Paying for CMC
Our mission is to make Montessori education affordable to as many families as possible! To accomplish this, we offer Sliding Scale Fees to all families paying privately across a range of scheduling options; this means we charge fees to families that are responsive to both their financial circumstances and child care needs. We also partner with the state to enroll children from families eligible for Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC, formerly Title XX), the Child Care Choice Program (CCCP, sometimes referred to as child care vouchers), and the RISE Child Care Scholarship through Action for Children.
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Sliding Scale Fees for Private-Pay Families
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All families that pay for CMC privately have the option to share documentation of their financial resources in order to be placed on our Sliding Scale. Our Sliding Scale is an in-house financial aid option for middle-income families. It means our private pay fees range from competitive with other higher-quality child care options in Northland to competitive with other fully-implemented Montessori schools in Central Ohio.
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Sliding Scale Placement
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Below are illustrative Sliding Scale examples based on hypothetical household information entered into our 2025–2026 Schedule and Fee Calculator. Each panel represents a different financial profile and corresponding placement on the Sliding Scale, shown here at 50%, 75%, and 100% of our Maximum Fees.
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These examples demonstrate how multiple factors—such as household income, assets, liabilities, and household size—are considered together when determining Sliding Scale placement.
Please note: These examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not quotes. Sliding Scale placement is individualized and determined through a confidential review of the information provided on your family's Sliding Scale Placement Form.
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Estimate Your Family's Fee Range by Schedule
You may also use our Fee Estimator below to estimate the range of weekly fees—from Minimum to Maximum Sliding Scale placement—available for your family's desired weekly schedule. This estimator is designed to support planning and comparison and does not generate a final fee quote.
In order to receive a quote for your family's unique fees, please begin by completing both our 6-question quiz and Sliding Scale Placement Form.
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Public Funding & Third-Party Scholarships ​
We also do all we can to make CMC accessible to families who are not able to pay for CMC privately!
We contract with the state to provide Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC, formerly Title XX) and Child Care Choice Program (CCCP, sometimes referred to as child care vouchers) through the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (FCDJFS). We also work with Action for Children to accept the RISE Child Care Scholarship. Our team would be happy to assist your family in the application process. We enroll and plan first days for children with a receipt of application to PFCC and CCCP as well as modest registration fees and weekly copays.
For more detailed information regarding paying for CMC, please refer to our Family Handbook.
Ready to explore schedules and fees with our team? Start with our 6-question quiz to discover if CMC is the right Montessori community for your family.