WELCOME!
to the
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER
I. Introduction
A. Scope
This handbook is provided so that each parent/family may have an understanding of the basic policies and procedures that are in effect at the Early Childhood Learning Center. This handbook applies to all our families.
THIS HANDBOOK IS NOT INTENDED AS A FORMAL OR EXHAUSTIVE STATEMENT OF PARENT/CHILD RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. IT IS COMPOSED OF GENERAL STATEMENTS OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER’S CURRENT POLICIES, RULES, PROCEDURES, AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE MUST RETAIN FLEXIBILITY TO MEET FUTURE BUDGETARY CHALLENGES. ACCORDINGLY, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND, MODIFY AND/OR ELIMINATE ANY OF THESE POLICIES, RULES AND PROCEDURES AT ANY TIME AT THE ECLC’S SOLE DISCRETION, WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
B. A Partnership in Caring
We look forward to getting to know you and your children and are delighted that you have chosen to become part of our caring community. Our goal is to join partners with you for an experience that will enhance your child’s development, support your family, and create an atmosphere of trust, caring, and understanding.
C. Communication is Important
This handbook will give you information to work with our staff to provide the best program possible for your family. Teachers will talk to you everyday at the beginning and end of the day. It is important that you keep in contact and let us know anything that might be affecting your child. We want to know and support your expectations for your child. We’ll send home notes and newsletters and emails and our bulletin boards will give you other information. When you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, don’t hesitate to let us know! Talk to a Lead teacher, visit with the Director, or call us any time.
We know how important your children are to you. As they EXPLORE and GROW in a safe and nurturing environment with caring, responsive adults, learn about their world and begin friendships, we hope you will be provided with the peace of mind you need to pursue your education and career goals. We strive to be a model of quality care and are committed to providing the best resources available for children.
We see ourselves as a COMMUNITY of LEARNERS including children, families, and teachers. We look forward to a close and lasting relationship with you and your family.
II. History and Mission
The Early Childhood Learning Center (Formerly known as University Preschool/Day Care) was established in January of 1983. It is administered through Central’s division of Student Affairs and Enrollment and the Center for Student Empowerment. The building, playground, and utilities are provided through an agreement with University Housing.
The Early Childhood Learning Center is designed to provide quality childcare services and an educational curriculum to serve the needs of young children ranging in age from one month to eight years old. The primary goal is to sustain and encourage curiosity and eagerness to learn in all young children enrolled in our Early Childhood Learning Center. We provide a theme-based learning curriculum where classes are “student-driven” rather than teacher-directed. We believe that by providing CWU student parents, as well as staff and faculty, with high quality childcare, we assist them in pursuing their university studies, teaching classes, or offering customer service to the campus community without undue anxiety about the welfare of their children. We encourage parents to observe and participate as their schedules allow.
As of September 2005, the Early Childhood Learning Center also cares for infants and young toddlers through what once was Child Care Central now called “The Rainbow Center.”
A. Philosophy
We are dedicated to the highest quality developmental care possible for each child in a secure, homelike environment providing warmth, affection, and support. We plan for all areas of a child’s development and education: Cognitive, emotional, social, creative, and physical. Individuality is acknowledged and respected as each child explores a child-centered environment at her or his own pace. Parent involvement positively reinforces each child’s family and culture.
We want every child to feel known and respected. We hope that each child will grow in independence and increase his or her abilities to be self-directed, self-evaluating, and self-respecting. We hope that each child will continue to develop respect for the rights of others, to use their creativity without embarrassment, and to develop their ability to communicate ideas effectively. We believe that children learn through play and exploration while engaged in relationships with peers and with responsive, caring adults. ECLC provides a rich and challenging environment. Children can explore independently or choose structured activities at learning centers. They have opportunities to grow in decision-making, social development, and all learning areas.
Children have an important role in developing our curriculum. By observing them, we build on their interests and ideas, adding those of parents and staff as well, for a constantly developing and exciting curriculum. We have established a classroom environment in which children are encouraged to make choices, try new experiences, and work at their own pace. Children have the opportunity to ask questions and seek answers in challenging but non-competitive situations. We strive to assist them in understanding that at the Early Childhood Learning Center, everyone is a learner and learning is worth the risk.
Adults in our program establish positive personal relationships with children to foster their development. We believe that caring and education are inseparable. Our goals are to meet children’s needs to feel comfortable and secure, for them to know what is expected of them, and to have opportunities to express themselves.
Children develop and learn in the context of their families and community. We create a stimulating, accepting, and nurturing environment by establishing collaborative relationships with families. These emphasize mutual respect, cooperation, and frequent two-way communication.
B. Anti-Bias Curriculum
We are committed to creating a learning environment for children where every child can develop a strong self-identity and comfort with diversity. Young children begin to notice differences at a very early age. We embrace an age-appropriate curriculum that makes every effort to reflect the diversity of our community and world in a way that expresses complete respect for ethnicity, gender, age, class, family structure, and physical ability. During the course of the year we:
Ø Present children with material from different cultures and ethnic groups
Ø Talk about children who belong to many kinds of families, e.g., single parent, blended, nuclear, extended, adoptive, gay and lesbian, and multi-racial
Ø Present images of women and men in roles that challenge the prevailing stereotypes
Ø Include curriculum materials that portray older people and physically challenged people in ways that encourage children to relate to them with respect and appreciation
In all of our work with children, we begin with the premise that the role of the teacher is to help children explore their world in an open-minded and exploratory way. The teacher presents alternatives, asks thought-provoking questions, and gently guides children to think critically. We are happy to share our resources with you, and/or discuss any ideas or comments you want to share.
C. Our Program- ECLC
Our Program offers care and early learning for 70 children in two separate facilities licensed by Washington State DSHS, Division of Early Learning, Region 2.
The ECLC, located in Brook Lane Village which is part of University housing, serves 47 children ages 2-8 years. Children are enrolled in 3 class groups: Red Room for 2-3 year olds, Yellow Room for 3-4 year olds, and Blue Room for 4-5’s. An after school program is also provided. The staff child ratio at ECLC is 1:5.
The Rainbow Center, located in Michaelsen Hall, Room 109, cares for infants and toddlers. The Purple Room cares for 9 infants, ages 1 month to 1 year, and the Green Room cares for 14 toddlers aged 1-2 years. Staff: child ratio is 1:3 for infants and 1:4 for toddlers.
Nutritious meals are currently funded in part by the State Superintendent’s Office of Public Instruction program for Child and Adult Care Food Program Services. Currently we are providing breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
The ECLC program is supported by funds from parent fees, Student and Activities Fees (S and A) and grants. ECLC does accept assisted payment from other resources such as DSHS or People to People and Working Connections.
III. Admission and Eligibility
A. Non-discrimination Policy
The ECLC center is open to all families without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, physical or mental ability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status. The ECLC is committed to making all reasonable accommodations to meet every child’s needs.
B. ECLC Admission and Eligibility
Registration priority is reserved for children of CWU students who are enrolled for at least 6 credits. The remaining spaces will be filled by faculty/staff parents. Students will have enrollment preference up to two weeks before the quarter starts.
We must have an opening in a classroom that is developmentally appropriate for the applicant’s child to be considered for admission, children must be at least one month. Children are able to remain in the program until their ninth (9) birthday. Siblings of children already enrolled are given priority for admission if and when there is an opening in the program. Families owing payments from a previous quarter will not be guaranteed placement for the next quarter until the account is paid in full.
Faculty /Staff
Contracts will run from September to August (12 months). Current faculty/staff enrolled at ECLC will retain their enrollment slots. Slots will be guaranteed for the upcoming year. Faculty/staff slots available will be for daily full-time or daily part-time 12 month contracts. For the summer months, you can buyout your slot by paying 1/3 of the slot cost your child has occupied during the previous months. Once enrolled, the contract is renewed every fall quarter, enabling family to adapt to different needs based on age of child etc. Terminating use of slot-faculty and staff would be responsible for payment of all tuition until another child can assume the financial role of that slot. School-age pay for 5 days/week, even if only using 2-3 days. Payments can be made on credit card, cash or by check the full tuition of the quarter must be paid 10 days in advance of quarter starting. Faculty/staff may choose CWU Payroll Deduction process to pay for childcare expenses.
Students
Enrollment at the ECLC requires a $50.00 deposit each quarter per family to reserve a slot for the child (ren) being enrolled which will be credited to your ECLC account and applied to the tuition for the quarter. This deposit is non-refundable. After the quarter has started if you decide to terminate enrollment, there is an additional $100.00 fee due. After we are two weeks into the quarter and you decide to dis-enroll, you are responsible for the entire quarter.
New Families
New families will be enrolled by date on the wait list as space permits. At least one parent must be affiliated with the University (student, faculty, or staff).
Children enrolled in the Rainbow Center, will receive priority enrollment at the ECLC when they are age appropriate to make the transition.
C. Getting Started
All parents and children enrolling at the Early Childhood Learning Center will receive a welcome to the Center, program information and a tour, and we will also answer any questions you might have. Both licensing and the ECLC Center require A LOT of paperwork. All paperwork is your responsibility to fill out correctly and honestly, providing the necessary information.
The following is a list of necessary paperwork to be completed by the parent upon enrolling a child in the ECLC program.
Ø Consent to Medical Care and Treatment of Minor Children
Ø Parent Class/Work Schedule
Ø Registration Form
Ø Health History
Ø Certificate of Immunization Status
Ø Permission Form
Ø Documentation of Well Child Physical Exam
Ø Family Handbook Signature Page (See Appendix A for form)
Ø Emergency Contact Information
Ø Disaster Parent Signature Page
Ø Disaster Contact
Ø Disaster Supplies
Ø Classroom surveys
All paperwork should be returned and completed prior to the child’s first day of enrollment. The Director will make exceptions as warranted,
e.g., documentation coming from out of state, well child exam date set in the
near future, etc.
**Any children that are currently involved in restraining orders or have a Parenting Plan that may affect their enrollment/parental visitation at the ECLC must have documented paperwork or copies of such orders, which must be supplied to the Director at the time of registration, or as such info arises. All matters will be kept in the strictest confidence.
IV. Daily Requirements
A. Daily Sign In and Sign Out
You will find a clock on the sign-in table; please use this time when signing in and out.
Attendance records must be signed with the full signature of a parent, guardian, or parent-delegated person for each arrival and each departure from the center. A child must be 12 years of age or older to be able to pickup a sibling or pre-arranged babysitting for a child attending the center. This is a serious requirement—not only because it is how we are reimbursed, but for the protection of your child. We assume responsibility for your child from the time they are signed in and until they have been signed out. On a daily basis you must sign your child in and out, please say “Goodbye” to your child upon your departure. It is not healthy or fair to your child for you to sneak out of the classroom. The establishment of routine is important for your child.
B. On-site Responsibility
ON-SITE: When a parent or other designated caretaker is on-site, said person is responsible for the supervision of the child.
C. Release Authorization
RELEASE: Children will only be released to persons authorized on the Emergency Information form or on the ‘Today Only’ form. Persons other than the custodial parent must provide ID (Driver’s License) to lead staff or reception before being allowed to take the child from the ECLC.
Your child will not be released to you if the Lead Teacher determines that there appears to be signs of impairment in judgment to adequately care and safely transport your child (ren) from the Center. The local Child Protective Services (CPS) and/or the CWU Police will be notified as needed to assist you and your child (ren) in being safely transported home.