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67 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 23, 2004 School to offer fee-based kindergarten By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Griffin Creek Elementary will go ahead with a full-day kindergarten class for students who pay $500 per quarter in tuition. With 11 students enrolled so far, the one-year pilot program will be self-supporting, district Superintendent Kathy McCollum said. "We are trying to do what is best for the kids," she said. Since last year, the Medford School District has offered all-day instruction for kindergartners at seven elementary schools that serve low-income students. Federal Title 1 funds pay for the extended day at those schools. Test results in the district and research elsewhere have showed kindergartners excel with all-day instruction. Griffin Creek doesn’t receive Title 1 funds that it could use to extend the school day for its youngest pupils. Advertisement Griffin Creek Principal Ginny Hicks started to explore a tuition-funded approach after a teacher told her about such a program in Bend. High Lakes Elementary School in Bend started a tuition-based, full-day kindergarten program last year, said High Lakes Principal Steve Hill, who worked in San Diego before coming to Oregon. "In San Diego, kindergartners go the whole day, so when I got here, I thought they could do more," he said. He set up an extended program, paid for with a sliding fee. Basic tuition is $540 per quarter and kids who qualify for free and reduced lunches pay $300 or $100, based on their families’ income. Last year 40 kids participated in the High Lakes program and this year, 60 of 115 pupils will attend kindergarten all day. Hill expects to have a waiting list for the program eventually. "It works well," he said. "It’s good for families and kids." McCollum said the district will closely watch and support the Griffin Creek program. "I would love to see it spread to other schools," she said. Griffin Creek has 62 enrolled kindergartners and two teachers, Hicks said. One teacher will teach separate morning and afternoon classes of about 20 kids. The other will teach a morning class of about 20 students, including the all-day students who will continue to work with her through the afternoon. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities