After 40 years of serving families in the Walla Walla Valley from our Whitman College location, we are excited to expand to include a second location of The Kids Place (TKP) at Walla Walla Community College (WWCC)!
As we grow, we know questions can arise about what this means for you and the children you entrust to us. Whether you’re a current family or considering joining us, we’re here to help. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at kidsplacewallawalla@gmail.com.
When will the WWCC facility open? We are moving as quickly as possible to complete all our licensing and open our doors at the WWCC location! The licensing process will begin in January 2025, and can take up to 90 days. We will provide updates to the community on our progress as they become available.
Do parents need to attend or work for Whitman or WWCC in order for children to enroll at TKP? Not at all! TKP welcomes all children in the area. It is not a requirement to be affiliated with one of our host campuses.
Do families connected with Whitman or WWCC receive discounted tuition? No. Tuition for our two centers is not based on parents’ occupation or student status with Whitman or WWCC. We accept childcare subsidies, including the Child Care Aware® program for military families, the Working Connections Child Care program for income-eligible WA residents, WWCC - CCAMPIS financial aid for WWCC student parents, and The Kids' Place offers need-based scholarships, with applications submitted to The Kids’ Place Board. For families with more than one child, we offer a sibling discount when a second sibling enrolls (applied to the sibling whose tuition is less expensive, if there is a difference). For more details, visit our tuition page.
Will tuition be the same at both locations? Not yet. Our rates already differ based on a child’s age cohort (we have three sections of our program: Toddler, P1, and P2, with variable student-teacher ratios) and the number of days they attend. The new location at WWCC will also offer infant care and pre-toddler care, while our original location will continue to serve children from 18 months to kindergarten. We are working to align tuition costs at the two centers over time, but prices will differ initially. With questions, please get in touch.
Do Whitman or WWCC families get preferential admission? TKP reserves spots at both locations for the children of families connected with our host campuses.
Can we join a waitlist? Yes! Please sign up here.
Will any current families be forced to switch locations when the new one opens? No.
Will current families have the option to switch locations? Most likely, yes. Please get in touch if you are thinking about switching.
What about the teaching staff? TKP teachers at the Whitman College location will continue through the end of this school year to ensure consistency and continuity for current students. We are also hiring new staff.