Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
ECFE is a program for parents and their children during the years from birth up to kindergarten. The program mission is to provide quality learning opportunities and resources to all young families in our school district. ECFE is a fun, informal place to meet, learn and play with other parents and young children. ECFE is the only universal access early childhood and family education program in the state.
Population Served
ECFE is open to all families with children in under school age who live within the District 196 school boundaries. Out-of-district families may participate for an extra charge and only after district families have had the opportunity to register.
Challenges
A 20% reduction in state funding in 2004-05 resulted in a decrease in classes offered and a closing of two program sites.
Competition for grants is getting tighter and has been getting more difficult to secure grants to replace lost state revenues.
Fees make up only 7% of all revenues.
Although a sliding fee system helps makes classes affordable, families with young children are finding it more and more difficult to pay class fees.
Program Funding
Funding for ECFE is provided through state aid and local levy. Funding for
2004-05 is $96 per child, while 2003-04 funding was $120 per child. ECFE experienced a 20% reduction in funding.
Participant fees, donations and grants also provide revenue to ECFE.
Program Fees
A sliding fee scale has been developed so families pay based on their income.
State statutes require that no family be turned away from ECFE as a result of an inability to pay.
