HISTORY

When Nia House was first established in 1974, the school’s founder, Tia Waller, knew that the best way to tackle the economic educational opportunity gap in Alameda County was to begin with our most vulnerable population– young children. Tia Waller did this by offering nearly free early childhood education to all families whose income qualified them for financial aid. This financial support came from a partnership with the City of Berkeley. In 1979, the financial support  of the school shifted due to a significant reduction of funding to all City of Berkeley contracted agencies. Nia House moved from serving specifically low-income families to focusing on equal access to education and outreach to socioeconomically diverse families. This financial model continues to serve the school community today, with a continuing partnership with the City of Berkeley.

In 1979, Nia House bought 3 historic bungalows for $1 each from the Berkeley Unified School District and sought a permanent location for their use. The Nia House Board of Directors worked with the City of Berkeley and acquired a long-term lease of a site for the bungalows.  The current site of 2234 Ninth Street was secured for $1 per year. The City thus effectively subsidized the rent, allowing Nia House to continue offering scholarships for the past 50 years.

Nia House achieves its mission through a diversity of funding sources. No family is turned away because of limited financial resources. Nia House is providing scholarships for 50% of the student body, currently totaling $700,000 of support in the 2024-25 school years. Ten percent of the tuition subsidies come from aCity of Berkeley grant that the school has received for the last 50 years. A sliding scale tuition  fee structure allows the school  to continue to accommodate additional low-income families, while meeting the expenses of the  program.

In 2013, the City of Berkeley renewed Nia House’s lease, adding 4,000 square feet to the site and slightly increasing the lease payment while still supporting the school with grant funding. The increased square footage was acquired by adding an additional adjacent lot to the site: 2240 Ninth Street. In addition to the City’s approval of the new lease, the City also combined the two lots, thereby approving the possibility of the school’s planned expansion.

Nia House’s Program Expansion Project increased enrollment 68 percent, from a capacity of 50 to a capacity of 84 children. With funding support, 2 new classrooms and a front office were built on the adjacent site of 2240 Ninth Street. The updated facility includes children’s bathrooms in each classroom, an adjoining shared kitchen, ample outdoor classroom space, a vegetable garden, and increased space for young children to run, bike and climb.