Fee-based, full-day kindergarten to be offered in Libertyville District 70
Parents of youngsters in Libertyville Elementary District 70 will have a new option next year with the introduction of a fee-based, full-day kindergarten.
The offering will be available to 10 students in each of the district’s four elementary school boundaries, although the physical location of the classes will be split between Adler Park and Butterfield schools.
“We’re offering it in two sites to make it more opportunistic for space,” Superintendent Guy Schumacher said.
The cost of the test program will be $3,500 per student to include bus service. Interest is expected to be high and families will be selected by lottery April 2 at the district office.
Schumacher said a full-day paid kindergarten was noted last spring as something to consider during the strategic planning process. A survey this year “showed compelling interest,” he added.
The school board unanimously approved the measure on Feb. 27. The Adler Park location will include 10 students from that school and 10 from Copeland Manor School, and the Butterfield location will include 10 from that school and 10 from the Rockland School boundary.
Survey results show most families wanted a full-day program with classes at all four elementary schools but two of them already are full.
The test program was designed to get the ball rolling, Schumacher explained.
“We’re going to start to show we have a sincere commitment,” he said. Curriculum will be designed this spring and the program design will be available in summer.
Half-day kindergarten will continue to be offered at all schools. Enrollment projections envision: Adler Park with one full-day and one half-day kindergarten class; Copeland with three half-day sections; Butterfield with one full-day and three half-day; and, Rockland with one half-day.
Parents will be able to register beginning at 8 a.m. March 12 at D70schools.org.
Fee-based full-time kindergarten is gathering momentum in area elementary districts.
Hawthorn District 73 in Vernon Hills for 2012-13 will offer two full-day paid classrooms of 25 students each at Hawthorn Elementary North and South. Cost is $4,000. The district had considered the option at each of its four elementary buildings but also was limited by space.
Fremont District 79 covering the Mundelein area is completing its first year of all-day, tuition-based kindergarten. Sixty-seven of 206 children are enrolled for all day and so far, parents of 78 of 192 children signed up for kindergarten next year want the full-day option at $3,500 per student.
Green Oaks-based Oak Grove District 68 has offered full-day, fee-based kindergarten for several years. The fee is $3,600.
Diamond Lake District 76 and Mundelein District 75 each for years have offered full-day kindergarten at no extra charge.