Community Schools

• Kinder Plus applications for 2026-2027 school year may be entered, beginning January 21, 2026. REGISTER HERE!

• Your Kinder Plus application will be time/date stamped. 

• Kinder Plus applications will not be processed until Community Schools receives confirmation from the school that your child’s Regular Kindergarten Registration has been received. As such, there are no guaranteed Kinder Plus spots...However, the district will do its best to accommodate as many families as possible in the Kinder Plus program. 

• $75 Application fees and tuition payments are non-refundable. If an Open Enrolled family is unable to secure a spot in their first choice school, tuition will not be charged.

• Spaces may not be reserved for K+ at multiple schools...select the first-choice school.

• Yearly tuition is $3,150 (10 payments of $315/month, non-refundable). 

• Tuition discounts based on demonstrated financial need (maximum 20% discount) may be available. Contact the Community Schools office for a fee-reduction application form. 

• Kindergarten Plus tuition is eligible for the Arizona State income tax credit as allowed by A.R.S. 43-1089, (up to $400 for joint filers, per tax year. Please contact your tax advisor for more information. These non-refundable tax credit payments may be claimed for 2 calendar years, per individual or per couple joint filing.

• We are committed to high standards of excellence in all our school district programs and know that children that are enrolled in our Kindergarten programs experience a high degree of success as they enter our first-grade classes. By enrolling your child in our Kindergarten programs, you will be taking the first step for your child’s successful educational journey in Catalina Foothills School District. 

Sincerely,
The CFSD Community Schools and Elementary Administrative Team

 Use Your Arizona Tax Credit to Help Pay for Kinder Plus 

Did you know that Arizona's Public School Tax Credit can help offset the cost of Kinder Plus tuition — at no net cost to you? Many families don't realize how flexible this benefit is or how much it can add up to over a single Kinder Plus year. This page walks through the basics, the timing, and the ways extended family and friends can pitch in too. 

The basics 

Arizona Revised Statute § 43-1089.01 allows Arizona taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for tuition paid to a public school for qualifying extracurricular activities. Kinder Plus is a qualifying activity under the Arizona Department of Education's "extended kindergarten" category. 

The maximum annual credit per taxpayer is: 

• $400 for married couples filing jointly 
• $200 for single filers, head of household, or married filing separately 

A "dollar-for-dollar credit" means that if you pay (up to) $400 per calendar year toward your child's Kinder Plus tuition, your Arizona state tax bill is reduced by $400 — a true offset, not a deduction. (You must have at least that much in Arizona tax liability for the year. Any unused portion can be carried forward for up to five consecutive tax years.) 

Why families can apply the tax credit twice during their child's Kinder Plus year 

The Kinder Plus school year runs from August through May, which means it spans two calendar tax years. Because the Arizona tax credit is calculated per tax year, families can take advantage of the credit twice during a single K+ year: 

• A fall tuition payment counts toward that calendar year's tax credit (e.g., tuition paid in October 2025 is applied to your 2025 Arizona return). 
• A spring tuition payment counts toward the next calendar year's tax credit (e.g., tuition paid in March 2026 is applied to your 2026 Arizona return). 

For a married couple filing jointly, that's a potential $800 in tax-credit-funded contributions toward K+ tuition across a single school year — roughly 25% of the annual K+ tuition of $3,150. 

A useful timing note: contributions made between January 1 and April 15 of any year can be applied to either the prior tax year or the current tax year — giving families flexibility in how they plan their giving. 

How to apply your tax credit toward Kinder Plus tuition 

The CFSD general tax credit donation form on our website cannot be used to pay Kinder Plus tuition because we use a separate, dedicated process for K+ families. To apply your tax credit dollars toward Kinder Plus tuition: 

1) Call CFSD Community Schools at 520-209-7548. Our team will walk you through the process, ensure your payment is properly designated, and provide a tax credit receipt for your records. 

2) You'll receive an Arizona Form 322-eligible receipt that you'll use when filing your state taxes. 

Friends and family can help — and they get the same tax credit benefit 

One of the most underused features of the Arizona Public School Tax Credit is that anyone with Arizona tax liability can pay tuition toward a specific Kinder Plus child and claim their own tax credit. The individual doesn't need to be a parent or guardian — they just need to be an Arizona taxpayer. 

This means a Kinder Plus family can invite tax credit-eligible tuition payments from: 

• Grandparents living in Arizona 
• Aunts and uncles in Arizona 
• Adult siblings, godparents, family friends, or mentors in Arizona 
• Anyone in the family's circle who pays Arizona state taxes 

Each Arizona taxpayer paying tuition toward Kinder Plus receives the full tax credit benefit on their own state return — up to $400 for joint filers or $200 for single filers — while their payment goes directly toward your child's K+ tuition. Multiple people can stack tuition for the same K+ child within the same calendar year, since each tax payer's credit is calculated against their own tax return(s). 

A family with a few engaged Arizona-resident relatives/friends can often cover a substantial portion of K+ tuition this way — at no net cost to anyone, since the state of Arizona effectively bears the cost through the credit. 

A few important rules for non-parent/guardian participants 

• The tuition payer must have Arizona state income tax liability at least equal to the amount they wish to claim as a credit. 
• Tuition cannot be made in exchange for a benefit to the donor's own dependent. (For example, two families cannot "swap" tuitoin payments for each other's children.) 
• Tax credit tuition payments must be made directly to Community Schools — not to the family — by calling 520-209-7548 
• The tuition payer will receive an official receipt from CFSD to use when filing their Arizona tax return. 

How to invite friends and family to contribute 

When you're ready to ask family members or friends to consider making a tax credit tuition payment toward your child's K+ tuition, here's a simple way to share the information: 

"Did you know your Arizona tax credit could help cover the cost of [child's name]'s Kinder Plus tuition this year — and you'd get every dollar back as a tax credit on your Arizona return? Call CFSD Community Schools at 520-209-7548 and let them know you'd like to designate make a tax credit tuition payment to [child's name]'s K+ tuition. They'll handle everything and send you a receipt for your taxes." 

We're happy to provide participants with any additional information they need, including CFSD's tax ID and the appropriate CTDS school code for tax filing. 

Questions? 

For Kinder Plus tuition tax credit questions, contact: 

CFSD Community Schools 520-209-7548 

For general Arizona Public School Tax Credit information, visit the Arizona Department of Revenue at azdor.gov or refer to ADOR Publication 707. 

This information is provided for general guidance and is not tax advice. Please consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation. 

Q.  When will I know if my Kinder Plus application has been approved?

A .  A decision on your Kinder Plus Application will occur after you complete the “Open Enrollment” (if needed) and school registration processes at your child's school.   Please see the Kindergarten flow chart for more details. At the time of application, a $75* application fee will be charged, and you will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received. *Note: The application fee is fully non-refundable, regardless of placement, unless open enrollment to CFSD is denied. The application for Kinder Plus and the paid application fee do not guarantee placement in a Kindergarten Plus classroom.

Q.  I applied for Kinder Plus, why do I have to wait for my child to be accepted into Kinder Plus?

A.  We need to ensure that your child’s Regular 1/2-day kindergarten registration has been received by the school to confirm your child will attend one of the four Catalina Foothills Elementary Schools.  Once you have completed the district enrollment process at your child's school, the district will notify our office and we will be able to review and accept your Kinder Plus application, pending available space at that site.  

Q.  When is the latest that I will find out if we will be eligible for Full Day Kindergarten?

A.  Keeping in mind that AZ does not sponsor Full Day Kindergarten, we must evaluate each application independently. Applications will be processed for In-District resident families, beginning in late January and for Open-Enrolled families, the second week of February. Community Schools will process applications and fill one section of Kindergarten Plus at a time. While no "latest date" is set for notification, it benefits our schools and your family if you submit your Kinder Plus application as soon as possible, so we are able to make staffing decisions.

Q.  How will I know if my child was accepted into Kinder Plus?

A.   You will receive a confirmation phone call and welcome email (based on the contact information you listed on your Kinder Plus application) notifying you that your Kinder Plus application has been accepted. Upon our acceptance, first month's tuition of $315.00 will be automatically charged to your saved payment method at the time of acceptance. Please note, a denied charge on your saved payment method may result in delay of acceptance.

Q.  I have enrolled in the district and checked the box that I am interested in Kinder Plus, do I need to do anything else?

A.  Yes, you will still need to complete a separate application for Kinder Plus.  You may complete the Kinder Plus application after 8am on January 21, 2025 at Application Portal, however we will not begin to process your application until we receive a confirmation from the district school office that your application for Regular 1/2 day Kindergarten has been accepted. 

Q.  Who do I call to confirm or reach out with questions on my status of my Kinder Plus application?

A.  You may contact Carrie Williams (520)209-7548 kplus@cfsd16.org at our office with questions, however we will not have any additional information regarding pending applications until after we receive confirmation from the district that your Regular 1/2 day Kindergarten registration has been finalized at your child's school. 

1) Will the state provide funding for full day Kindergarten?

For the 2025-2026 school year (and foreseeable future), we know that the state has decided to fund ½ day Kindergarten only for all public schools. Therefore, a full-day option will not be funded by the state for school year 2025-2026.

2) How will curriculum be modified to fit the half-day schedule and still achieve CFSD benchmarks?

The curriculum will remain the same, just with less time devoted to each content area. The Kindergarten Plus program will provide opportunities for more in-depth learning to take place, as well as time to practice skills and concepts.

3) Will my child get specials in the "regular" Kindergarten program?

Every Kindergarten student will receive specials according to the master schedule created by the site principals.

4) Do we get to choose morning or afternoon Kindergarten?

Site principals will balance student enrollments (both open enrollment and in-district) when placing students in kindergarten classes similar to previous years when CFSD operated half-day Kindergarten programs. Bus routes and schedules will also play an important role when deciding kindergarten placements.

5) How was the cost of the Kindergarten Plus program determined?

The Kindergarten Plus program will be staffed with a certified teacher and 1-2 classroom aides. Kindergarten Plus will provide the opportunity for your child to further explore, practice, and extend key elements in the CFSD Kindergarten curriculum. Your tuition will also include an hour for supervised lunch (students bring their own) and playground time. Your child will have access to the district's technology in the classroom, as well as access to the school library.

6) Why can’t we just have C.A.R.E. operate at this time? Wouldn’t that be more affordable?

For School Year 2025-2026, C.A.R.E. for four(4) hours a day for a month would cost approximately $480-$575. That program would be structured as a childcare program, without a certified teacher. We believe that having certified teachers supplementing the CFSD Kindergarten curriculum provides a better structured learning environment, and at a more affordable cost each month.

7) I don’t think I’m going to be able to afford Kindergarten Plus, but could I pay a nominal fee to have my child stay through lunch for the social interaction and help me out in terms of picking them up/dropping them off?

At this time we will not be able to accommodate this request. Staffing the lunch hour will be a challenge depending on the numbers of children that enroll in morning and afternoon programs.

8) Is there any chance there could be a cost cut across the board if we guarantee a minimum enrollment in Kindergarten Plus?

We must commit to paying each staff member’s salary. This option could jeopardize the security of these positions. There are other variables that could affect the guarantee of minimum enrollment, including but not limited to parents choosing to withdraw during the school year.

9) Why do we have to pay for full day Kindergarten when other districts are providing it free?

All school districts have a variety of funding streams available. The main funding stream is dollars per student from the state of Arizona. The state provides funding to all districts for a half-day of Kindergarten. Other funding streams exist depending on socioeconomic status, grants received, etc... Several surrounding districts have chosen to take additional funds they have available (that CFSD does not receive) and lump them into providing a free Kindergarten program.

10) Do I get to pick my child’s teacher?

No. The principal will take suggestions, but no promises are made about which teacher your student will have.

11) If enrolled in Spanish Immersion and Kindergarten Plus, will there be a Kinder Plus for Spanish Immersion students separate from regular Kindergarten students?

During the half-day kindergarten program, 100% of the core instruction (Language Arts or Spanish literacy skills, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health) is taught in Spanish. All special area classes (Art, Music, PE) are taught in English. There will not be a Kinder Plus for Spanish Immersion students separate from non-immersion Kindergarten students.

12) Does a student have to be enrolled in Kindergarten Plus in order to be in the immersion program?

No.

13) Kindergarten Plus tuition is eligible for the Arizona State income tax credit as allowed by A.R.S. 43-1089.01,  (up to $400 for joint filers, per tax year). Please contact your tax advisor for more information. This tuition must be paid through the Community Schools office. It can not be paid through the district tax credit site.