Parent Application

Parent handbooks and application forms are available on request (downloadable in PDF under "Forms"). Please include a nonrefundable fee of $50 per family with your application form. Parents awaiting the birth of a baby may submit an application including a due date and approximate desired entry date into the program.

The Waiting List

Wait listing is strongly encouraged due to constantly changing circumstances. When enrollment is open at The Children's Early Learning Space, our Director, Victoria Ward, will contact families on the waiting list. The first family on the list may hold the available slot by paying appropriate tuition. If the first family chooses not to pay tuition, the slot will be offered to the next family on the list and so on.

Enrollment

A letter offering enrollment will be sent to parents at their home address or via email, usually at least two to four weeks in advance of the availability to allow for a relaxed transition time. Parents have one week to accept or decline the offer of enrollment. A nonrefundable fee of one week’s tuition must be received by The Children's Early Learning Space not more than seven days after the date of the letter, or the first day of attendance, whichever comes first. Upon receipt of this fee, the child’s primary caregiver will contact parents to set up a time for an intake meeting, including a home visit. During the time between enrollment and start date, we encourage parents to visit at least 3 times with their child(ren).

Tuition

To encourage diversity and the hope of making superior quality care accessible to all families, The Children's Early Learning Space fee schedule operates on a family gross income-based sliding scale. Like our program as a whole, the sliding scale is funded by grants and donations. A current copy of this scale is available on request. To use the sliding fee scale, a family must submit income verification including but not necessarily limited to the family’s latest annual tax return form 1040, and for each year thereafter. A family may request a reevaluation of income in the case of a significant change to the family’s income level. TCELS will notify all affected families in writing at least four weeks before any change in tuition rates. Families may also apply for state assistance to defray costs.

Fees are payable weekly in advance. Payment must be received by noon on the Friday before each week of enrollment. Monthly payments are encouraged if possible. Tuition is based on a yearly rate broken down into incremental payments. There is no credit for vacation days, holidays, sick days, or other days when your child does not attend TCELS. Statements are sent out the first wk in the month and reflect the most current balance available.