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Liberty board hears concerns that changes to TK eligibility could leave many children without preschool slots
Summary
Board members discussed TK enrollment and waiting lists; district staff reported about 39 signups for early kindergarten/TK, an initial internal count suggesting only about three would qualify under a restricted free/reduced eligibility model, and a small waiting list (3–6 students).
Board members pressed district staff for more detail about transitional kindergarten (TK) enrollment and the potential budget impact of tightened eligibility. The superintendent said about 39 families have signed up for early kindergarten/TK and that an initial internal count indicated the district might receive funding for as few as three students if eligibility were limited to students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. "So if it was based off of that model, we'd receive funding for 3 kids," a speaker noted in the meeting.
The group discussed the programmatic and equity implications: staff said there is a small waiting list (roughly three to six students) who may be placed when openings arise, and that the district could temporarily use levy funds to backfill if required to keep the program running. Board members asked how many students would be needed to reach break-even in the classroom; responses suggested break-even class sizes vary by staffing and experience but commonly fall in the mid-to-high teens.
Why it matters: narrowing TK eligibility would reduce the number of state-funded slots and shift costs to local funds or require program restructuring, affecting families and early learning continuity. The board asked staff to provide finalized numbers once OSPI clarifies the final funding rules so the board can make a clear decision on program continuity and budget offsets.
