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Admission & Fees
Age Ranges and Staff Ratios | Admission & Fees Information
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Our Philosophy . . .
Children are unique. Therefore, we provide a program of care and education that addresses each of their particular patterns of growth, previous experiences, temperaments and learning styles. We plan activities to match the diverse physical, cultural, social-emotional and intellectual needs of the children. We believe that children require a positive self-image in order to form relationships and be open to learning. Therefore, we respect and appreciate them. Our goal is to have them feel physically and emotionally empowered. We help them develop independence, cooperative behavior, and caring for others.
Tolerance and understanding are fostered by positive exposure to a variety of ages, genders, life-styles, races, cultures, religions, and physical abilities. Therefore, we emphasize an environment that welcomes diversity and challenges bias and discrimination. Children learn best through active exploration and experimentation, so we strongly emphasize child-initiated play in our program. Children are given choices and allowed the time to explore to their satisfaction whenever possible. We stress the process of learning over any products or facts. We also know children need to experience the world in concrete ways before they can represent it abstractly. Therefore, we introduce numerals and written language through real life experiences when we feel they are ready to understand such symbols.
Basic rules for children are established for their health and safety. When appropriate and feasible, children are asked to participate in the establishment of such rules. We tailor our expectations and requests to fit the developmental levels of the children; therefore, minimizing frustration and inappropriate behavior. We try to arrange the environment to avoid problem situations. We encourage the children to develop their own self-control, management of feelings, problem-solving abilities, and to find their own rewards in appropriate and cooperative behavior.
The Center acknowledges that parents have the primary responsibility for the care and education of their children. Therefore, we work in close partnership with them. Both teachers and parents bring important knowledge to the children’s education. We emphasize mutual trust and open communication. We encourage as much parent participation as possible.
Age Ranges and Staff Ratios
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INFANTS:
3 months to 15-18 months 6 children
TODDLERS:
15-18 months to 33-36 months 10 children
PRESCHOOLERS:
33-36 months to 59 months 20 children
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Placement and movement to the next group is also dependent on the child’s level of development and available space.
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| Staff Ratios |
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INFANTS: 1 teacher to 3 children
TODDLERS: 1 teacher to 5 children
PRESCHOOLERS: 1 teacher to 10 children
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Admission & Fees
Age Ranges and Staff Ratios | Priorities and The Waiting List | Intake Interviews
Gradual Start | Fee Information | Termination Policy
PRIORITIES AND THE WAITING LIST
Consistent with DTCC’s commitment to equal opportunity and non-discrimination, eligibility for child care is not based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Applications for child care for children with disabilities are accepted, but enrollment and service is based on the Center’s ability to provide appropriate care without an undue burden to the Center.
Admissions are open first to DTCC students and staff and siblings of children already in the program.
Names are accepted on a waiting list as soon as there is a confirmed pregnancy, although we do not admit children until three months of age. The Center also has an expiration date of 6 months from the time you were placed on the waiting list. At the end of the 6 month period, it is the family’s responsibility to renew their place on the list.
INTAKE INTERVIEWS
Before a child is admitted, at least one parent/guardian needs to come for an Intake Interview with the Director and Lead Teacher. The Director and parent/guardian review the necessary records, authorizations, forms, policies, and procedures of the Center. The Lead Teacher and parent/guardian discuss the needs of the child, special concerns, schedule of the day, separation issues, methods for communication, what to bring, and a gradual start schedule.
GRADUAL START
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must visit the classroom with their child for one or two short days prior to the child’s beginning full time. This should be arranged at the Intake Meeting with the Lead Teacher. Entering a new program may be stressful for some children. A gradual start enables them to deal with separation and adjust to a new surrounding, new adults, new children, new routines, etc. We have found that children who are given a gradual start make the best adjustment in the shortest period of time. Please do schedule a time for this process. It is very important to the development of your child.
Fee Information
Tuition Fees | Late Tuition Fee | Late Pick-Up Fee | Yearly Contracts
Emergency Lunch or Clothing Fees | Termination Policy
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Rate Schedule Per Week
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| Age Range |
Student |
Staff |
Community |
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$160.00 |
$173.00 |
$184.00 |
Toddler
18-36 months |
$140.00 |
$155.00 |
$165.00 |
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Preschooler
3-5 years
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$122.00 |
$140.00 |
$160.00 |
| *Fees are determined annually |
TUITION FEES vary with the age of the child and status of the parents (DTCC student, staff, POC contract, or community). The first payment to the Child Development Center must be paid by cash or Money Order. Tuition fees are due every other Monday. In the event that school is closed on a Monday, payment must be made the following Tuesday.
LATE TUITION FEE of 5% of the unpaid balance is charged on the following Tuesday after payment is due. If payments fall in arrears by more than one week, care will be suspended until payment is made. Fees will be charged during the suspended period to hold the spot. After two weeks in arrears, the Center reserves the right to fill the slot.
LATE PICKUP FEE will increase to $10.00 for every 15 minutes upon renewal of your contract for FYO6. Regardless of the reason this is to help reimburse staff for overtime.
EMERGENCY LUNCH OR CLOTHING FEES are charged for supplying items that families are expected to provide on a daily basis. There will be a $1.00 charge for every piece of clothing. There is a $3.00 charge for any lunch as long as we do not serve lunch in our program.
YEARLY CONTRACTS are effective July 1st-June 30th. You will be asked to renew your contract annually. There is also an annual registration fee of $35.00 for the first child and $25.00 for each additional child in the program.
TERMINATION POLICY - If you decide to withdraw your child from the Center, please understand that you will be charged three weeks of tuition from the date the Office receives written notice of termination, whether your child attends or not. Last payment to the Child Development Center must be paid by cash or Money Order.
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