You asked why part-time school readiness programs are needed and whether the parental contribution for a part-time program is the same as for a full-time program.

There are three kinds of school readiness programs. Full-time programs provide early education and care services for at least 10 hours per day, five days per week, and 50 weeks a year. Extended-day school readiness programs extend the hours, days, and/or weeks of programs for children in part-time, non-school readiness programs. Part-time school readiness programs operate for a minimum of 2. 5 hours a day and 180 days per year, usually during the same months as the public schools (i. e. , August or September through June). According to Katherine Nicoletti of the State Department of Education (SDE), part-time school readiness programs are designed for children who do not need full-day, full-year programs.

School readiness programs must charge fees based on the Department of Social Services' school readiness sliding fee scale. The fees cannot exceed the program's established cost of care. Part-time programs do not charge the same fees as full-time programs but must prorate their fees based on their hours of operation, according to Nicoletti. In addition, local school readiness councils can eliminate fees altogether for part-time programs.

For your further information on the issue of fees, we enclose copies of two SDE school readiness alert letters (SRs 00-01 and 00-2) that describe the fee schedules in more detail.

JL: ts