Significant Subsidy Gaps in Israel’s Summer School Programs Leave Parents Paying Thousands

Israel’s Ministry of Education runs the “School of the Summer Vacation” program, which partially subsidizes summer camp fees for children, but leaves local municipalities to cover the remaining costs. An investigation by N12 reveals stark disparities in subsidy levels across different cities, resulting in parents paying vastly different amounts for similar programs. In some municipalities, parents pay just over 100 shekels for a full summer camp cycle, while in others, fees can exceed 1,400 shekels for a single month.

The program targets kindergarten and elementary school children, running for at least three weeks from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with recent expansions to include some upper-grade students due to security concerns. The state provides a basic subsidy but expects local authorities to supplement funding. This leads to wide variations depending on each municipality’s budget priorities and socioeconomic status.

For example, Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, both lower socioeconomic areas, heavily subsidize summer camps, charging parents approximately 110 shekels per full session. In contrast, affluent Tel Aviv receives minimal state subsidies and charges parents up to 1,402 shekels for a long day camp in July. In Ma’alot-Tarshiha, the municipality partially subsidizes the first session, reducing fees from 440 to 300 shekels, but prices rise sharply in August when subsidies are limited.

Parents report that the financial burden of summer childcare is substantial, often forcing them to either pay thousands of shekels out of pocket or forgo workdays. Many describe the summer break as a complex economic challenge, balancing camp fees, babysitting costs, and lost wages. Some say the costs have reached a point where working during the summer is no longer financially worthwhile.

The state’s subsidy ends on July 1, and there is no consistent government support for August or for older students, leaving families in less affluent areas particularly vulnerable. This uneven funding landscape highlights the growing economic strain on working families during Israel’s long summer vacation period.