> Application for Child Care

At least one parent must be a registered University of California Berkeley student. Post Doctorates and Visiting Scholars are not eligible to apply for subsidized care unless the second parent is a registered UC Berkeley student. Families will continue to remain enrolled in the program as long as at least one parent maintains full time UC Berkeley registered student status in good standing. If you lose your student status at any point during the academic year, you will be subject to termination of child care services.

SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
As space becomes available, enrollment is extended to families based on gross income (adjusted for family size according to State Department of Education rankings). Families with the lowest income and the greatest need for childcare, according to State ranking system will be admitted for subsidized spaces before other families with higher incomes.

Fees, ranging from zero to a reduced daily rate, are based on a sliding scale set by the State Department of Education, and are assessed based on family size and gross monthly income. You will be informed of your fees upon admission to the program. All fees are subject to change as your income changes and as the State Fee Schedule is updated. State Department of Education guidelines state that delinquent fees will result in termination of services.

HOW TO APPLY FOR SUBSIDIZED CARE
Your application will not be processed if it does not contain documentation of all income listed such as:

• Check stub or letter from employer stating earnings (this includes GSI / GSR appointments)
  
  
• Copy of Financial Aid Award Letter for current academic year
  
  
• Income Tax Statement from previous year (for seasonal or self-employed persons only)
  
  
• Copies of TANF / Medi-Cal / SSI grants
  
  
• Copies of child support / Alimony payments (i.e. Court Order or letter from ex-spouse)

After you have completed the application and have attached documentation of income, you may mail, fax or deliver in person your packet to

To All Foreign Students: Foreign students must present verification of financial support. If sponsored by a government or other organization, or if your family is sponsoring you, you must provide a current copy of a sponsorship letter with, if necessary, an English translation. New students to the University ONLY may present a copy of the Confirmation of Financial Resources form that was submitted to the Foreign Student Advisors Office for purposes of securing a student visa. Please do not ask the Foreign Student Advisors for assistance unless you are new to the University.

FULL FEE CHILD CARE
In addition to subsidized spaces, a number of full fee slots have been reserved to ensure an adequate level of parent fee income for the Program.

In addition to subsidized spaces, a number of full fee slots have been reserved for student families. Early applications are advisable. Many families apply within a few months after their child's birth, or before they move to the area. Applications for infant spaces can be initiated during pregnancy, but you must contact our office after the birth to verify name, gender, and birth date for the application to remain valid. Most children who are accepted will enroll at the start of the fall semester (mid-August). Limited spaces may become available throughout the year.

If accepted, a $500.00 nonrefundable deposit is required, but it is applied to the first month's fees. For the 2008-2009 academic year, fees for non-subsidized/full-fee families (students, post-docs, visiting scholars, staff, faculty) are expected to be $1654 per month for care in infant rooms, $1505 per month in toddler rooms, and $1233 per month for preschool. After-school care is $5.90 per hour.

Your child's Medical Form, need not be submitted at the time of application, but will be required upon notification of acceptance to the program.

The same guidelines for scheduling, parent participation and hours of care apply. Aside from the selection process, the program is identical for all families.

ACCEPTANCE TO THE PROGRAM
Initial acceptances are made on the basis of information on this application. Once you have been notified of your tentative acceptance, you will be scheduled for an intake interview to determine final acceptance. At that time, if you have not already done so, you will be required to submit both parents' TB test results and your child's medical form. You will also be scheduled for a visit to the center your child will be attending to meet with the Teacher or Site Coordinator to discuss the center's policies and to schedule your child care hours for the upcoming semester.

BEFORE YOUR CHILD ENTERS THE PROGRAM,
the following must be on file with the Early Childhood Education Programs Office:

1. A completed confidential application for Child Development Services
2. Current income verification
3. Child's Health Form (completed by a physician) You may want to schedule an appointment with your child's physician for completion of the medical form if you have not already done so.
4. Training Verification form and current Registration Card
5. Child's Birth Certificate
6. Immunization Record

PARENT PARTICIPATION
Student parents are expected to work in the centers two hours each week in a variety of roles. They assist in classroom activities / field trips, participate in the operation of the food program, and serve on the Parent Advisory Committee. This participation time will be scheduled on one of the days your child is enrolled.

WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT ACCEPTED?
There is a great demand for our services, particularly among infants and young toddlers, and unfortunately we are not able to serve all families applying for care. If you are eligible for subsidized care but are not accepted into the program due to space limitations, low priority number or late application, you will be placed on an Eligibility List and called when a vacancy in an age appropriate center occurs for which your child is eligible. Status on the Eligibility List is based on income and unlike a waiting list your status does not automatically improve over time.

All applications are reviewed according to State Eligibility Guidelines as they are submitted and the Eligibility List is updated accordingly. It is your responsibility to inform the Early Childhood Education Programs Office if there is a change in your income, family size, activity of either parent or if you want your application withdrawn from the list.

Although the majority of new acceptances are made during the Fall semester, any vacancies which occur during the year will be filled from the Wait List applicants.

We do not maintain a list of referrals, but a couple of alternatives you may wish to look into are the Berkeley Unified Child Development Center 644-6203, Albany Children's Center 559-6590 and Bananas 658-0381 www.bananasinc.org.

University of California, Berkeley Early Childhood Education Program does not discriminate in its admission policies against any child because of race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, religion, color, or ethnic background. We serve within the limits of our professional abilities children with special needs (physical, linguistic, mental and/or emotional).

We ensure that all families records are kept confidential.

ABOUT OUR CENTERS

Four of our centers operate year round and four centers operate on an academic calendar. Our ‘Academic Year Centers’ (Infant-Toddler Center, Girton Hall, and Anna Head Preschool) close between late May and late August, and are also closed for 3-4 weeks during Winter Break. The K-2 After School Center follows the Berkeley Unified School District calendar.

The ‘Year Round Centers’ (Haste Street Center, Child Study Center, Clark Kerr Infant Center, and Clark Kerr Preschool) are closed for a few days in August, and about 2 weeks between the fall and spring semesters, December - January. Student families enrolling at these centers must have a need for year-round child care and may be required to pay higher fees. Students receiving state subsidy must demonstrate income eligibility and need for a year-round program – parent/s enrolled in summer school or working full-time.

Our nationally accredited (NAEYC) Infant-Toddler Center is located at 2340 Durant Ave. Our primary goal as teachers of infants is to enhance in each child a sense of trust and security by giving consistent, observant and respectful care. Establishing trust and providing security is a crucial first step towards infants' development.

Toddlers are also served at Anna Head Annex, 2537 Haste Street, and at the Haste Street Child Development Center.

Our Haste Street Child Development Center, located at 2339 Haste Street, serves infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. This new cutting-edge facility - winner of a UC/CSU award for Best Integrated Design Process - features six classrooms with ample outdoor play yards for each room.  A play-based developmental curriculum appropriate for each age group is in place.

Additional pre-school classrooms are at Anna Head, the Clark Kerr Preschool, located at 2900 Dwight Way, the Child Study Center, located at 2425 Atherton Street, and at Girton Hall, on central campus. Developmentally appropriate and educational experiences are offered to the young children in our care at these nationally accredited centers (National Association for the Education of Young Children).

Our after-school program, K-2, is located at 2601 Warring St, on the Clark Kerr Campus. Children attend this program in the afternoons. Kindergartens, 1st and 2nd graders enjoy art and free play activities after a rigorous day in the school classroom. There is also an opportunity for them to do homework as well as socialize. On some public school holidays the after-school program is open full time, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

All of our programs serve breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack (with the exception of the after-school program which serves an afternoon snack). All meals are prepared in accordance with the Child Care Food Program guidelines ensuring well balanced meals featuring healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. Menus are posted at each center so parents can see what's good to eat.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our centers strive to provide a warm, challenging environment that attends to the emotional, physical and educational growth of each child. To this end, we provide an atmosphere of respect for the individual child, in a warm, safe and clean supervised environment. Developing a sense of trust and well being, while encouraging each child's natural curiosity and desire to learn, is achieved through a variety of enjoyable and interesting age appropriate activities. These activities center around physical, social, cognitive and emotional stages of development (including Kindergarten readiness skills for the children to help them as they prepare for Kindergarten in the public schools).

The direct partnership between parents and teachers is essential in successfully attaining these goals. Parents have a right to know what their child is doing at school and be involved in the life of the program. Parents are encouraged to make arrangements to visit the Centers before enrolling their child to get a first hand look at the children and staff in action.

Download an application for Child Care, and a Medical Form for your doctor to fill out.