What is the difference between a Private and Head Start facility?
At what age can I enroll my child?
What is required for enrollment?
Is there an enrollment fee?
When is tuition due?
What are the hours of operation?
What is the student teacher ratio?
What is the curriculum like?
In what language is curriculum taught?
What are the teacher qualifications?
Does Mi Escuelita provide meals for the children?
Does Mi Escuelita provide transportation?
Do children go on field trips?

What is the difference between a Private and Head Start facility?
Mi Escuelita operates 13 classrooms as a delegate agency of Head Start of Greater Dallas.  If your family is income eligible for a Head Start classroom, there is no tuition charged.  For families that are not income eligible for Head Start, Mi Escuelita operates 11 classrooms at our privately funded (Private) locations.  Children enrolled at these locations are charged tuition based on a sliding scale according to income.  Curriculum and program services are identical at all locations.

At what age can I enroll my child?
Private centers start enrollment at age 2-1/2.  Head Start centers start enrollment at age 3-1/2.  All children must be potty-trained prior to enrollment.  Unfortunately, Mi Escuelita often has a long-waiting list so please be sure to contact a center early to reserve a space for your child.

What is required for enrollment? 
In order to enroll, Mi Escuelita requires a copy of the child’s birth certificate, shot records and parent/guardian’s proof of income eligibility.

Is there an enrollment fee?
There is a pre-registration fee of $45 at the Private centers.  Late registration is $80.  There is not registration fee at the Head Start locations.

When is tuition due?
Tuition is due on the first of the month or semi-monthly (per special arrangement).  Mi Escuelita accepts VISA, Mastercard, Cashier’s Check or Money Order.  Cash is not accepted.

What are the hours of operation?
Generally, Mi Escuelita hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM; however, hours may vary by location.  Mi Escuelita follows the DISD calendar and closes during the summer and for spring and winter breaks.

What is the student teacher ratio?
Mi Escuelita understands the importance of individual interaction with each child and maintains a teacher/student ration of 1:9.  There is one teacher for every nine students at Mi Escuelita.

What is the curriculum like?
For over twenty-eight years, Mi Escuelita has focused on providing children with an early learning environment that stimulates every area of their development.  This is accomplished through a three-tiered approach that includes an educational, parental and a well-child component.

The Educational Component
The scientific based curriculum provides language intervention along with daily math, science, reading, music and art activities.  All classrooms have a ‘print’ rich environment with separate learning centers that arouse a child’s natural curiosity and enable them to explore and learn.  Each classroom also has a state-of-the-art computer-learning center.  While Mi Escuelita focuses on providing children with English language skills, the program is also dedicated to enhancing a child’s native language.  Take home activities are prepared in the child’s first language to reinforce classroom concepts at home.  Children leave the Mi Escuelita program as true dual language speakers.  The curriculum is successful due to the following factors: Daily lesson plans are developed and reviewed that address listening comprehension, speech production, phonemic and print awareness and letter knowledge.

·         80% parent participation in the program includes class activities and pre-reading activities for the home environment.

·         Pre-reading and language skills, motor skills and conceptual ability are tested at the beginning and end of the program.

·         Individual lesson plans are developed for each child.

·         Children receive age-appropriate education in the areas of health and nutrition, along with access to on-site health, nutrition and special services staff.

·         Community volunteers are active in the program.  These volunteers serve as mentors and role models by working with the children in the classroom. 

·         Staff development is specifically focused on pre-reading skills and language development.  Education specialists work closely with teachers on a daily basis.

The Parental Component
For any child to flourish in an educational environment, they must receive encouragement and support from his family unit.  The Mi Escuelita Parent Academy is a partnership between the program and families to provide them with the skills they need to be a lifelong educational proponent for their children.  Parents participate in parenting classes, health and nutritional education, classroom activities with their children and take home activities on a daily basis.  Access to job training, GED and ESL classes and other life skill training are available to parents through a wide range of Mi Escuelita collaborations.

The Well Child Component
Children learn best when they are happy, well-adjusted and healthy.  Mi Escuelita strives to meet the overall needs of all children in the program.  All Mi Escuelita children receive health, dental, vision and hearing screenings, along with full nutritional services.  Speech therapy, special needs and behavioral support are available for all children in need of assistance.  Through collaborations with other local agencies, every Mi Escuelita child has access to all necessary services regardless of his family’s economic ability to pay.

In what language is curriculum taught?
For children to excel in their educational journey, they must be given the language skills necessary to succeed in school.   To allow your child access to all opportunities in the future, the Mi Escuelita curriculum is taught in English.  Children leave the Mi Escuelita program with excellent oral English language skills and are prepared to enter Kindergarten at or above grade level.  However, at Mi Escuelita we truly honor a child’s first language and we celebrate the rich, cultural heritage of all of our families.  All teachers are bilingual and we provide take-home and culturally appropriate activities to ensure that your child will leave Mi Escuelita as a true dual language speaker. 

What are the teacher qualifications?
All Mi Escuelita lead teachers hold either a CDA (Child Development Associate credential) or an advanced degree in early childhood education.  Team teachers are all enrolled in CDA classes.  Teachers receive extensive training throughout the year and are supported by a dedicated staff of educational professionals.  Our teachers love working with your child.  In fact, the average teacher at Mi Escuelita has been with the program for over seven years.

Does Mi Escuelita provide meals for the children?
Yes, a nutritionally balanced breakfast, lunch and snack are provided daily for all children.  Mi Escuelita has a full-time nutritionist on staff to ensure that your child’s dietary needs are met.  Please be sure to notify the nutritionist or site coordinator of any special dietary needs your child might have.

Does Mi Escuelita provide transportation?
The teachers and staff of Mi Escuelita are dedicated to teaching and caring for your child.  We know that children learn best in an environment where the parent and teacher work together to encourage children to learn and discover.  It is important that you and your child’s teacher interact daily to ensure that your child is receiving the greatest educational experience possible.  In order to encourage “face to face” contact each day, Mi Escuelita does not provide transportation.  Parents must drop their children off and pick them up everyday.  The bond created between parents, staff and teachers at Mi Escuelita is incredibly strong due to this policy.

Do children go on field trips?
Absolutely!!  During the foundational years of a child’s life nothing is more important than providing new experiences and stimulating a child’s active mind.  Mi Escuelita provides children the opportunity to visit new, unique places that are age-appropriate, educationally challenging and fun.  Each year, your child will participate in at least two off-site field trips.