By Leigh Anne Hubbs
NEWS Correspondent
The Mt. Ephraim Board of Education voted 6-1 to stop charging for preschool during last week’s meeting.
In the spring, members had voted to begin charging regular education preschool students $3,260 for the 2010-11 school year as a way to raise funds after state aid was reduced.
Under state law, districts are required to provide free preschool for special education students.
The main reason members suggested to discontinue charging tuition was because there were 42 students enrolled in 2009-10, and only 13 this year. Of those 13, only five are regular education students that are paying tuition.
Board members said the rate of $3,260 for five days a week of half-day preschool is not competitive with other preschools/day cares in the area.
But, they disagreed on whether or not to lower the tuition, or to remove it all together in order to encourage enrollment.
One parent said more preschoolers might have en-rolled if payments were monthly instead of quarterly. Nonetheless, as of September 13, preschool was free again and seats were to be assigned through a lottery if there are more students than vacancies.
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