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North Penn board approves 5% increase to Extended School Care fees for 2026–27
Summary
The finance committee approved a 5% tuition increase for the district's Extended School Care program for the 2026–27 school year and summer camp, citing program sustainability, staffing and regulatory costs; staff said no wait list exists and 100 families receive county subsidy.
The North Penn School District finance committee voted to approve a 5% increase to Extended School Care (before- and after-school care) rates for the 2026–27 school year and summer camp.
Jackie O'Brien, who presented the Extended School Care proposal, told the committee the program operates at all 13 elementary schools, follows state regulations (Department of Human Services and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning under PA Code 55, Chapter 3270), and currently has no waiting list for the first time in three years. "We are on a rolling admission... I am reporting to you that we have no waiting list for the first time in 3 years," O'Brien said.
O'Brien recommended the 5% increase to sustain program quality, meet staffing requirements and maintain regulatory compliance after relatively modest previous increases. "For the '26–'27 school year, our recommendation is to approve our extended school care fees ... 5%," she said, adding that the program's prior increase was 3.7% and national childcare cost growth was higher.
Board members questioned how the increase breaks down and whether additional staffing or salary increases drive the change. Staff said ESC employees receive the same district salary adjustments as other district staff and that expanded enrollment will help offset the cost of adding new positions. O'Brien said adding roughly 12 additional full-time enrolled students typically covers the cost of one added staff member in a room, noting programmatic supplies and other expenses also factor in.
Officials also described subsidy supports: O'Brien said 100 families currently use county or inter-county subsidies through the Early Learning Resource Center and Keystone STARS, and that the district proactively helps families apply. "We have continued to grow over the years... this year we are at an even 100 students enrolled in our program that use subsidy," she said.
The board voted to approve the 5% rate increase after asking for clarifications about comparative regional rates, subsidy access and fund-balance practices. Miss Houser and other finance staff noted that even after the increase, district rates are projected to remain below many nearby private providers and in some cases below surrounding districts' current rates.
The committee forwarded the approval to the action meeting for formal adoption and O'Brien said families will be notified after board approval.
The committee is expected to post finalized rates and enrollment instructions once the action meeting formalizes approvals.
