The Francis Howell School District on Jan. 15 approved changes to early-childhood tuition and fees designed to make tuition-based preschool more affordable while creating a more sustainable program structure.

Dr. Amy Saint John, the district's finance and operations leader, said the district will realign program structures and tap state reimbursement so it can reduce the half-day tuition rate substantially. "We are moving from a $70 rate to a $10 rate," she said, explaining the change would rely on leveraging available early-childhood state funds to cover costs, leaving families responsible for incidental costs not covered by grants.

Administration also proposed and the board approved expansion of full-day preschool classrooms in several elementary schools (Fairmount, Harvest Ridge and Henderson) and noted two existing full-day classrooms at Becky David Elementary as models. Dr. Will Vanderpool described how braided funding sourcesincluding early-child special-education reimbursements, the ADA funding stream and the Missouri Quality Pre-K grantcould support both free slots for eligible families and tuition-based seats for others.

Board members praised the approach as a creative solution to sustain full-day offerings and improve teacher-to-student ratios in special education preschool classrooms. The board approved the tuition and fee recommendations by voice vote.

Vacation station (before/after-school care) rates will increase by about 3% to cover rising program costs; the administration provided historical enrollment and comparative market rates showing the district would remain near market averages.

What happens next: Administration will implement the tuition changes for fiscal year 2026-27, add two full-day classrooms at the named elementary schools, and continue to pursue state grant opportunities to expand access to low-income families.