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Sunnyside presentation outlines sliding-fee preschool plan as county steps in to replace shrinking city support
Summary
Pima County and Ocotillo center staff told the Sunnyside Unified School District board they will implement a sliding fee for PEAPs beginning Aug. 1, 2026, to sustain and expand high-quality inclusive preschool seats after City of Tucson funding declines; county staff said the county will cover lost city dollars and sent a contract for board consideration.
Norma Flores, who presented on the Ocotillo early-education site, told the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board the site operates a 50/50 inclusive preschool model and is transitioning about 120 children into district schools next year. She said Ocotillo currently serves 269 students in its inclusive preschool program, including 90 PEAPs students, and that the total preschool enrollment at the site is 359 students.
Flores introduced a sliding fee schedule the program plans to implement on Aug. 1, 2026, for the 2026–27 school year to sustain and grow slots. A Pima County representative (Speaker 22) explained eligibility will follow federal poverty guidelines based on gross income: up to 200% of the federal poverty level will pay no fee; families at 200–250% will pay $100 per month (or $25 per week); families at 251–300% will pay $200 per month (or $50 per week). The county representative said income verification (pay stubs or documents) will be required and staff will work with families who experience changing circumstances so children are not removed for temporary inability to pay.
Board members asked clarifying questions about what “200%” referred to; the county representative answered that the thresholds are tied to the federal poverty level and that the program’s overall eligibility currently extends to 300% of that standard. Flores said the Ocotillo site is licensed, follows Arizona Department of Health and DES protocols, and will continue to provide the same hours and program quality. She reported Ocotillo has two classrooms available to grow capacity (one in the PEAPs wing, one in the inclusive side) and that the site received 11 scholarships this year (eight PEEPs scholarships and three childcare scholarships), supporting 98 students at Ocotillo with county funding.
Flores and the county representative also explained recent local funding shifts. They said the City of Tucson’s contribution to the PEAPs program has declined from roughly $750,000 originally to $320,000 this year and is scheduled to drop to zero next year; Pima County staff told the board the county will step up to cover that cost so Sunnyside should not see a reduction in the number of children served. The county representative said a contract that includes the sliding-fee schedule and additional dollars for the next two years has been sent to the district for consideration.
Flores said the program will begin the sliding-fee policy to maintain quality, support working families, and create additional scholarship opportunities and slots. She emphasized that no child will be denied or asked to leave the PEAPs program for inability to pay and that staff will provide supports and scholarships when families need assistance.
The presentation concluded with board members thanking Flores and Pima County for stepping in to preserve seats and with staff noting additional details will appear in the contract the board will consider in a future meeting.
