Unversity of Houston | Child Care Center :: Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Are you an accredited center?

Yes, UHCCC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

How many children do you have in your center?

UHCCC is licensed for 153 children.

Do you provide drop-in services?

No, we do not offer drop-in child care services. Our Center operates with annual Enrollment Contracts only.

Do you serve meals?

No, we serve only a morning and afternoon snack. Lunch is provided by the family. Food and/or milk for special dietary needs are also provided by the parent.

Are you a Lab School?

No, we are not.

Do you offer center tours?

Yes, we offer tours by appointment in the mornings between 9:00 – 11:00am and in the afternoons between 3:00 – 5:00pm.

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Enrollment

Do you have to be affiliated with UH to apply for enrollment?

Yes. UHCCC serves only students, staff & faculty of the University of Houston.

What are your hours?

We are open Mon - Fri 7:00am to 6:00pm.

If I do not attend summer school, can I still have a space held for upcoming fall semester?

UHCCC does not hold places. Student parents enrolled in the spring semester do not have to take summer school classes in order to maintain their child's enrollment at UHCCC. However, even if you are not enrolled in summer classes, your child must stay enrolled at UHCCC to have priority registration for the next semester.

Do I have to reapply every semester to keep my child’s space?

No, UHCCC has an annual Enrollment Agreement.

How much notice should I give before withdrawing my child?

The Center requests at least a 2 week written notice to be approved by the Director in order to cancel an Enrollment Agreement.

Can I stop in anytime and have a tour of the center?

No, we offer tours by appointment in the mornings between 9:00 – 11:00am and in the afternoons between 3:00 – 5:00pm.

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Waiting List

How often are spaces for children available at the center?

We have openings every semester and occasionally during the semester.

When can I put my child on the waiting list?

Anytime the Center is open you can turn in the waitlist application and pay the $45 fee.

Are students given priority?

Yes, students have priority.

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Scholarship

Is there any kind of financial assistance for student parents?

UHCCC offers two different child care tuition scholarships for student parents who qualify based on financial need as determined by the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid Office. Student parents, both graduate and undergraduate, may be eligible. This scholarship money is independent of the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid Office.

How do you determine who is eligible to receive financial aid?

For a graduate/undergraduate student parent to be eligible for the SFAC (Student Fees Advisory Committee) scholarship, he/she must have a remaining need as determined by the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid Office.

For an undergraduate student parent to be eligible for the CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents In School) scholarship, he/she must have a remaining need as determined by the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid Office and receive the UH Pell Grant.

All applicants must:

Have a child enrolled at UHCCC.
Have a completed application for the current academic year on file with the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid Office. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Be in good academic standing as defined by UH and enrolled for a minimum of six semester hours. Failure to maintain six semester hours may result in forfeiture of the assistance. (A minimum of three semester hours for summer is an option available for SFAC scholarship recipients only).
Not owe money to UHCCC.
Be willing to follow all policies and procedures of UHCCC.

Approved assistance can only be used for the current semester.

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Curriculum

Does UHCCC have a curriculum for classrooms?

Yes, at UHCCC all classrooms use NAEYC's Developmentally Appropriates Practices and a child's learning assessments to develop their lesson plans. The preschool classrooms add to this the Scholastic Early Childhood Program and Texas Early Education Model (TEEM) Project and they follow the benchmarks outlined for preschool education by the Texas Education Association.

Can I choose which room my child goes to?

No, your child is assigned a classroom depending upon age and available openings.

Are you a lab school?

No, UHCCC is not a lab school

How will I know what my child does during the day?

It is important for parents to know what is happening in their child's classroom and we encourage daily communications between parents and teachers. The following list shows some of the ways we stay in touch with parents:

Daily Reports from the classroom
Face-to-face Conversations
Phone Calls
Emails
Weekly Lesson Reviews
Parent Information Boards located in each classroom
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Open House
Children's Assessment Parent Report

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Nutrition Program

Do you follow any food and nutrition programs?

Yes, we follow the federal and state nutritional guidelines.

Do I pay for the food my child receives at the center?

The cost of food is included in the weekly tuition cost.

What do I do if my child follows a special diet?

Please refer to the Parent Handbook.

How will I know what my child eats during the day?

We have the monthly lunch and snack menu on the front desk. Click here to access it online.

If I bring my child late for mealtime, will you still provide the meal?

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Parent

In what ways can I be involved in my child’s program?

UHCCC has many avenues for parent involvement. Please click here to view our Parent Resource page.

Is the Center open during semester breaks?

UHCCC follows University of Houston holiday schedule.

Will the Center tell me if my child has special problems?

Yes, the classroom teachers will communicate with parents and every child at UHCCC is screened for developmental delays.

Does my child have to be potty-trained to attend?

No.

Can I bring my child if he/she is not feeling well?

Please click here to read about our illness policy in the Parent Handbook.

What happens when my child gets sick while at the center?

You will be notified and expected to pick up your child immediately. Please click here to read about the policy in the Parent Handbook.

Can my child bring special toys from home?

Please click here to view the program guides for information regarding items brought from home.

May I bring birthday treats for my child?

With a teacher's permission, you may bring store bought cake/cupcakes/cookies that can be served during snack. Please refer to the birthday policy in the Parent Handbook.

May I come and visit my child at the center?

Yes, for an extended visit please communicate with the classroom teacher.

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Billing & Payments

What are the accepted methods of payment?

We accept checks, money orders or credit cards (Visa/Mastercard only). We do not accept cash. Checks should be made payable to University of Houston Child Care Center.

What are the current childcare rates?

Click Here

Where do I pay, how often do I get billed?

You make payments at the front desk. Tuition payments are due weekly and in advance of services. Your account is billed each Friday for the next week of services.

What if I cannot pay my bill by the due date?

The Enrollment Agreement and Parent Handbook states all fees are due in advance of services. Late fees are charged on Tuesday at 12:00 noon, when payment for the week has not been received.

Do I pay for days my child is absent due to illness, vacation or simply a day off?

UHCCC does not pro-rate weekly charges for days missed so yes you do pay the full tuition amount even when your child is absent. However, your annual Enrollment Agreement does allow for 3 weeks to be used as vacation weeks and you do not pay for these weeks. Request must be made in advance in writing on a Vacation Request Form.

Is there any sibling discount?

How do I pay if my child wants to attend four days a week?

We do not have a 4 days per week option; thus the fee is the same as the 5 day fee.

Do I pay registration fees each year?

Yes, registration, building maintenance and supply fees are due annually.

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Advisory Board

How can I become a member of the advisory board?

The CCCAB is composed of 12 voting members: 2 student members appointed by the Student Government Association; 2 staff members appointed by the Staff Council; 2 Faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate; 6 UHCCC parents (4 must be student parents) elected in a simple election at UHCCC each spring. Specific requirements for membership can be reviewed in the CCCAB Constitution and Bylaw available online.

How often do the members have to attend meetings?

There are 7 to 9 scheduled meetings a year.

Can anyone attend the meetings?

CCCAB welcomes input from all interested parties. Interested parties should contact the Chairperson in order to secure a position on the agenda of future meetings.

Are there teachers on the board?

Yes, the CCCAB has 3 ex-officio non-voting members. One of these is the director and the other 2 are UHCCC teaching staff elected by their peers.

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Staff

Do the teachers have CPR or First Aid training?

Yes, all fulltime staff are certified in CPR and First Aid and many of our part-time staff have these certifications.

What is a Master Teacher?

At UHCCC a Master Teacher is a program manger. We have 3 Master Teachers: Infant, Toddler and Preschool.

What is the difference between a Lead Teacher, Associate Teacher and Assistant Teacher?

At UHCCC a Lead Teacher is a classroom manger and in charge of lesson plans and children’s assessments; an Assistant Teacher works closely with the Lead Teacher to implement the lessons and activities daily. The Associate Teacher’s are the Master Teacher assistants and they not only implement the lessons and activities but they also take part in the managing of the classroom.

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Employment

Is there room for advancement at UHCCC? (Student Staff)

Yes, UHCCC has a Student Development Program which allows for advancement.

Is there a dress code? (Student Staff)

Yes, Remember this is a child care center, looking respectable and being prepared for the child care work environment is what we expect at all times. As a UHCCC employee you are a representative of our program and personal appearance is very important to our overall professional image. The following standards are to be observed:

Wear clothing and shoes that will enable you to participate in safety drills, physical/custodial or classroom activities/duties. Be prepared for the seasonal and daily weather conditions of Houston by bringing a jacket/sweater/raincoat.
Clothes that are really tight or revealing are not acceptable.
Shirts, blouses and tops must cover the breast, shoulders, back and tummy.
Shorts, dresses or skirts shorter than 4 inches above the knee are not acceptable.
Logo shirts must not have profanity, violence or provocative images on them.

Is training provided? (Student Staff)

Yes, student staff attend an initial orientation before they begin working with the children which introduces them to fundamental aspects of the program’s operation and regulatory requirements. Follow-up training expands on the initial orientation and promotes an understanding of NAEYC Accreditation Program Standards. As the student gains classroom experience they increase their knowledge of the early childhood profession and Developmentally Appropriate Practices.

Are there lunch breaks? (Student Staff)

Lunch breaks are provided when requested and based upon the number of hours you are scheduled to work. Breaks are to be taken off the clock and do not count as part of your paid hours.

What is the application process? (Full Time)

All applications must be submitted to the University of Houston Human Resource Department with a Posting Number for a current job opening. These applications are then reviewed by a hiring committee composed of UHCCC managers, teachers and assistant teachers. Phone interviews are scheduled for selected applicants. Final applicants are asked to come to the Center for interviews and to teach a classroom lesson.

How long does the hiring process take? (Full Time)

When the hiring committee completes the interviewing process they make a recommendation to hire a selected applicant. After all University approvals are received for the recommended applicant a job offer is made contingent upon a UH security clearance. This process does take some time to complete.

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Links

How is UHCCC affiliated with the University of Houston?

UHCCC is an auxiliary (self-funded) service, part of the University Center and Associated Facilities and located organizationally in the Division of Student Affairs.

How can I find out about other child care centers in Houston?

Both the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Default.asp) and Collaborative for Children (http://www.collabforchildren.org) offer special information about centers in and around the greater Houston area. Additionally, the National Association for the Education of Young Children provides a list of all accredited programs by state. http://www.naeyc.org/

Where can I find parenting articles and information?

Parenting Information has a number of resources for parents including articles, fact sheets and tips. http://www.parentinginformation.org

Who is UHCCC licensed by?

UHCCC is licensed through the Child Care Licensing Office of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Default.asp

Who is UHCCC accredited by?

UHCCC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. http://www.naeyc.org/

What is the CDA credential that many of the UHCCC teachers have?

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment and has been awarded the CDA Credential by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C.

Where does UHCCC get the preschool curriculum guidelines?

UHCCC belongs to the Texas Early Education Model (TEEM) Project and follows the benchmarks outlined for preschool education by the Texas Education Association. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/early/prekguide.html

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