Tuition for Nonresident Students of Albemarle County Employees

1. Tuition for Nonresident Students of Albemarle County Employees December 1, 2011

2. Purpose • The full report was created based on concerns raised from nonresident employees to the School Board that the tuition charged to County employees for their children to attend school here creates a hardship and may affect recruitment and retention.

3. Policy • Policy JEC, Part III. • Full tuition is approximately $8,800 . • County employees are charged ½ of this amount for their first child and ¼ of this amount for additional children. • It is estimated by our Finance Department that for each new student we bring in through this benefit, we are receiving approximately $1,000 in additional state funding.

4. Market Research • 24 out of 27 localities in our competitive employment market offer enrollment in the school division for nonresident employee families. Within the 24, six charge tuition. • 78% of our employees are in favor of or ambivalent toward providing a benefit to other employees for which they are not eligible, as long as it does not impact them.

5. Current Picture • The current local cost for each child for 2011-12 is $8,767. • We currently have 15 students at full tuition (1/2 of the local cost) x $4,383.50 = $65,752.50. and • 2 students who are second and third children x $2,191.75 = $4,383.50. • ACPS is expending $149,039.00 in local dollars for these students and receiving $87,135.50 in tuition and state funding for a funding deficit of $61,904.

6. Survey Highlights • The survey was sent out to all staff via a link in a direct e-mail during a window lasting from September 2 through September 9, 2011. • Results included represent the employees with school-aged children who responded.

7. Employees Residing inside the County with School-Aged Children • 285 responded. • 75 said they might consider moving outside the county if the tuition were reduced or eliminated. • 57 said they weren’t sure.

8. Employees Residing Outside the County with School-Aged Children 171 responded. At zero cost, nearly all respondents would participate. As the cost increased, fewer would participate, and the financial cost to the County school system is diminished. Another way to view this item is through the lens of marginal net cost, assuming that one new teacher ($65,000) would be required per 15 students, and administrative costs would increase by $15,000 per 40 additional students.

9. Employees Residing Outside the County with School-Aged Children

10. Focus Group • We asked survey participants to provide an e-mail address if they were interested in participating in a focus group to discuss this issue. • We invited all who indicated willingness an opportunity to attend a focus group meeting at 4:30 PM on October 20, 2011, at the ARC. • We are very thankful to all the participants for your time and honesty in this conversation!

11. Focus Group Themes • Highlights are fully explained in the report. • Communication… • Impact of tuition on Strategic Goal 3… • Adverse impact on teacher efficacy… • Differentiated value added by children of public servants… • A sliding scale… • Within sight of the County line… • Child custody and property locations… • A cafeteria plan… • Procedural and options enhancements… • Employees feeling engaged and valued…

12. Tuition for Nonresident Students of Albemarle County Employees December 1, 2011