Madison County officials say state guidance leaves pre-K programs at risk; board weighs options

Madison County Schools officials told the school board on Jan. 9 that state guidance issued last year — and follow‑up responses from the Department of Early Childhood Education — left the district without a clear funding path for several OSR (Office of School Readiness) preschool classrooms.

At a work session presentation, district staff said the department emailed a notice in May saying public schools could no longer charge tuition in state‑funded preschool classrooms. That change, staff said, would remove about $145,000 a year the district had been collecting at non‑Title I schools to cover classroom shortfalls. Staff reported using accumulated tuition funds as a stopgap for 2024–25 while they wait for a definitive answer from the department or the Legislature.

The board heard that the OSR classrooms carry specific program requirements: a maximum of 18 students per classroom and a requirement that two adults be present. The district said those rules increase recurring costs because each classroom must be staffed by a certified teacher plus an aide.

“We need an answer before January 15th because I cannot, in good conscience, advertise classrooms and then later come back and tell parents we’re not going to have it,” said Miss Bass, the district staff member presenting the program status. She told board members she had pressed the Department of Early Childhood repeatedly but had only received noncommittal replies about whether the department or the Legislature would fully fund the difference or allow the district to resume charging tuition.

District staff outlined three realistic options: 1) the board funds the full shortfall for every current preschool classroom (staff estimated last year’s shortfall around $145,000 and gave a rough districtwide figure in the high hundreds of thousands depending on grant levels); 2) the Department of Early Childhood/Elected officials provide additional funding to fully cover classroom costs; or 3) the department permits the district to reinstate sliding‑scale tuition at non‑Title I sites. Staff warned that if none of those three outcomes materialize the district may have to return non‑Title I OSR grants and discontinue those classrooms.

Board members asked practical questions about capacity and timing. Staff said some schools are full and have waiting lists; OSR caps classrooms at 18 students and requires two adults per room. The district estimated roughly 450–475 preschool students across its OSR classrooms and said the number of classrooms is constrained in several schools by available classroom space.

Miss Bass recommended continuing to advertise and enroll Title I school classrooms immediately because funding for those classrooms was already netted through Title I allocations, but she recommended pausing advertising at the non‑Title I sites until the department or the Legislature provides a clear funding decision. Several board members expressed concern about parent impact if enrollments were opened and later canceled.

The district said it would continue pressing state officials and asked the board whether it preferred to fund the shortfall locally if a state solution is not forthcoming. No board vote was taken on funding at the Jan. 9 meeting.

For families and community groups, the immediate consequence is uncertainty in enrollment timelines. Staff said lotteries and waiting lists historically follow the department’s schedule (advertising around Jan. 15 and selection drawings in March/April), and that delaying public advertising could reduce parent notice but might avoid the worse outcome of accepting enrollments it cannot support.

The district also warned that keeping these OSR programs without stable state funding carries ongoing budget risk because staffing costs grow with step increases and advanced‑degree pay differentials. Staff said they would return to the board with a refined cost estimate and recommended next steps if the department does not provide permission to charge tuition or full funding.