Tuition for grades K–3 will be $2,400, and $2,000 for grades 4–6 for the 2025–2026 school year. All Kadima registrations include attendance at a grade-appropriate retreat for the student and one adult (Early Childhood Retreat in the spring for Kindergarten students; Elementary Retreat in the fall for students in grades 1–3, or Reach for Shabbat in October for grades 4–6.) 

Financial aid is available to families whose budgets may not allow them to cover the full cost of our programs. (See What if I cannot afford the standard tuition? below.)

Hebrew Homepage will be separate from tuition and you will receive a follow-up with registration details to register and pay directly with the JCC. 

In an effort to reduce food waste and meet rising costs, we will be charging for Shabbat dinners for the 2025–2026 school year. Families will have the option to purchase an “All-Access Bundle” which will give you access to all dinners without an additional charge, or to pay-as-you-go per person.

In the 2025–2026 school year, Kadima@BJ will cost approximately $360,000 to run, not including the cost of included retreats for each student. The “standard” cost of tuition already includes a subsidy per student, and we additionally offer about $30,000 a year in financial aid. All together, tuition generates about $275,000, meaning that Kadima@BJ will run a projected deficit of $85,000. Historically, this deficit has been subsidized by the BJ operating budget.

For all students, tuition covers the cost of Kadima@BJ part-time educators and full-time staff; weekly snacks, security personnel, and all supplies and materials.

In addition, tuition covers the cost of two music educators to lead tefillah , support staff such as a curriculum coordinator and an inclusion coordinator, as well as a low student-to-teacher ratio to provide our students with the personal attention they need to thrive.

Tuition also includes the cost of a retreat for one child and one adult per family.

If the cost of Kadima tuition would cause financial hardship (having to go without paying other essential bills) for your family, please fill out this application for financial aid. 

Based on available aid, Kadima@BJ is pleased to be able to provide need-based tuition assistance to families who would not otherwise be able to afford tuition. To evaluate individual needs, we require some information about an applicant’s financial situation, including income and other financial pressures. Every application is reviewed on its own merits, and awards are granted by a three-person Financial Aid Committee of full-time BJ staff members through a confidential review process. If you have questions about the financial aid process, please reach out to Rabbi Deena Cowans, Director of Family Life and Learning, at dcowans@bj.org.

Kadima@BJ combines the essence of the BJ experience with a creative learning model. We focus on an integrated educational model where students learn by doing and practicing, and where the Jewish values of hesed (caring connections and relationships), kavod (honor), and ahrayut v’areyvut hadadit (responsibility and interdependence) are woven into daily life. 

The daily Kadima@BJ schedule is:

• 3:15-4:00 PM: Rolling arrival—games, art supplies, and quiet spaces available for students to decompress after the school day
• 4:00-4:25 PM: Opening ritual—a musical tefillah experience combined with inter-grade community building and Torah learning with Rabbi Becca, Rabbi Deena and our music educator 
• 4:30-4:45 PM: Snack time (including food-based berakhot) and zeman kehillah (class- or grade-based social-emotional learning activities)
• 4:45-5:55 PM: Learning block—students will cover various topics such as prayer, God, or Jewish holidays through shared source material, and will have time to work on projects that allow them to gain a deep understanding and personal experience of the material
• 5:55-6:00 PM: Dismissal 

Kindergarten and 1st grade will have their own musical tefillah time at a different time. 

Note: Throughout the school year, schedules may shift to accommodate additional programming.

Yes and no. The Kadima@BJ curriculum is designed to give students a firm grounding in Jewish life, with emphasis on community, belonging, and spirituality. While Kadima@BJ is a great way for kids to build their Jewish identity and find a Jewish home, it is not meant to be a one-stop shop for everything Jewish. We require all Kadima students to come on Shabbat as many times per year as their grade (e.g. a 6th-grade student must attend at least six Shabbat morning services per year), and we strongly encourage you to celebrate holidays and make Jewish life a part of your home. The BJ staff is invested in supporting you and your family in building a rich Jewish life. Check out our calendar to see what events are coming up soon, or reach out to Rabbi Deena to talk about how your family can get more plugged into the BJ community. We know that each student learns at a different pace and begin Kadima at different times in their lives, which is why we’ve partnered with Hebrew Homepage for direct Hebrew language learning at a discounted rate for Kadima families.