"As always Amy - YOU ARE AMAZING!! I'm just sad that not everyone can have the same childcare experience we are having." ~Kristi

Child Care Fees

The following policies have been developed to promote the high quality services, materials, supplies, and well-trained, educated teachers and caregivers you expect at Amy & Kids Co. Financial terms will be finalized on the parent-provider contract.

Child Care Enrollment Fees

In order to reserve your child's place in the program, the first week's tuition plus a non-refundable enrollment fee of $25.00 must be made within one week of the child's enrollment date as listed on the Enrollment Acceptance form. This payment is non-refundable and will be forfeited if the child does not come for care. Holding fees may apply if you are requesting a holding period of more than one week.

Child Care Holding Fee

When I agree to hold an opening I give up the right to fill that position with another child who would be paying full tuition. For this reason a non-refundable holding fee is required to hold an opening, beginning on the date that the opening becomes available, and due for each week that the opening is to be held. This fee will consist of one week's full tuition, and will be due on the Thursday preceding each week that the opening is to be held. If payment is not received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday the opening will no longer be held.

Child Care Final Payment

Steady revenue is necessary for effective budgeting and program stability. In order to ensure steady income during transitions, a Final Payment for the last two weeks of care is due within one month of the enrollment date listed on the Enrollment Acceptance. This amount will be equal to two week’s tuition at the time of enrollment, and may be submitted in one lump sum, or split into equal payments. The Final Payment is non-refundable and will be forfeited if the child is not brought for care, if parents do not give proper two-week notice, or if the provider terminates the contract effective immediately.

Child Care Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are used to provide the highest possible quality care and learning environment for your child. Tuition is based on the current fee schedule and your child's schedule listed on the Parent/Provider Contract. An automatic raise in tuition will go into effect each September.

Tuition is due in advance on Thursday for the following week's care. Two consecutive weeks of unpaid or overdue fees may result in suspension of child care until full payment is received. Refer to the Payment Policy for complete policies governing the payment of child care tuition fees.

Child Care Tuition Credit

Credit may be given for pre-paid tuition if the center closes unexpectedly due to emergency, provider sick day, or another reason deemed appropriate by the center. The amount of credit will be recorded on the monthly statement and should be redeemed within one month.

Child Care Tuition Discount

If an enrolled family intends to enroll additional children they must let me know as soon as possible. I will do my best to accommodate the request, however a delay in communication may result in openings being unavailable at the desired time. Families with more than one child enrolled for full time care at Amy & Kids Co. will receive a discount of 5% off the lowest rate. This discount is only available for full time schedules.

Child Care Late Tuition Fee

Prompt payment of tuition is necessary to ensure that the center can continue to function. Tuition fees that are not paid in full by 5:00 p.m. on Friday are considered past due, and a charge of $15.00 per day, including weekends, will be assessed to your account until fees are paid in full. If tuition fees are underpaid and/or overdue for two consecutive weeks child care may be suspended until full payment is received.

Child Care Monthly Tuition

A monthly flat-rate tuition plan is available for your convenience. Families who choose the monthly tuition plan will make 12 equal monthly payments regardless of how many weeks are in the month. The annual total for monthly payments is less than the annual total for weekly payments. Payment is due the last Thursday of the month for the following month's care. Once you have selected the payment option that best suits your family it cannot be changed until the full 12 months have passed.

Child Care Tuition NSF Fee

The center needs to maintain an adequate cash flow in order to continue, therefore a fee of $40.00 will be charged for any check returned due to non-sufficient funds (NSF). In addition to the NSF fee, parents are responsible for all charges assessed due to NSF checks. NSF checks will be re-deposited once and if returned a second time cash or money order payment is required for replacement of the check. Because subsequent checks from the same account may be held by the bank, tuition payments must be paid in cash or money order for six weeks following a NSF check. If three separate checks are returned due to NSF all subsequent tuitions payments must be made in cash or money order.

Third Party Tuition Payments

Third party payments are accepted when prior arrangements are made. A special payment schedule must be agreed to and a payment contract signed and submitted by parents before third party payments are accepted. Parents are responsible for co-payments and any unpaid amounts.

Child Care Tuition - Temporary Shut Down

In the event that the center is forced to close temporarily due to emergency, pandemic, or any other reason, parents are responsible for payment of full tuition fees as contracted. Continued payment of tuition during this time reserves your child's spot and provides funds to keep the program financially stable so care will be available when the crisis is over. If the emergency causes financial hardship for your family, please let me know so we can work out a plan that is beneficial to everyone.

Additional Child Care Fees

The following additional child care fees may apply in certain situations, as specified below. Any additional child care fees incurred by your family will be assessed to your account and recorded on your tuition payment receipt. Payment of these fees should be made with the next tuition payment to avoid late charges.

Child Care Damage Fee

Although the materials, supplies and equipment at Amy & Kids Co. were chosen with durability in mind, misuse may cause permanent damage. You are responsible for any damage above and beyond normal wear and tear, whether intentional or not, caused by your child while at Amy & Kids Co.

Child Care Forms Fee

Parents may request copies of any form in their child's record file. Requests must be made in writing; please include the date the copies are needed. A fee of .10 per black/white copy may be charged for this service.

Child Care Legal Fees

If it is necessary for Amy & Kids Co. to engage in legal action, the family involved will be responsible for all costs and expenses including attorney’s fees.

Parents are responsible for all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred in the collection of any fees due from their account, and/or defending any lawsuit brought by the family in which Amy & Kids Co. prevails. Such costs and expenses also include but are not limited to court costs, bank charges, and the cost of a substitute and/or additional caregiver to cover my time away from the center.

Child Care Materials Fee

Beginning April 1, 2020, an annual materials fee of $25 per family will be charged every April. This fee is non-refundable and will be used to enhance the learning environment with special equipment and materials.

Child Care Supply Fee

To help maintain a good stock of supplies for your child, I will inform you before your child’s stock of diapers, wipes, or any other consumable item will be exhausted. If your child runs out of any consumable item I will provide the item for a supply fee of $2.00 per item, which will be assessed to your account. Payment of this additional charge is due with the next payment of tuition fees. If I am not able to provide the necessary item I will contact you to make arrangements for the item to be provided as soon as possible. I have a small supply of extra clothing in limited sizes in case of emergencies. Because licensing rules require that I keep extra clothing on hand, if your child needs to borrow my extra clothing and it is not returned within one week a $5.00 replacement fee will be charged per item.

Overtime Child Care Fees

The program's licensing agreement specifies the hours the program is licensed to provide care, and center opening/closing hours are set to ensure consistent high quality care. Understanding that sometimes situations require early drop-off or late pick-up, I am willing to accommodate this on a limited basis when prior arrangements are made. In these situations a grace period of 15 minutes before the center's 7:00 a.m. opening time or after the center's 5:00 p.m. closing time will apply, at no additional charge.

However, overtime rates apply under the following circumstances:

• If care is needed before the grace period of 6:45 a.m. or after 5:15 p.m.
• If a child is on the premises during the grace period without prior arrangements.
• If a child is in care for more than 10 hours a day, even if the extra time is within the grace period.

Overtime rates consist of an initial $10.00 flat fee for the first minute, plus an additional $1.00 per minute fee per child for each minute the child is on the premises before 6:45 a.m. or after 5:15 p.m., for each minute the child is in care during the grace period (if no prior arrangements are made), or for each minute the child is in care over 10 hours.

If a child is in care past the arranged pick up time, the child's parents will be called to determine when the child will be picked up. If parents cannot be reached, the child's emergency contact will be called to pick up the child. If the child is still in care at 6:00 p.m. and no arrangements have been made for the child to be picked up, Social Services will be called to pick up the child.

Safe Arrival to Child Care Fee

State regulations require that I ensure the safe arrival of children to the center each day. If a child does not arrive within 60 minutes of his/her scheduled time without notification that the child will be late or absent, I am required to contact the child’s parents to determine the whereabouts of the child. A fee of $5.00 will be charged for each call.

Child Care Fees Promote Quality Care

Child Care fees support high quality services, materials, supplies, and well-trained, educated teachers and caregivers. My program is carefully designed to provide everything your child needs to thrive at every stage of development - browse the Program Overview for more information!

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