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Preschool childcare program costs rising for some MCCSC families

By Patrick Beane

Posted February 12, 2025

(Barnaby Wasson/Flickr)

The cost for childcare at the Early Learning Center and Hoosier Hills Career Center will increase for the 2025-26 school year.

It’s the second straight year the cost has gone up for infant, toddler and preschool childcare programs at those two schools.

The cost for center-based infant childcare will go up $50 per month to $1,150. Center-based toddler care will go up $100 per month to $1,100 and center-based preschool care will also go up $100 to $1,000 per month.

The Monroe County Community School board unanimously passed the increase at its last regular meeting.

The cost of preschool and pre-K care at MCCSC’s elementary schools will remain at $800 per month. Those programs are subsidized by the referendum passed by voters in the 2023 election.

Tim Dowling, MCCSC director of early learning and enrollment, said the reason for the rising costs at the Early Learning and Hoosier Hills centers is because those programs have longer hours and include breakfast and lunch. Those meals are an additional cost at the elementary schools.

“We want to have alignment with our morning and afternoon programs and across our buildings,” Dowling said. “Across the district right now, we have different fees for our morning and afternoon programs, and we have different fees at our afternoon programs depending on which site your child might be at.”

All MCCSC families qualify for some form of assistance. Those making 225% or less of the federal poverty level receive free preschool next year.

“The 2023 referendum is allowing us to greatly expand access to 3-year-old preschool for all families,” Dowling said. “We expect that most families will qualify for free preschool and encourage families to contact us for questions and to enroll.

“Evidence shows that early learning programs have a significant positive impact on children’s development, setting them up for success before they enter kindergarten.”

Registration is now open for preschool and kindergarten for the next school year. Children who turn 3 before Aug. 1 are eligible for preschool enrollment.