Is there generally a fee for kindergarten?

[mtemm]

my son will start kindergarten next fall, and I just realized I have never really thought much about it. is there a fee for it, like preschool, or is it free like the rest of public elementary school?

 

[autumnbaby9]

Ours is free. We just had to provide some supplies and occationally(SP?) pay for a field trip.

 

[Caropooh]

DD7 went to all day Kindergarten and we had to pay 180.00/month. If she had gone to half day, it would of been free. I believe it was because the state only gets subsidized(sp) for 1/2 day, so the parents make up the difference.

 

[mtemm]

so you had a choice between full and half day? I've been looking at the school my son would attend's website and I didn't realize it was full day. I need to call them and ask if there is an option, and if there is a fee either way, but its 10pm so too late, and the wheels are turning in my mind so figured I'd ask here what others have experienced.

 

[bfeller]

I have two children that are now in college so this is from my experience with public schools in the states that we have lived (Ohio, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania). They all had some type of school fee that was charged at the beginning of the school year. It was usually under $100 and it covered lab fees, work books, etc......High school was the most expensive based on what classes the kids took. Of course now I pay the big bucks

 

[Cindy B]

We did two different kindergartens in two different districts (NJ and PA)

In the PA district, I had a $20 "registration" fee--supposedly to cover snacks, supplies, crafts and such.

In the NJ district, I paid nothing except a field trip fee.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Our state (WA) requires that 1/2 day be provided free of charge. If you choose full day its about $200 per month.

 

[Caropooh]

so you had a choice between full and half day? I've been looking at the school my son would attend's website and I didn't realize it was full day. I need to call them and ask if there is an option, and if there is a fee either way, but its 10pm so too late, and the wheels are turning in my mind so figured I'd ask here what others have experienced.

Yes, we had a choice. I also believe that after they had Kindergarten registration and pre-testing that they "suggested" that some kids enroll in all-day. Also, lower income people didn't have to pay, just like in the free and reduced lunch programs.

 

[ryka]

We only have full day kindergarten here and we don't pay for anything.

 

[barkley]

i'm always surprised when i hear of any fees associated with public school attendance. i've never known of anyone here to pay any fees for their kids to attend public school-with the exception of lab or sports fees that only come into play if you choose to take a class/sport that not required. that's not to say you dont get charged for a lost textbook or intentionaly damaged school property-but i don't think any of the california public k-12's charge for attendance.

 

[mrsv98]

I am trying to remember but i am fairly sure we had a fee. I know that this year, we definitely did for 1st grade. I believe it was $42 and was a "book fee" or something of the sort.

For a public school, I feel like we are "fee-ed" to death. The PTO wants money, book fee, lunch money....etc. I know some are voluntary it just gets to be a bit much.

 

[WAHMto5]

We have full day here and it is $50.00 for the year for kindergarten, plus supplies of course

 

[Beth76]

If the only option is full day, then I'm sure it's probably free. Last year our district started with the optional full-day at $265 per month. There is no tuition for half-day.

 

[Val]

Here in central Illinois public school isn't really "free" at any level. Typical "book fees" for elementary (including K) are around $150/year. High school is generally closer to $200- plus year book, activity cards, etc.

So much for "free"!

 

[orljustin]

Here in St. Louis, there are no fees as far as we've seen, at least through second grade. Kindergarten is half day in our district (no choice). Laundry list of supplies for each grade though, although most are used directly by each kid. Lunch is a dollar or two each day. I don't know - I just send in $100 when I get the note. A dollar for the class party. And we send in tons of box tops. I think they made quite a bit of cash last year for new computers, av equipment, playground, etc.

 

[dreamcometrue]

our school has all day kindergarten, and it's free! Other schools in the district only have half day kindergarten and that's it! Unless you send your child to a private school, there is no fee for kindergarten!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

my son will start kindergarten next fall, and I just realized I have never really thought much about it. is there a fee for it, like preschool, or is it free like the rest of public elementary school?

Hello from Worcester County

Here in MA there are still many schools with 1/2 day kindergarten but there are also alot that are now FULL day - it varies town to town on what they get for funding. DS5 is in 1/2 day kindergarten but our town offers the parents a choice of full or 1/2 day - full day parents do have to pay to subsidize the 2nd 1/2 of the day (I really think our schools offer this to raise funds and give parents a "daycare" option if they work days while children are in school). The public schools kindergarten in MA are free it is just wether the towns program is full or 1/2 day that you need to inquire about - you can do this when you register/prescreen your child for school in the fall.

edited to add: Most schools also have after school programs too - this would be at a cost to you - if you do work, so that your child will have somewhere to be/go after school and wait for parent pick up instead of you leaving work, dropping kid off at babysitter/daycare, returning to work, then picking up at later time.

 

[SandiH]

Our state (WA) requires that 1/2 day be provided free of charge. If you choose full day its about $200 per month.

But not all of Washington offers a full day option. I have been to and worked with several districts and 1/2 day was all that was offered. Both my kids went to 1/2 day kindergarten and I believe that is sufficient.

 

[hlbtimes2]

But not all of Washington offers a full day option. I have been to and worked with several districts and 1/2 day was all that was offered. Both my kids went to 1/2 day kindergarten and I believe that is sufficient.

Yes, your right. I didnt really finish my train of thought. Thats what I get for watching tv while dis'ing.

 

[dementia412]

I never heard of paying for KG before. Seems weird. We get full day here.