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Alabama’s Voluntary Pre-K Program Pre-registration

Parent Communication

BBACC believes parents are the most significant adults in a child’s life. BBACC will do everything possible to ensure parental involvement. Developing methods for keeping communication flowing freely is an important part of each staff member’s responsibility. Your input is important! Please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have with your Center Director at any time.

Please consult with the Center Director or your child’s teacher should any problems arise concerning your child, whether at home or at school. BBACC seeks your active involvement in the center’s program, particularly in following your child’s progress. Communication is the key to any successful relationship.

BBACC promotes an open channel of communication in many ways. Listed below are a variety of communication protocols required of BBACC employees and/or parents:

Sign-in/Sign-out Sheets: To ensure the safety of all children, daily sign-in/sign-out sheets are provided and must be filled in every day. Sign-in/Sign-out sheets are also used as attendance sheets and used in emergency situations. As a State of Alabama regulation, this requirement must be completed every day.

Swipe Cards: Parents/Guardians issued swipe cards through the Alabama Department of Human Resources Subsidy Program are required to utilize the card via the state and BBACC protocols when dropping off and picking up their child. BBACC reserves the right to refuse child care if this policy is not followed according to the BBACC rules and regulations… (No Swipe - No Care).

Verbal Communication – In the event face-to-face communication is not possible, daily verbal communication between parents and teachers can take place via telephone. However, it is strongly encouraged for parents and legal guardians to communicate on a daily basis with their child’s teacher.

Phone Conferences: Phone conferences are arranged, if needed, by the classroom teacher or Director. This is a time for parents and teachers to discuss your child and for you to become comfortable with his/her teachers. The main purpose is to strengthen the bridge between the program and the family.

Intake Meetings – Intake meetings are conducted by the Director prior to the child entering the program. This is a time for parents to share pertinent information and for parents to ask questions and become familiar with policies and the BBACC philosophy.

Parent Meetings – Parent meetings and workshops are offered as a resource to parents and to respond to community needs. BBACC will hold two academic year parent meetings attended by BBACC students, parents, teachers, Directors and Board Members.

Classroom Visits – Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s classroom to share in book reading sessions and other special talents.

Family Events – Family events are held during the year to encourage families to fellowship in a social manner and to provide a sense of belonging to the “program.”

Newsletters – Each month the Director and/or classroom teachers will provide a newsletter for parents. It may include items such as school events, policy reminders, changes in procedures, hints on child rearing, and information about books and articles on successful parenting.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Such conferences allow the opportunity to discuss your child’s program, progress, and any concerns you may have. BBACC encourages you to schedule conferences whenever you desire. Teachers/Director may also schedule conferences should there be a need. Please feel free to call the program at any time.

Tuition and Fees

Registration

A registration fee of $100.00 as well as a supply fee of $100.00 will be due upon enrollment. Registration & Supply fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Once payment is made, placement for your child is reserved. At the beginning of each new school year, parents are to complete a new registration packet to ensure that the most up-to-date information is on file. An updated parent handbook will be provided at that time.

Tuition payments are due by 10:00 am every Monday for the current week. A late payment fee of will be added to all accounts not paid by this time frame.

All payments will be applied first to late fees, and past due tuition before being applied to current tuition. BBACC also accepts payment via, debit or credit cards, however there is a processing fee of $3.00 per transaction to process these payments. Parents will receive at least a two-week advance notice in writing of any tuition adjustments.

Busy Bee Academy CC gladly accepts the Child Subsidy program funded through the Alabama Department of Human Resources Child Care and Development fund. The subsidy provided through this program will be applied to the tuition for the child to whom it was approved. BBACC program policy requires parents to pay the parent difference as determined from the Alabama Department of Human Resources Child Care and Development Fund and the BBACC tuition cost; this tuition amount is known as a differential fee. Additional fees may be necessary for all parents to cover special events like field trips.

There is no reduction of fees when your child does not attend the center. You must pay the weeks tuition in order to hold your child’s place. This includes early closures due to inclement weather and holidays. Parents will be notified in advance of scheduled closures and as soon as possible when the center has to close due to inclement weather or other emergencies.

Tuition Payment Terms

Tuition is paid in one of the following forms:
Cash
Money Order
Debit/Credit Card fee .................................. $3.00

Tuition Fee Schedule

Infants/Toddlers……………………………………..………$170.00 (FT)
2 years old  (not potty trained)…………………..……..$170.00 (FT)
2 years old (potty trained) ..........................…………$155.00 (FT)
3-5 ..........................................…………………………...$145.00 (FT)
After School Care Only……………………………………… $100.00

* All school aged children will be charged for a full week of care during public school closures (i.e. spring break, winter break, Mardi Gras break, and summer break).

Multiple Child Discounts

If a family has more than one child attending BBACC on a full time basis, a discount from the tuition fee is granted once a second child is officially enrolled. The discount is 10%.

Hours and Dates

Busy Bee Academy Childcare Center hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The center may close early due to inclement weather and during the holidays. Parents will be notified of all early closure times).

Early Arrival / Late Child Pickup

Because learning time requires planning and is also best when not interrupted, it is imperative that all children arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. each morning. The kitchen staff must be provided an accurate lunch count each day. After 9:30 a.m., parents, guardians, or official designees will not be permitted to drop off the child without a doctor’s excuse. So not to cause an undue hardship, it is important for this information to be communicated to all parties.

A charge of $15.00 for the first 6 minutes per child and $1.00 for each additional minute thereafter will be assessed to parents who leave their children beyond the regular closing time (4:30 pm). The fee will be paid before the child can return to the facility for care. The BBACC office clock will be used to determine the official time. In the event you do anticipate being late, please inform the center by phone so the office staff can timely communicate this important information to your child and other BBACC staff, as needed. Calling to inform the Director of tardiness is appreciated, but will not waive or dismiss the late pick-up charge.

Parents will be notified in advance of early closure times due to holiday or inclement weather. Please be aware that the late pick up charge also applies to these times.

BBACC will be closed annually on the following Holidays (All dates are subject to change):

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.
President's Day
Spring Break
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Teacher Workdays
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas (December 21st, 24th, 25th & 26th)
New Year's Eve

If the holiday occurs on a Saturday, BBACC will close on the Friday prior. Should the holiday fall on Sunday, BBACC will close on the Monday following the holiday. A memo or notice will be posted a few days in advance for all holiday closures.
Inclimate Weather

Inclement Weather

BBACC will operate as scheduled unless the weather is deemed too sever or if staff/child ratios can't be met. During inclement weather, BBACC operational time follows that of the Jefferson County Public School System. Local TV and radio stations will announce the status of the Jefferson County Public Schools and the opening and closing of BBACC will follow this announcement. If the Jefferson County Public School System delays opening, BBACC will follow with a 9:00 a.m. opening. Parents can also call BBACC after 6:30 am for additional information. A recorded message will be placed on the office’s answering machine regarding delays or closures.

Busy Bee Academy Childcare Center is equipped with smoke detectors, heat sensors, fire alarm pulls and fire extinguishers. The staff and children participate in a monthly emergency drill to facilitate the safe evacuation of all participants. Staff-trained child abduction drills will also be facilitated annually by the BBACC Directors and Board Members. Such a drill is needed in the event a child abduction threat is imposed upon the Busy Bee Childcare Center.