Our tuition includes nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) and snack (afternoon) each day. We also supply disposable diapers, training pants and wipes as needed. We have jumpsuits that the children can wear during inclement weather, and we provide tons of art supplies. We apply sunblock. Our program is for children ages 24 months – 5 years, with a class ratio of 1:8. The total class size each day is no more than 16 children. We offer two-, three-, four-, and five-day spots.
Rates (Effective September 2024)
- Two days per week: $850/month
- Three days per week: $1100/month
- Four days per week: $1400/month
- Five days per week: $1650/month
Other Fees and Features
Other items to note for budgeting time and finances:
- There is a $40 application fee to join our waitlist. (Please write a check out to “Mud Pies Preschool LLC” and drop off in our mailbox noting your child’s name on the check. We are not clever with electronic payments until you are accepted. Applications can be hard copy with the check, or sent electronically.)
- There is a one-time enrollment fee of $350 per child to confirm your child’s spot. (Same thing; checks to “Mud Pies Preschool LLC” preferred if in advance; if you are confirming your spot within a week of your start date we can bill you electronically.)
- There is a $10 late fee for any child picked up between 5:30-5:45 and a $20 late fee for any child picked up after 5:45.
- Invoices go out on the 15th of every month. Tuition is due on the 20th of each month prior to the month of care. Fees incur after the 25th at the rate of $25 per day. For example, tuition for October is due September 20th. If you pay on the 26th, you’ll receive a $25 fee. If you pay on the 27th, it’s $50. And onwards. Please pay on time.
- For students already enrolled, we offer $80 “Drop In Spots” depending on availability. This is a terrific option for households that occasionally need an extra day: the child gets to play in a familiar environment with known friends while the parent gets ten bonus child-free hours to do whatever needs to be done.
- We occasionally offer a “Flashlight Night” for $40 — a 6-9pm special event whereby the children arrive with a flashlight, toothbrush/toothpaste, and jammies. Glowing fun ensues.
- We are a year-round program. We take one week off in the spring (typically March), one week off in the summer (typically early July), a week-plus (typically 12-14 days) off in the winter (typically in late December), plus Memorial Day and Labor Day (see exact schedule). NOTE: We follow the Portland Public School’s closures in terms of snow days and delayed openings.
- We accept payments from DHS / the Employment-Related Day Care (ERCD) program
- There will possibly be a $150 materials fee in January 2025 to help us bridge the lean months (our program gets subsidized for the meals we serve; by not serving as many meals in December our check in January is significantly smaller)(plus we incur additional extra costs in December). We will confirm this fee by the end of September, but wanted to put it out there as a possibility.
Tuition and rates are subject to change; we give 3-months notice of any changes.
And now feast your eyes on some of our delicious and nutritious lunches – yum!
