SOMERSET — The town’s after-school program for the parents of working families, run by the Playground & Recreation Department, is back on track for this year after the state issued an exemption, allowing it to operate with modifications.

The decision by the Department of Early Education and Care came last week, just days after the town submitted its application for the exemption.

The program, based at the Chace Street Elementary School, includes sports, arts and crafts, along with an after-school snack.

It appeared to be in jeopardy last spring after it was discovered that it was not licensed by the commonwealth.

Playground & Recreation Commission candidate Zachary Powers-Alves made the initial discovery, when inquiring about grants, and the state said the town would need to go through the licensing process.

The town balked because of the scope of the paperwork and the cost to seek a license for a program that does not make money.

In addition, James Pereira, then-chairman of the Playground & Recreation Commission, said the program meets or exceeds most state requirements, and the program was in operation before the state inaugurated its certification system.

Powers-Alves insisted it was necessary because “the bottom line is, they’ve been running it illegally.” He subsequently lost the election.

The current chairman, Richard Silvia, said the state gave its blessing after he spent two weeks refining the request to the state.

Among the changes: the addition of an exercise program for Chace students who normally would have downtime while waiting for the bus to bring the other students, an additional arts and crafts session, and session on board games.

“The state says ten or eleven students per staffer. We have eight, so we’re far below what passes,” he said.

The cost last year was $13 per day per student. It will go up to $16 when it begins one week from Thursday, the first day of school for most children.

Silvia said rising fuel costs are to blame for the increase.

The bus to collect the children will start at the Wilbur Elementary School, then go to South Elementary School and North Elementary School before arriving at Chace.

gemery@projo.com