Why is Jewish Day School tuition so high?

[sky121]

Jewish teachers get free tuition for their kids. That probably exceeds the public schools benefits...

Side note, Not all schools offer that. Some offer lesser benefits. For schools that do offer that it's amazing. I met a doctor in Baltimore with a large family who quit her job and went to teach in the school because it ended up paying better.

[good sam]

Very good op-ed on the tuition crisis.

http://jstandard.com/content/item/putting_our_money_where_our_mouths_are/28821

[sb613]

Keep in mind that the payment from the school district for each kid in public school doesn't include the pensions and the the money that they get to fix up the buildings.
Do the real cost is much higher per kid. 

[Dan]

Keep in mind that the payment from the school district for each kid in public school doesn't include the pensions

Source?

[Dan]

Very good op-ed on the tuition crisis.

http://jstandard.com/content/item/putting_our_money_where_our_mouths_are/28821

Interesting take.

[skyguy918]

Very good op-ed on the tuition crisis.

http://jstandard.com/content/item/putting_our_money_where_our_mouths_are/28821

It's such a no-brainer in my mind. Not to say that it'll be easy to implement properly, but it solves so many major issues. The tax issue is a big one IMO that it would solve, and it would also mean that you can give maaser to the scholarship organization according to all poskim (as opposed to when that money is included in tuition - which is not something universally agreed upon among the poskim).

[Dan]

It's such a no-brainer in my mind. Not to say that it'll be easy to implement properly, but it solves so many major issues. The tax issue is a big one IMO that it would solve, and it would also mean that you can give maaser to the scholarship organization according to all poskim (as opposed to when that money is included in tuition - which is not something universally agreed upon among the poskim).

And yet the op-ed is old and this is the first I've ever heard of it.
Though this is an issue I'd champion more than improving KSMLs.

[skyguy918]

And yet the op-ed is old and this is the first I've ever heard of it.
Though this is an issue I'd champion more than improving KSMLs.

Like I said, not so easy to implement. You need all the schools to buy in. That's probably easier to do in Cleveland than in NY though.

[Dan]

That's probably easier to do in Cleveland than in NY though.

True.
But it can also be accomplished even for one school.
Lower tuition to a level that 90% can afford, eliminate all scholarships, and get backers to create a fund for those who are truly in need.
The people paying full now would be thrilled to donate large sums of money that's tax-deductible and counts as maiser l'chol hadayos.

Seems like a no-brainer. Why is noone trying it?

[yitzf]

Jewish teachers get free tuition for their kids. That probably exceeds the public schools benefits...

like 2/3 salary and full health Insurance for life?

[lunatic]

Jewish teachers get free tuition for their kids. That probably exceeds the public schools benefits...

-1

Not always true

[moko]

True.
But it can also be accomplished even for one school.
Lower tuition to a level that 90% can afford, eliminate all scholarships, and get backers to create a fund for those who are truly in need.
The people paying full now would be thrilled to donate large sums of money that's tax-deductible and counts as maiser l'chol hadayos.

Seems like a no-brainer. Why is noone trying it?

This has been done in Chicago to some degree with the creation of the Kehila Fund. Though they haven't lowered the tuition, they upped the min. tuition and anyone deemed worthy/needy can get additional funds from the Kehila Fund.

[lunatic]

This has been done in Chicago to some degree with the creation of the Kehila Fund. Though they haven't lowered the tuition, they upped the min. tuition and anyone deemed worthy/needy can get additional funds from the Kehila Fund.

So how has it helped the average struggling family...

[Dan]

This has been done in Chicago to some degree with the creation of the Kehila Fund. Though they haven't lowered the tuition, they upped the min. tuition and anyone deemed worthy/needy can get additional funds from the Kehila Fund.

Not really the same thing.

It's embarrassing for folks that have a real job to have to open their books and make the case for a break.
Lower the tuition to the actual cost if everyone paid the same amount and then let the well off donate to help those in need.
Seems like a win for most everyone.

[sky121]

Not 100% on topic but I also think it would be very helpful for anyone who isn't paying tuition to have to meet with a financial advisor offered by the school.

[churnbabychurn]

Not really the same thing.

It's embarrassing for folks that have a real job to have to open their books and make the case for a break.
Lower the tuition to the actual cost if everyone paid the same amount and then let the well off donate to help those in need.
Seems like a win for most everyone.

assuming that the well off are always thrilled to donate to the local mosad...

[Dan]

assuming that the well off are always thrilled to donate to the local mosad...

If you tell them their tuition will go down from $12K to $6K per kid and that they can directly help fund a much needed scholarship fund with tax-deductible maiser dollars, I think most would respond generously.

I mean if it's true that just ~5% is paying full anyway and the rest have to grovel for a break, what is there to lose?

[@Yehuda]

Very good op-ed on the tuition crisis.

http://jstandard.com/content/item/putting_our_money_where_our_mouths_are/28821

Wow, that's really interesting. Seems much better than all the calls for schools to somehow "figure out" how to cut costs. I mean, I agree that schools should rethink whether kindergarten really needs 4 teachers for 15 kids, but how much is that really going to save a school? This proposal is going to affect the long-term financial education crisis.

[YOSEF]

assuming that the well off are always thrilled to donate to the local mosad...

They pay for Public School for the masses (assuming they have big/nice properties), why not Yeshiva also?

[Ez]

They pay for Public School for the masses (assuming they have big/nice properties), why not Yeshiva also?

For public school / property taxes they have no choice....