I am the parent of a four year old that I just registered for kindergarten.  Perhaps I am just naive, but can someone please help me to understand why I have to pay $2,008 to send my child to full day kindergarten.  Maybe I should consider myself lucky because my school district (Mehlville) is much cheaper than Parkway, which charges $3,750 (and requires parents to submit automatic debit forms so that it is deducted out of their checking account).  Why are some districts free (Puxico), while others are not?  I thought public education was free.  I am trying to locate the law which specifies what Missouri citizens are entitled to, but all that I have found thusfar is not specific to kindergarten.  I would be grateful for any help.