Tuition Tops $17,000
Should I repeat that?

The newest tuition prices in my community were just published and they are enough to make a person choke on their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once again, tuition has risen to astronomical rates. The entrance price (kindergarten) is just over $10,000 and the exit price (high school) is right around $17,000.

The tuition cycle is vicious. As prices increase, more families look to opt out or actually find alternatives. They may make aliyah (praiseworthy, but it still leaves more fixed costs to be shared by less students), they may try homeschooling, or they may even consider public schools. Costs do not fall when a school looses two or three or even five students per class. All that happens is that costs remain the same or (more likely) increase as salaries do not remain stagnant, and tuition rises.

I already know that prices will continue to rise next year. No, I don't have a crystal ball. But, I already know a good handful of families with school age children who are making aliyah. Hopefully, instead of the 5-10% increases of past years, there will be a lower increase. But, when the tuition is already between $10,000 and $17,000 at this school (other schools range from nearly $10,000 to over $15,000) the situation looks quite bleak.

I have no doubt in my mind that we will have to consider alternatives for our own children at some point in the future. And, I hate to think that we could end up as part of the problem. B'li neder, we would continue to send donations to the schools. But with a ma'aser requirement that doesn't even near a single kindergarten tuition, our little bit is starting to look like nothing.

Unfortunately, a solution seems to be nowhere in sight. The schools view each other as fierce competitors, rather than organizations that are all in the same boat and could benefit by cooperating with each other to some extent. Each school continues to maintain an administration that looks like a small army. And, struggling parents seem to overworked to get involved.

I firmly believe that if we want to be make a dent in this very real crisis, that we will have to start consolidating schools, which, naturally means compromise. I also believe that we will need to make tuition a community responsibility, rather than a burden on parents alone.

Jewish education is the key to the future. Jewish education is not negotiable. But, at $17,000 a head, one can't blame people for looking for alternatives.