Just as school assembly programs cover all topics, they come in all different price ranges. Some are jaw-droppingly expensive. Some are surprisingly reasonable. Some are even ... gasp! ... FREE!

If “free” pretty well sums up your budget then don’t despair! Surprisingly, there are numerous options for finding free programs, depending on your area.

Hospitals sometimes provide programs on, say, Bike Safety, or maybe Healthy Nutrition. It doesn't hurt to check around your area. Local police may have a Dare program or may be willing to arrange a session around their canine unit. Local retired experts in various fields can sometimes be drafted. In some places NASA offers an outreach program. And Ronald McDonald has free programs that are quite good I am told. So check around and you may be surprised what you find.

And then there are paid assembly programs, that can range from inexpensive to very expensive. Usually, there is a set fee for one presentation and additional fees added on if you need more presentations or “hands on” workshops. Often performers and companies providing these programs charge for travel and accommodation, so be sure to check that out to be sure of what your final cost will be.  A basic range for performance fees for a 45 minute program (depending, of course, on where you live) may start as low as $200 but can range up to as much as $3500! (I never paid that much, hee hee hee). Fees for children's theatre tours and other "group" programs go much higher.

There is something out there for every budget. I have seen some great programs that were very inexpensive, and others that were far more costly than they were worth (some that were not worth anything at all, unfortunately). Generally speaking, however, you get what you pay for!

If you are adept at grant writing, you may want to check around online and see what is available. And don't forget to ask presenters and companies about discounts. Many performers will give you a break on price for scheduling several programs with them or for coordinating more than one school together so that the presenter can do two schools the same day or a block of schools together in the same week. Also, presenters really don't like to have days when they don't work. If you don't mind working quickly at the last minute and can be flexible with your schedule you can often find a "deal" on a date that is right around the corner and save hundreds of dollars! It never hurts to ask. The downside to this is that, like with any kind of bargain hunting, you will not have much control over what you get. The best course is to always try to pick your programs far enough in advance that you can get both the program and the date that you want!

Start with a budget. How much do you have available to spend? From large to tiny, your budget is the first thing you need to know. Oh, and as you make your plans, try to leave a little in reserve. Why? Because every now and then a really great opportunity will fall into your lap. A performer traveling through the area will have a sudden cancelation and need to fill a date and they may be willing to work for next to nothing. These things do happen and if a good opportunity comes your way you will want to be able to take advantage of it.

Regardless, your budget must be the first step, because it will completely determine whether or not you can even begin looking for the programs that you want.

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.