https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:14:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599499 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:18:59 +0000 Littlebit7 2599499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes my city (next to NYC) offers free universal pre-k 3 and pre-k 4 (8:30-230) for its residents regardless of income. As our area has become more popular, demand has increased and there is always a wait list but they manage to get all kids off of it at some point. Some of the locations offer (paid) before and after care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599417 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 12:53:38 +0000 travelgirl1 2599417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in the UK and every child aged 3 upwards gets 15 hours of free preschool a week. We use 8 of those hours at the moment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599277 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 09:37:19 +0000 periwinklebee 2599277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: That's awesome - nothing like that where I live. Two of my friends who live in Britain and Germany were having a conversation about their effective tax rates and who gets more for it. Paid maternity leave, universal pre-k, health care... My effective tax rate with local, state, and federal taxes in the U.S. was practically the same, and I was like um, I get drones, and a carried interest loophole in the zero probability event that I ever have a hedge fund? I am super grateful to live in the U.S. and we have a much more functional system than many places in the world, but still it was a pretty depressing conversation from the U.S. perspective! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599237 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 08:47:05 +0000 Andrea 2599237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have free public preK, but we're sending our kids to private. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599227 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 08:30:05 +0000 lawbee11 2599227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our district has free public Pre-K but we don't qualify for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599173 Fri, 05 Aug 2016 07:47:47 +0000 caterw 2599173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live about 1/2 mile over the line for city schools, where they offer free preschool for lower income families. We probably wouldn't qualify for it anyway but the program is supposed to be awesome. No free preschool in my county :( We are trying to get into a co-op which requires a monthly volunteer commitment but it's way cheap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2599013 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:51:16 +0000 Periwinkle 2599013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are no free or fully public preschools in my area. The district offers a low(er) cost program which is a combination combines mainstream/special needs children, but it only runs for a few hours each day. It's a great program (and an incredible service) but not practical for working families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2598948 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:09:33 +0000 yin 2598948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO went to a private preschool, but there is a public pre-k option in our district that is offered for free. The district also has a Montessori pre-k program, but it is tuition based. It is much cheaper than private school tuition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free/page/2#post-2598898 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 18:11:05 +0000 mrsjazz 2598898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschool is only free if you qualify for vouchers based on your income. LO is going to universal pre-k in September and it's free regardless of income. We were so excited to pay our last tuition check for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598826 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:28:51 +0000 Kemma 2598826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in New Zealand and every child between the ages of three and five (inclusive) is entitled to twenty free hours of early childhood education per week. I pay about $165 per week to have both my small people in preschool / daycare for 25 hours per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598679 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:41:49 +0000 PawPrints 2598679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My city offers free preschool for families making &lt;300% of the federal poverty level, and sliding-scale subsidies for families that earn more than that (if you attend the program). But our DD is likely going to attend the preschool at her current daycare (or possibly a new one opening up based on the European model of all-day-outdoor play, but that's just something we're toying with - they also offer subsidies to low-income families on a scholarship type basis). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598600 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:52:29 +0000 sapphire 2598600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely only free for low income here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598599 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:52:23 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2598599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No free preschool but free full day junior kindergarten the year they turn four. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598591 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:48:35 +0000 fancyfunction 2598591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know there's a Head Start program in our area since the volunteer org I'm in does a reading program with the kids. Other than that, it's all private preschools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598577 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:43:26 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2598577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No free preschool. They do have reduced tuition based on income but it's less than we make.<br /> For three days, 2.5 hours a day, it's $176 month. Plus the bus fee.<br /> The the public preschool through the school district. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598516 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:01:16 +0000 yellowbird 2598516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: yes!!! I have researched thoroughly and never saw an option like this? Can you give me any more information? Is it income based? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598505 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:54:53 +0000 lovehoneybee 2598505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's tuition based. I'm actually not sure if my county offers free preschool, but we wouldn't move him anyway. We love his preschool too much, and he's been there for a long time. I might look into something else for G, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598504 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:52:42 +0000 PinkElephant 2598504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>New York City offers full day (approx 9am-3pm) free "pre-k for all" (aka "universal pre-k") for four year olds in many public elementary schools, childcare centers, and a handful of privates schools. There's a matrix of rules that considers income/need, your location, where siblings attend school, where the child attended preschool the previous year, etc. </p> <p>DD1 got lucky and got a coveted spot in a private program near us, so her school will be free this year. DD2 will attend a private, paid 2's &amp; 3's program two half days per week at the same school DD1 attended last year. If we hadn't gotten a pre-k spot we were happy with, we would have paid for DD1 to attend as well. Their school chooses not to participate in city-funded UPK - I'd love to ask the director why. My guess is that the $$ they receive is too low, and they are filling the spots anyway (with students paying full tuition), so they don't bother. This year, many of kids who would have been in the pre-k class with DD1 are going to UPK programs...I wonder if that will leave gaps in the class and impact the school's participation in UPK in the future. I secretly hope YES! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598472 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:27:52 +0000 peachykeen 2598472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is only turning 2 this month, but pre-K for 4-year-olds is free in Georgia. Our current (private) daycare has a Georgia Pre-K class and I believe she's guaranteed a spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598470 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:25:55 +0000 sunny 2598470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we have free preschool in my city, though the city of Seattle has just started to offer free preschool for low income families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598468 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:24:41 +0000 sorrycharlie 2598468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No free here 😭 Hers is $280 a month for two half days a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598460 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:18:25 +0000 hellobeeboston 2598460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>None of the preschools near me are free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598459 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:18:18 +0000 LindsayLou 2598459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only free preschool in our area is head start, which requires families to be at or below the poverty line. There also aren't really any public preschools. So pretty much the choices are head start--which we don't qualify for--and crazy expensive private preschool. I wish we had more options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598457 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:17:42 +0000 KT326 2598457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: Interesting. I am in California too and have not been able to find any free pre-k programs in my area. They have subsidized programs, down to free for very low income families but that is it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598453 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:10:16 +0000 Finfan 2598453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if we have a free pre-K option for 4 year olds as we decided to keep ours in a nature-based private preschool. It's about $2,000 for the school year. They do have full and partial scholarships funded by our local giant company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598445 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:02:08 +0000 Modern Daisy 2598445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is no free pre k in my area. I am always so confused when people talk about pre-k because I wonder if the mean daycare? Since it's not free here it's also not required so a lot of kids are home until kindergarten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598400 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:16:06 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2598400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll have to pay until he goes to pre-k which is free through our state (California). But my nephew, who is starting a magnet preschool through Chicago Public schools, gets the whole day for free as a 3-year-old! We are so jealous of my bro and SIL that they don't have to pay anything (well, besides their taxes that fund programs like this, of course! :wink: ).@yellowbird: Did you end up moving to Chicago? I had no idea about the free options for preschool there until my nephew got into this program! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598377 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:47:19 +0000 KT326 2598377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only free programs are for low-income families. We could have sent him to the public preschool near us but by the time we add in before and after care it would be just as expensive as the private one he is in now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598358 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:34:09 +0000 birdofafeather 2598358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>there are free options for kids 3-5 if your family income is lower than $46K for a family of 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-preschool-tuition-based-or-free#post-2598341 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:26:31 +0000 808love 2598341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they made it free for a few thousand applicants in rural areas. But you had to be on it because the window was very short and limited notification. We had free preschool due to my husband's work benefit. </p>