Full-Day , Half-Day, and Fee-for-Service Kindergarten

New: Roseway Heights and Creative Science School will now participate in fee-based kindergarten.

Full-day kindergarten
Every elementary or K-8 school in PPS offers full-day kindergarten. In Oregon, the state covers only the cost of half-day kindergarten. As a result, the second half of the school day is either covered through federal funding (free to parents) or is tuition based (paid by parents) and called "fee-for-service"kindergarten (scholarships are available to qualifying families.

Half-day kindergarten
Half-day kindergarten is a free option for families whose neighborhood school offers only full-day, fee-for-service kindergarten. Parents can choose to pick up their student at the half-day dismissal bell from the full-day classroom. This may not be an option for families who have transferred their student out of the neighborhood school. Half-day kindergarten typically runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes per day.

Fee-for-Service Kindergarten
Fee-for-service kindergarten is a district program in which families pay tuition for the second half of the day. Tuition for the 2011-12 school year is $335 per month, September through May. The best way to learn about fee-for-service kindergarten is to attend your school's Kindergarten Round-Up, where you will receive a registration packet. The packet includes a fee-for-service kindergarten contract and payment plan options such as credit card or auto withdrawal from a bank account.  Parents can also pay monthly by sending the district a personal check or they can pay the entire amount at once. Scholarships are available for eligible families. Scroll down for more information.

Need a receipt for tuition payments?
If you need a receipt for tuition payments, email: accountsreceivable@pps.net and include child's name, school, customer number (if you know it), and time period of tuition payments. The PPS federal tax i.d. number is included on the receipt. Questions? Call 503-916-3005.

Scholarships
Full Scholarships are available for families who qualify for free and reduced-priced meals (income cut-off is approximately $3,400/month for a family of 4). To indicate that you will be requesting a scholarship, check the scholarship box on the kindergarten contract. Eligibility guidelines for incoming kindergarten students are based on 2011 federal guidelines available in August 2011.  Current income guidelines are available at: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/nutrition/3984.htm.

Severe Hardship tuition reductions are available to families who do not qualify for Free and Reduced Priced Lunches but whose income is 250% of the poverty rate or less (approximately $4600 for a family of 4) and who indicate a severe financial hardship on the  Severe Hardship Form. Tuition reductions are typically 50% of the tuition rate.

Please note that for severe hardships, family must indicate hardship in addition to meeting income eligibility.

For questions about full-day and half-day kindergarten, and fee-for-service kindergarten, please contact Nancy Hauth at 503-916-3230 or nhauth@pps.net