Parents’ Guide to the Application Process and Enrollment Procedure
APPLICATION PROCESS
Schedule an orientation tour of our program and interview for you and your child with the center director.
Review Family Handbook and other materials. Call director with any questions or for references.
To apply, complete and submit the Application with a non-refundable Application Fee to the center director.
After reviewing the application, Academy will inform you of an admission decision. Priority
placement is given to 5 full day and 12 month enrollment period (July 1st-June 30th), current students, and siblings. Selection for admission will be determined by Academy’s ability to meet your family’s needs.
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE Secure an enrollment packet from the center director once you are notified of admission. The packet is also available online. Return the following completed items to the center director within three days of the date of the notification letter:
___ Signed and initial pages of the Enrollment Contract with ACH Debit Authorization Form with the voided check.
___ Non-refundable Enrollment and Material Fees– See tuition worksheets.
___ Security Deposit for 12-month programs (enrollment period July 1st-June 30th)– Early Childhood Child Care Programs for Infants-Pre-Kindergarten. Security deposit is refundable if a child attends a new program for at least one month and the director receives a one-month written notice of withdrawal and there is no outstanding balance. No mid-month withdrawal credit. Full-month tuition installment will be assessed.
___ School year “only” programs – Annual tuition or the option of equal, non-refundable tuition installments is due on or before August 1st. Each subsequent installment is due on or before the 1st business day of each month through May. Space is reserved for the school year and follows the MCPS school year calendar. Consequently, all tuition is due for the year regardless of absences or withdrawals for any reason.
Only additions to the program will be accepted prior to October 1st.
Applications received after August 1st will be assessed an adjusted installment plan to be completed and paid in full by May 1st. Complete mandatory forms 1 month prior to the start date. The child will be excluded from the program without all of the required forms accurately completed, updated, and on file at the center.
Attend mandatory Parent and Student Orientations.
CUSTOMIZED SCHEDULES
Definition: Any program not published on the Center’s tuition worksheet or requests for enrollment before/after the identified enrollment periods.
All customized schedule requests must be submitted in writing and must be preapproved by Academy’s business office. Priority placement is given to 5 full day and 12 month enrollment period (July 1st-June 30th), current student, and sibling applications.
REQUIRED FORMS
To allow for review and planning and to comply with Maryland law, Parents must return the following completed forms at least one month prior to start date. Children will not be permitted to attend without a complete file.
___Emergency Form/Medical Condition form
___Health Inventory (Part I- Parent)
___Health Inventory (Part II- Physician)
___Immunization Certificate
___Medication Administration Authorization (Release to administer medication. Must match prescription container.)
___Student Information (Infants-Pre-K only)
___Release of Information Form (School-Age students only)
___Directory Form, Partnership survey, and Transportation Safety Restraint Policy acknowledgment
___Acknowledgment form from “A Parent’s Guide to Regulated Child Care” (May be found at www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/licensing_branch/parent_guide )
____ASQ Developmental Screening Tool ( not School-Age)
PLACEMENT CRITERIA
Children are grouped by age as required by the Maryland State Department of Education
[COMAR 13A.09.09.10C.(3)(a) and 13A.09.09.10C.(4)(a)]; MSDE, Office of Child Care; National After School Association (NAA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). For admission to our MSDE approved programs, children must attain the required age on or before September 1st of that school year. Other factors that are considered include licensed capacity, group size and child/teacher ratios. If parent, teacher and program director feel that a developmental placement would better meet the child’s needs and space permits, a written child care plan will be formulated. Vertical articulation/transition plans are established for each child in
preparation for the next class program.
TOILETING GUIDELINES Academy strictly adheres to Montgomery County Health Department guidelines for diapering. Children in the classes for 3-5 year olds need to be toilet trained (unless they have an ADA-identified physical disability). A child is considered trained when he/she independently, successfully, and consistently toilets, cleans, and dresses self. For success, elastic waist pants are strongly recommended. Tiny Tot classrooms (two-year-olds) are designed to assist children and families with “potty” training and parents must be consistent at home with the training plan.
Continuing Student Enrollment for 2021-2022 Academy School Year is available now.
