infopage

	South Bend School District Early Learning Center Brief Program Descriptions
The South Bend School District’s Early Learning Center provides early childhood services for families living within the boundaries of the South Bend, Raymond, and Willapa Valley School Districts. South Bend’s early childhood department was formed in 1990 when funding for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program was initially received. The South Bend School District, as administering district for the service area, employs direct service staff, and it provides fiscal and administrative support, janitorial and maintenance services, and transportation.
In the Early Learning Center we provide the following services
Full-day Care – licensed childcare for children 3 – 5 years of age. Care is available 7:30 am -5:00 pm.
Preschool for 3-year-old children – preschool 4 days per week for 3 hours per day. Transportation and meals are provided free of charge. Parents are welcome in the classroom. The cost for this program is $100 per month. Children must be three by August 31 of the program year. Space is limited to 24 children. Twelve slots are available to low-income families at no cost through ECEAP.
Preschool for 4-year-old children – preschool 4 days per week for 3 hours per day. Transportation and meals are provided free of charge. Parents are welcome in the classroom. Low-income families are eligible to send their children free with proof of income. Families who are not low-income and live within the South Bend School District boundaries may send their children for free two days per week. Two additional days per week are available for $50 per month if space is available. Children must be four years old by August 31 of the program year. Space is limited to 18 children per a.m. or p.m. session.
Kindergarten Enrichment – all children enrolled in kindergarten have the option of attending full-day with half of their day being in their regular classroom, and the other half of their day in enrichment activities. Kindergarten enrichment is available five days per week and is free to all participants. Funding for Kindergarten Enrichment is through I-728 funds. Childcare services for kindergartners before 8:00 am or after 3:00 pm is available at $5.00 per hour.
Additional services provided through the Early Learning Center are home visits, meals, transportation, family activities, parent trainings, and health and dental screenings for all enrolled children.
The Early Learning Center has several funding streams, including the following:
Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) ECEAP is a state-funded preschool program that serves low-income children and their families. ECEAP serves families by offering preschool education, social and health services, home visits, and parent trainings. Wrap-around childcare is offered to ECEAP families that are eligible for childcare reimbursement.
Childcare Subsidies Low- to moderate-income families may have their childcare fees paid for by Working Connections Childcare. In some cases the fees are paid entirely, but in most there is a co-pay obligation.
Private Payment Parents who do not qualify for ECEAP or childcare subsidies or whose children are not in kindergarten pay monthly tuition or childcare rates for services provided for their children. These revenues, along with other revenues generated at the center, help to pay for staff, supplies and equipment, and facility costs.
I-728 Funds Initiative 728 allows school districts to spend local tax revenues on local projects, including early childhood programming. In addition to funding Kindergarten Enrichment, I-728 funds also pay for reduced class size at the high school and elementary school, summer school programming for children at risk for failing, and classroom improvements.