Cost of a kindergarten program - poll? Thoughts?

[widemouthedfrog]

I am developing a forest kindergarten-inspired program. I have a question about the feasibility - the cost, primarily.

Our daughter's parent participation preschool cost $120/month for 24 hours per month and involved a fair bit of work. This program would be about 30 hours a month and would be $240. Families in our area can also choose to get a $1000 grant from the government, bringing the monthly cost to $140...but they might choose not to as well (or have it already allocated). We would be able to provide 1-2 partial scholarships. Parents would come to class once every two weeks in this new program.

I believe in paying teachers a good wage, which is why the cost is higher. Also, insurance will be a factor as the program is outdoors.

I really, really want this to work for our family and other families. The question is: would you pay $240/month for a forest and farm kindergarten three mornings a week?

[beanma]

That would be really, really reasonable in our area. Sure, I'd pay that.

[KCMichigan]

I think it is reasonable, but we could not afford it since we have two K age DD.

Last yr we paid 180 amonth for both girls for community program 2x a week for 2.5hrs a day.

This yr $ is even tighter so that is too much.
I think you will find cost by region varies greatly....

Sounds like a good program though,good luck!

[BetsyNY]

Is this a drop-off program?

In my area, that would be very reasonable. To give you an idea, a similar program in my area is $30/day for a morning program, so that would be $360 a month.

[widemouthedfrog]

BetsyNY, it would be almost all drop-off with participation once every 2 weeks to keep the ratios really good. I want a ratio of 1 adult to 3.5 kids.

KC, we can only afford it with the subsidy of $100, but I'm hoping that others can too!

[beanma]

wmf, I'd compare to other programs in your area. That would be really reasonable for our area. I'm pretty sure it's about half what we paid for preschool (3 days a week, half days). Okay, I just looked it up. The playschool my dd2 went to last year is charging $395 for 3 mornings a month for 3/4 yr olds this year. For pre-k/k (4s & 5s) it's $415, so your prices seem really reasonable to me. The program we went to was not an especially expensive program for our area, either. The preschool program dd1 went to is currently charging about $300 (plus some extra initial fees) for 3 mornings a week. The private school where my kids are now charges about $6000/pre year for 5 half days in their preschool program. That's about $666 per month. So... $240 would be exceptionally reasonable around here, but in your area if everybody is charging $100 a month you might price yourself out of the market. I'd check out all the other options in your area (not just the school your dd went to last year) and compare because that's what your clients will do.

[widemouthedfrog]

of the ones in our area, $240 is on the medium to higher end. However, the cost with the government subsidy for homelearners is definitely on the low end. I don't want to run an inaccessible program, but then again, I want to pay the instructors enough!

[Polliwog]

Originally Posted by beanma

That would be really, really reasonable in our area. Sure, I'd pay that.

I'm in the same area and agree.

[elmh23]

We pay $520 a month for five full day Kindergarten, so I think $240 for three mornings a week is a little high.

But the closest thing we have to that type of program is about $600 a month for three mornings a week, so in that respect, maybe I'm wrong on what that type of thing should cost.

[VisionaryMom]

For our area, that's higher than average, but it's not too far off. We paid $210/month for 4 mornings a week for DS. That's the standard pricing here (only $10-15 a month different anywhere). OTOH, you're doing a specialty program, so I'd expect the costs to be higher.

[ecoteat]

I pay about that much each month for 2 full days of a Waldorf-inspired home based preschool--it's $32 a day. If I wanted dd to go to the preK-8 Waldorf school for preschool, it's 3 mornings a week and almost $400 a month. So I think your pricing sounds pretty reasonable.

[MJB]

I don't really see 3 half-days a week as a kindergarten. My son's private, 5 full day K is $13,000 a year (thankfully, we get a scholarship). But his 3 morning a week preschool co-op was about $100 a month. I don't think I'd be willing to pay that much for preschool (but maybe, if I really loved the program).

[EFmom]

Nope. I also think 3 half days doesn't constitute kindergarten.

I work out of the home, and that schedule would be flat out impossible. In addition, we have an excellent school system that provides K, although we are one of the few places in the state that's not full day, which makes me insane. But the district provided bussing to our daycare provider.

[lauren]

I have always paid $40 per month for preschool (public/combined preschool) so that would be out of reach for me.

Luckily our preschool was fabulous at weaving in the forest-kindergarten model into the curriculum.

[rabrog]

3 half days is a preschool program, not Kindergarten. It needs to be at least 5 days a week half day (opposed to full day) to have people see it as an option for Kinder.

Jenn

[ramama]

Your prices seem very reasonable to me, as I paid $300 a month for 3 mornings a week in a Montessori preschool. However, I agree with PPs who said that 3 mornings a week doesn't seem like a Kindergarten schedule, and many prospective parents to your school may see it that way too!

Is Kindergarten compulsory in your state? If so, there may be minimum hours set by the state for Kindergarten.

[widemouthedfrog]

I could see it becoming a five day a week program, but right now it's geared more to those who would not necessarily want to be part of the public school system here - those who are thinking of homelearning or debating public school.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by widemouthedfrog

I could see it becoming a five day a week program, but right now it's geared more to those who would not necessarily want to be part of the public school system here - those who are thinking of homelearning or debating public school.

Have you checked into the legal aspects in your state of running a private school?

[widemouthedfrog]

It's not actually going to be a school. It's a recreational program inspired by forest kindergarten for homelearners (or those debating kindergarten). Similar to those who might decide to place their child in an intensive competitive gymnastics or dance program three mornings a week. If I make it an official school, things get really complicated. It will be run by a society as a rec program and it won't have a building.

I'm in BC, Canada and kindergarten is not mandatory here.

[robugmum]

I think it sounds reasonable. FWIW, for 5 half days (2.5 hrs) I think we paid about $240 per month for preschool. Some people might balk at the lesser amt of time but your market is definitely going to be looking for alternatives to the standard Kindy experience and less time away from parents would likely be a plus! I, for one, am pretty excited about the idea. I'm sad I won't be able to take advantage of it!