Frequently Asked Questions : Preschool/Childcare Services : Student Services : Departments : Bellevue School District

Q1.
What is the child/staff ratio?

Childcare centers are staffed at the following ratios:

4:1 for Infants
7:1 for Young Toddlers
8:1 for Transitional Toddlers
10:1 for Preschool Age
15:1 for School Age

This is the DSHS standard.

Q2. When can my child attend preschool?
Families may register their children for preschool anytime through the school year. All children must be 3 years of age and be toilet trained and able to perform this function independently before then can attend. (Children that are classified as special needs may be an exception)

Q3.
How do you calculate the tuition?

Tuition is prorated for the entire school year and is charged September through June in ten equal payments. Winter, Mid-Winter Spring and Summer breaks are not incorporated as part of the annual tuition. Specialty programs will be available during these breaks for an additional fee.

Q4.
Are meals included in the tuition?

Nutritious snacks are included in the fees. Children may bring a sack lunch or purchase a Bellevue School District hot lunch and milk. All purchased lunch orders must be paid directly to the school staff. Breakfast and lunch are included in the tuition at the Stevenson Full-Day Preschool program

Parents are required to provide center staff with a written list of any food items that a child cannot consume.

Q5. Do we need to be a resident of the Bellevue School District to attend that Early Childhood Programs?
Our infant, toddler and preschool programs are open to anyone who is interested. Your child must attend a Bellevue School District elementary school to attend our school age childcare.

Q6.
How do I withdraw my child from the program?

Written notification of withdrawal is required following the below procedures.

Notice received from the 1st through 15th = full month tuition

Notice received from the 16th through end of the month = 1/2 of the following month tuition
You can print a withdrawal form online.

E-Mail withdrawals are accepted at childcare@bsd405.org

Q7. What is your tax id number?
91-6001637

Q8. Can we visit your programs?
Parents are welcome to visit the centers at any time. It is recommended that an appointment be made with the teacher if you wish to have a conference.

Q9.
Do you close for school breaks?

We offer specialty programs during all school breaks, for an additional fee.

Q10. What are your hours of operation?
Childcare and Toddler Centers: 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Infant Centers: 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Q11. What is your discipline policy?
All children will be expected and required to observe the discipline policy of the Bellevue School District and the elementary school posted in each classroom. Safety of all children is the goal of discipline. Although consistent routine and program organization keep disciplinary problems to a minimum, Bellevue School District staff reserve the right to dismiss any child who is having continued adjustment programs. When needed the following guidelines may be used:
Communication between child and staff where problems and solutions are identified
Redirection to more appropriate activities
Behavior improvement strategies
Parent conference
Probation period
Dismissal: No credit/refund will be given if child is dismissed from the District's programs
Corporal punishment is not used in the program. In all matters of discipline staff will communicate with children and attempt to re-direct activity through a variety of strategies.

Q12.
What are the napping practices for infants and toddlers

Cribs will meet the following safety requirements:

Constructed with vertical slats that are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart or solid Plexiglas

Corner posts should be the same height as the side and end panel

Not have cutout designs

Sturdy and in good repair (no sharp edges, points, unsealed rough surfaces, splinters, peeling paint, cracks, missing/broken parts)

Mattresses are firm, snug fitting, intact and waterproof.

Infants will sleep on their backs

Crib sheets will fit the mattress snugly and securely on all corners and sides

Cribs will not contain bumper pads, pillows, soft toys, fleece cushions, or thick blankets

Only one then blanket will be used and kept no higher than chest level

Infants will not sleep in car seats, swings, and infant seats. An alternate sleep must be specified in writng by the parent/guardian and the child's health care provider. Children who arrive at the center, asleep in care seats, will be immediately transferred to their crib

Cribs will be spaced at least 30 inches apart or separated by a Plexiglas barrier

Light levels will be high enough so children can be easily observed when sleeping

Cribs will not be located directly under windows unless windows are constructed of safety glass or have an applied polymet safety coating

Q13.
How do we use drop-in childcare?

Drop-In care is a pre-paid service on a space available basis. Drop-In care is not available during school breaks. Families must call the center in advance to arrange drop-in care.

Q14. Do you provide scholarship assistance?
We do provide limited scholarship assistance, if your family meets eligibility guidelines. Contact our office for more information on how to apply for assistance.

Q15. Where do I mail my payment?
Bellevue School District
Early Childhood Programs
P.O. Box 90010
Bellevue, WA 98009-9010

Q16. Is transportation provided to childcare, preschool or Head Start?
Transportation is not provided to childcare or preschool from residences. For elementary schools that do not provide childcare on site; transportation is provided to and from an assigned paired childcare. Transportation may be provided to the child's neighborhood Head Start school.

Q17. Can we get credit for missed days? Credit is given in the event of an absence of a serious medical reason. Request for credit must be submitted in writing within one month of the child's absence. Credit is available for a medical absence lasting at least 5 consecutive days of the child's program at the rate of 1/2 day charge for each absence. Credit for illness for children with special needs is 100% in the event of hospitalization and 50% credit for 3 days consecutive illness at home. No credit will be given for occasional days missed or when the child is on vacation. Illness Credit Form

Q18. Do you provide receipts when I make a payment?
Parents are advised to keep the monthly statement each month for tax records. Any payments received prior to statements being printed will appear on the monthly statement.
Year-end records of childcare payments are only provided on request.

Q19. What are the enrollment requirements for infants?
Full-time care is provided for children ages 4 weeks through 12 months. A full-time childcare space may be occupied by two children attending on different days. If one child vacates his/her day(s) then another child must take his/her place in order for the remaining child to stay in the part week position. If the vacancy cannot be filled with another part week child, it must be filled with one full-time child. Limited space is available for children whose childcare is subsidized. No drop-in childcare is offered.

Q20.
Are you open on snow days?

Late Start - Childcare and Stevenson Blended programs operate according to normal schedule. Part-Day Preschool and Part-Day Head Start are CLOSED for the day.

School Closed - All childcare, preschool, Stevenson Blended, and Head Starts are closed.

Limited Transportation - Childcare, preschool and Stevenson Blended operate according to normal schedule. NO part day Head Start for Lake Hills, Sherwood Forest, and Spiritridge.

Early Dismissal - If school is early because of snow or other conditions; childcare will remain open until the last child is picked up. Childcare site managers may call to alert parents of conditions at the site. Childcare staff would appreciate prompt pick up of children so that they too will be able to get home safely.

Q21. Do you charge for late pick up after closing?
Charges are assessed for children who remain after the 6:00 p.m. at $15.00 for any part of each fifteen minutes per child. Consistent late pick up after 6:00 p.m. may cause dismissal from the program.

Q22.
How do I change my child's program?

In order to change a program, parents must submit written notification to the childcare business office following the below procedures.
On-site childcare staff are not authorized to communicate contract changes to the business office. Written notification can be sent via e-mail to childcare@bsd405.org A copy of the contract change form is attached to the parent handbook, and additional copies are available at the childcare centers. You can print the change of contract form on-line.

Notice received from the 1st - 15th = full month tuition of original contract
Notice received from the 16th - End of Month = 1/2 of the following month tuition of the original contract

Q23. Can my child come to school ill?
Children who are ill, with or without a temperature, or who are unable to participate in regular activities may not return to childcare until their temperature has been normal for a minimum of 24 hours, and the child is able to participate in regular activities. Conditions such as lice, or symptoms such as vomiting, severe coughing or diarrhea will require removal of the child from the childcare setting. If a child becomes ill while he/she is in our care, parents will be notified and asked to come immediately and pick up their youngster. Until parents arrive, ill children will be separated from the other child and cared for there by childcare or other school district staff. An alternate plan for your child must be established by parents if they are unable to pick up a sick child or if they cannot be reached by telephone during the work day. This plan must be given to the childcare staff who will keep it on file at the childcare center.

Q24. Do you charge for late pick up after preschool?
Charges are assessed for children who remain after the preschool dismissal time at $15.00 for any part of fifteen minutes per child. Consistent late pick up may cause dismissal from the program. These extra charges will appear on your next month's billing statement.

Q25. What is your safety policy?
Program supervision shall be provided for children at all times in the classroom and on the playground.
Children will NOT be released to any adult who is obviously impaired by drugs and/or alcohol, or otherwise appears unable to safely be responsible for the child.

Q26. Who provides the diapers for the infant and toddler programs?
Parents will provide diapers or pull-ups for their child. About every ten days the parent will bring a bag of disposable diapers to the center, labeled with their child's name. The staff will notify the parent a day or two in advance, via the daily diaper chart, when another bag is needed. Baby wipes will be provided by the program.

Q27. Can our monthly payment be automatically withdrawn from our credit card?
Yes, we can do automatic credit card withdraw each month for the basic monthly tuition. Call the Early Childhood Business Office to request a form.

Q28. Do you report child abuse?
All Bellevue School District staff members, both certificated and classified, who have reasonable cause to believe that a student has suffered abuse or neglect, including physical injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or negligent treatment or maltreatment, shall report such incident. Such report shall be made to Children's Protective Services, and the program director and building principal will be notified of that communication as per Washington State Law.

Q29. We were in the program last year do we need to pay the registration fee again?
Families who were int he program last year do not need to pay a registration fee. Families who have been absent from the program for 1 year must repay the registration fee.

Q30. Who can pick up my child from the center?
Children will be released only to adults authorized on the registration form, unless written permission is provided my the parent/guardian who enrolled the child to release the child to another adult. Staff will ask for verification of identity before releasing a child from the center.
Parents are required to sign their complete signature upon arrival and departure from the center with the children.

Q31. What is your medication policy?
Medication will be administered to children only if the Preschool/Childcare Authorization to Administer Medication Form is on file at the childcare center. Medication must be in the original prescription container with he child's name and name of the doctor on it and the medication will be stored in a locked container and administered as prescribed by the physician. Administration will be recorded on a medication log sheet by the staff.