Fairfield parents with kids starting preschool in the fall might face a previously unheard of concept having to pay for public school. The Board of Education unanimously approved a plan to charge tuition for preschool applicants in the 2011-12 school year. Families making more than $75,000 a year will have to pay to enroll their child in pre-kindergarten classes.
This is new for us, said Superintendent Dr. David Title. We did as much research to stay close to area pre-Ks [prices].
Previously, Fairfield Public Schools accepted only lower-income families into the pre-kindergarten system and did not charge a fee. But independent auditors who looked at the school system last fall suggested charging some families as a cost-saving measure. By their estimate, the move will give the district an extra $100,000 to use for its programs.
The new per-child cost will still be less than private preschools around Fairfield, at $3,500 per student for the year. But not every family in Fairfield will need to pay the new fee. Households with annual incomes under $50,000 will still have free preschool education. And households who make between $50,000 and $75,000 per year will pay only half, or $1,750 per year. About 33 percent of Fairfields families qualify for free or discounted preschool, according to the latest U.S. Census.
Next school year, Fairfield Public Schools will run two pre-kindergarten programs one at Burr Elementary School and the other at the Early Childhood Center at Fairfield Warde High School. All of the 32 to 36 students at the Burr program will be tuition-free. More than half (18) of the Early Childhood Centers pupils will be free or reduced tuition kids, while the remaining 15 spots will be tuition-payers. Both sites will serve both 3- and 4-year-olds, added director of elementary education Ana Cutaia-Leonard.
What do you think about charging for pre-kindergarten in Fairfield Public Schools? Start the conversation in the comments below.
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