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Wallingford proposes preschool tuition for 2025–26 to offset rising program costs
Summary
The district proposed charging preschool tuition beginning in the 2025–26 year: $1,450 annually for three-year-olds on four half-days and $3,700 annually for four-year-olds on five full days, with state fee schedules and subsidies for families in financial need.
The Wallingford School District presented a proposal on Oct. 21 to charge tuition for district-run preschool beginning with the 2025–26 school year. District staff said the proposal reflects a review of neighboring districts and state fee guidance.
Under the draft proposal, three-year-olds attending four half days per week would pay $1,450 per year (about $145 per month). Four-year-olds attending five full days would be charged $3,700 per year (about $370 per month). District staff said families with economic need would be charged according to the Office of Early Childhood's recommended fee schedule and that state assistance programs and employer childcare benefits (for example, Care4Kids) could be accepted.
"All students with special needs are free. We're not allowed to charge students with special needs," the superintendent's representative said during questions, and staff reiterated that federal/state rules require the district to provide preschool special-education services at no charge to eligible children.
Staff also provided context for why tuition is under consideration: preschool staffing alone costs the district roughly $1.9 million, and total preschool program costs are about $2.5 million. The district said projected tuition revenue would be used to offset preschool staffing costs and that detailed budget figures would be provided to the board in a forthcoming Friday newsletter and backup materials.
