Enrollment

The standard registration period is held the end of January/beginning of February for the following year. Registration/application packets are made available and parents identify the session they prefer for their child. If our program becomes over-enrolled, a lottery is held for open slots. Children currently enrolled are guaranteed a slot for the following year and siblings are given preference. Placements are then offered that are:

• Educationally sound
• Create the proper balance in each classroom
• Come as close as possible to your priorities.

Following the standard registration period (rolling registrations will be taken throughout the year), openings will be filled by using the following selection process:

1. Selecting those who were enrolled in the program this year.
2. Select siblings of those currently enrolled.
3. Using a lottery for the remaining openings and for a waiting list

Application Status

Once applicants are selected for enrollment, you will be notified of your registration status. Please note that you should indicate on your registration all days of the week and times of day you would consider because certain days or times may fill up before others. A Welcome Back/Meet The teacher visit will be held in August/September for parent and child. Notification of placement will be made by the begining of March by mail. In the event that all spaces are filled, a waiting list will be established. Any vacancies occurring after registration will be filled from the established waiting list.

Deposits will be required once final placement decisions have been made.

Rates for the 2020-2021 Year

Four (4) half day Program for 10 Months
$2900.00 = $290.00 deposit + (9 payments of $290.00)

Four (4) full day Program for 10 Months
$5800.00 = $580.00 deposit + (9 payments of $580.00)

The Tuition is an annual sum and is divided into ten (10) payments. Tuition remains the same regardless of a child’s attendance, closing for holidays, inclement weather, or other closings beyond the school’s control. Please note all programs are half days.

Once you are contacted by Boutwell regarding your child’s placement, a deposit will be required to secure their place for enrollment. This payment represents the tenth payment or last month of tuition. The remaining nine (9) payments are due on the first of the month beginning September 1, 2021 and ending May 1, 2022. Children who are enrolled after the start of the school year will be given a prorated tuition, and an individualized schedule for payment. The deposit checks and monthly tuition payments should include your child’s name, school, and program. Checks should be made out to GDRSD and can be mailed to Boutwell Early Childhood Center c/o Central Office 344 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450 or dropped off at Boutwell. Monthly tuition thereafter can be sent in with your child each month.

A 5% discount is available for individuals who choose to pay the entire year’s tuition in advance by October 1st. Additionally, a 10% discount is applied when a family enrolls more than one child. (Please note: The first child pays full tuition, and additional enrolled children receive a 10% discount in tuition.)

The school district does not send out bills for tuition. Parents are responsible for remitting the appropriate amount each month. Please retain this payment information for future reference. If you have any questions, you may contact the Central Office at 344 Main Street, #978-448-5505.

Note: the District reserves the right to suspend services for the child/children enrolled in the program when tuition payments are more than two (2) months in arrears.

Tuition Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Purpose

It is the intent of the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District to recognize the parent’s ability to afford participation in the full day kindergarten program.

Determination

Students may attend the full day Kindergarten program on a space available basis and subject to the established tuition rates. Tuition costs may vary upon the financial status of the parent(s). Scholarships may be available based on financial need, please contact the business office

Financial criteria for scholarship grant

1. Monthly income & family size will be used to determine eligibility.

Complete an application for scholarship and return it with the following documents:

• A signed copy of prior year’s Federal Income Tax return.
• Evidence of current pay.

Scholarship Application

Purpose and Process 

Kindergarten screening is a state mandated process to identify kindergartners who may have potential learning difficulties. It is a brief process that takes approximately 30-40 minutes from start to finish.

This process entails scheduling three children at one time and rotating them among three stations where they will be asked to do a series of simple activities. The professionals screening the children may vary from school to school, and may involve a kindergarten teacher, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, and/or a reading specialist. Mandated vision and hearing screening will be completed in the fall.

Children who speak another language at home may participate in an English Language Learner screening as well. The screening team will review the results of the screening and parents will receive a letter notifying them of the results within one-two weeks of the screening appointment.

Please be assured that the children complete these activities with ease and do not find the session stressful. This process will also help facilitate a smooth transition for your child into kindergarten by providing another opportunity to have 1:1 time with school staff.

We will make every effort to send you scheduling information as soon as possible for your planning purposes. Please look for additional information about the screening process and scheduling this spring.

Screening Timeline

Due to COVID 19 District Wide screening will take place during the first few weeks of school.

Full Day Kindergarten Tuition Payment Plan

Tuition rate for the 2021-2022 school year for Full Day Kindergarten will be $5,000.00 Tuition remains the same regardless of a child’s attendance, closings for holidays, inclement weather, or any other closings beyond the school’s control.

• A $500.00 deposit is due by May 15th and is required to secure your child’s enrollment. The deposit and all payments should include:
  • Child’s Name
    Child’s School
    Payment Month
• The deposit and all payments should be mailed to:
  • GDRSD
    Attn: Business Office – Tuitions
    344 Main Street
    Groton, MA 01450
• The remaining $4,500.00 should be sent in nine equal payments of $500.00, and are due the first of every month beginning in September and ending in May. You are responsible for mailing the payment on time as no bills are sent from the district.
• A 5% discount is available for individuals who choose to pay the yearly tuition in advance by October 1st.
• Additionally, a 10% tuition discount is applied when a family enrolls more than one child. (Please note: The first child pays full tuition, additional enrolled children receive a 10% discount in tuition.)
• The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District does not send out bills for tuition. Parents are responsible for remitting the appropriate amount each month. Note: The district reserves the right to suspend services for the child(ren) enrolled in the program, when tuition payments are more than two (2) months in arrears.

Tuition Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Purpose

It is the intent of the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District to recognize the parent’s ability to afford participation in the full day kindergarten program.

Determination

Students may attend the full day Kindergarten program on a space available basis and subject to the established tuition rates. Tuition costs may vary upon the financial status of the parent(s). Scholarships may be available based on financial need, please contact the business office

Financial criteria for scholarship grant

1. Monthly income & family size will be used to determine eligibility.

Tuition costs may vary upon the financial status of the parent(s). Scholarships may be available based on financial need, please contact the business office (978-448-5505)

• Monthly income & family size will be used to determine eligibility as listed below.

Complete an application for scholarship and return it with the following documents:

• A signed copy of prior year’s Federal Income Tax return.
• Evidence of current pay.

Scholarship Application

• What if I live in one end of town and my child goes to a babysitter on the opposite side of town?
  • This is considered a special request. When you register your child, please let us know in writing of any special circumstances or requests.
• How is the full day kindergarten tuition figured?
  • State law requires that public schools provide half-day kindergarten programs. For every full day kindergarten class that we offer, we “lose” classroom space for 20 children and it costs the district an additional half of a teacher’s salary. For this reason, the full day Kindergarten program needs to be self-supporting. The tuition reflects the teacher’s salary, the aide’s salary, secretarial support and teaching supplies. The tuition rate is competitive with private kindergartens in the area.
• What is the difference between the full day kindergarten and the Extended Day kindergarten program?
  • The full day kindergarten program offers children the advantage of one teacher, the same classroom space and materials, and the same classmates for a six-hour day. It means fewer transitions and more continuity for the children. The Extended Day program is less expensive and offers a more flexible enrollment plan, in that children can be enrolled for a minimum of two days a week and may add on days as desired. This program offers enriching activities and provides children with increased opportunities for social interactions with their peers. A minimum number of students is required to run the Extended Day program. So if you are interested, please send in a registration form as soon as possible.
• What if my child turns 5 after August 31? Are they eligible to come to kindergarten?
  • District policy requires students to be 5 years old by August 31.