, curriculum and behavioral expectations, freedom for individual choice and a program that helps meet the health, safety and nutritional needs of each child.

We (as school age professionals and as caring adults) recognize that today’s complex world presents many challenges for students-and the adults who care for them. We seek to offer an environment in which children can grow to the best of their abilities, one which taps their creativity and strengths and allows them to excel.

Representatives from Duluth Public Schools Community Education and the Duluth Area Family YMCA work together to develop a collective set of standards which provide a baseline of quality, the reassurance that all OST programs are committed to providing each child with a unique growing and learning experience, and guide the way for future program development.

K.E.Y. Zone can be found in all nine Duluth elementary schools during the school year (Congdon Park, Homecroft, Lakewood, Laura MacArthur, Lester Park, Lowell, Myers-Wilkins, Piedmont, Stowe) and select sites during school break days/weeks and in the summer.

During the regular school days K.E.Y. Zone runs Monday-Friday from 2:15-6 p.m. During non-school days and summer, K.E.Y. Zone runs 6:30AM-6:00PM on select days and at select sites with an additional fee of $45/day for each child.

Each day may vary by site but listed here is a typical day in after school programming. While each site may look different, these four expectations of the youth remain consistent for each site: Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Have Fun!

Typical Program Day at a Glance (varies by site):

A $35.00 per child non-refundable registration fee is applied annually. There are two different contracts that families can sign-up for the school year along with additional break days:

Online registration is completed on the Duluth Community Education website at duluthcommunityed.org or you can register by contacting the main office at 336-8900 x 2. All families must have an account online so payments can be correctly processed. The program does not accept paper registration forms. Receipt of payments and our federal tax identification number can be retrieved from your account.

If your family receives child care county assistance, please contact the main office at 218-336-8900 x 2 to register. Please do not register by using the online system. Families are asked to notify their case worker that you are utilizing the K.E.Y. Zone program for care. K.E.Y. Zone has a childcare registration number with St. Louis County

Invoices are distributed by the Duluth Community Education offices on the 25th of the prior month with payment due the 1st of that each month. Outstanding balances are subject to a $10.00 late fee and will impact eligibility to participate in the program.

Families pay their balance through scheduled monthly auto payment by credit card. If you need to make other arrangements, please contact our main office at 218-336-8900 x 2.

Scholarships are available to families who qualify. To qualify, families are asked to fill out scholarship paperwork and a notification will be sent to the families regarding their scholarship eligibility. Scholarship information is available by contacting the main office at 218-336-8900 x 2.

Please contact, Mark Connor at 218-336-8900 x 2 or mark.connor@isd709.org

Please contact, Kate Corbett at 218-722-4745 x 124 or nd.kathrin.corbett@isd709.org

If weather conditions become poor during the school day and school afternoon activities are canceled, K.E.Y. Zone will close at 4:30 p.m. Families must pick up their child by this time.