PKEEP program fees

[Anonymous]

What fees are you being charged to participate in DC funded pre-K program? I’m particularly interested in downtown dc programs or nearby (Tenleytown, Georgetown, west end). Is participation in after care or before care optional? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I work in a private PKEEP program in DC (Community-based organization or CBO) and we cannot charge any fees to participate in the core program day which is 6 1/2 hours long. For example, the program can be from 8:30 to 3:00, or 9:00 to 3:30, etc. The CBOs have flexibility in their hours as long as the PKEEP day is 6 1/2 hours long and the program offers 180 days of instruction, on par with the public schools. So for that program, we don't charge application, waitlist, or enrollment fees, and no tuition. Also, the program is a ten-month program that follows DCPS school calendar.

Fees that are allowed are for auxiliary programs such as before and/or after care, lunch programs, field trips, summer camp, etc. We don't make PKEEP enrollment contingent on families having to participate in any auxiliary programs. I don't believe that is allowed by OSSE. For example, CBOs are not allowed to make PKEEP families enroll in after care as a condition of their enrollment in PKEEP.

Keep in mind, CBOs do NOT participate in the My School DC Lottery - they are free to choose who they enroll. So I would look very carefully at what fees the CBOs you are looking into charge . They cannot charge anything, or require anything like after care in order to participate in PKEEP.

[Anonymous]

I was advise that it is free if you start from Sep for the whole year, but not free for midyear application. Seems weird.