Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Independent School District and Community-Based Child Care Center 2009-10 Program Description [Independent School District (ISD)] and [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will collaborate to provide children and their families a comprehensive and cohesive early childhood program. Students in the collaborative classes will receive 3 hours of Pre-K instruction from a certified ISD Pre-K teacher and up to 9 hours of wraparound child care from [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers. Mission Our mission is to offer families and children the option of an ISD Pre-K class with full-day, high quality wraparound early care and education. Class Composition 1. The maximum size for the 3-year-old class is 24 students with adult:child ratio of 2:24. 2. The collaborative 3-year-old class will provide a minimum of 12 spaces and a maximum of 15 spaces for ISD Pre-K eligible children and a minimum of 9 spaces and a maximum of 12 spaces for Child Care Center only. 3. The maximum size for the 4-year-old class is 28 students with adult:child ratio of 2:28. 4. The collaborative 4-year-old class will provide a minimum of 12 spaces and a maximum of 15 spaces for ISD Pre-K eligible children and a minimum of 13 spaces and a maximum of 16 spaces for Child Care Center only. 5. Pre-K eligible as stated above is defined by the Texas Pre-K Enrollment Guidelines. 6. All 3 year old students who are eligible for ISD Pre-K will be placed in the same 3 year old class. All 4 year old students who are eligible for ISD Pre-K will be placed in the same 4 year old class. Teachers/Instruction 1. 1 ISD Pre-K teacher will provide 3 hours of Pre-K instruction to one group of children and 3 hours of Pre-K instruction to a second group of children following the ISD school calendar. 2. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide 1 Teacher or Aide for each collaborative classroom that will be present in the classroom for the entire 3 hours of Pre-K. 1
3. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide teacher/s to provide Child Care before and after ISD Pre-K. 4. The ISD Pre-K teacher and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers will work together to coordinate classroom instruction. 5. When the ISD teacher is absent, they will contact the Director of the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] and the ISD substitute scheduling system. 6. ISD will provide a substitute when the ISD teacher is absent. 7. When the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher is absent, they will contact the Director of the Center, following [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] procedures. 8. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide a substitute when the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher is absent. 9. The ISD Elementary Principal will serve as the supervisor and evaluator for the ISD collaborative teacher. 10. The [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Center Director will serve as supervisor and evaluator for the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher. 11. If an issue arises with the ISD teacher on site, the issue should be first discussed between the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] staff and the ISD teacher. If the issue is not resolved, then the ISD teacher should meet together with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director and the ISD Elementary Principal. 12. If an issue arises with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher in the collaborative classroom, the ISD teacher may discuss these issues with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher. If the issue is not resolved, the ISD teacher will discuss the issue with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Center Director. If the issue is still not resolved, The [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director should contact the ISD Elementary Principal. 13. Any issues still unresolved after following the process listed above will be referred to the ISD Director of Early Childhood Education and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] District Manager. 14. The [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director and the ISD Elementary Principal will communicate as needed regarding any supervisory issues. 15. The ISD teacher working in the collaborative class will abide by Child Care Licensing Minimum standards and all policies in the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Employee Handbook including management dress code. 2
Schedule 1. ISD will provide Pre-K instruction in accordance with the ISD school year calendar following this schedule: 8:45-11:45 ISD Pre-K for 3-year-olds 11:45-1:00 Lunch and planning for ISD teacher 1:00-4:00 ISD Pre-K for 4-year-olds 2. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide child care for students in the collaborative classes before and after Pre-Kindergarten in accordance with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] calendar. 3. The ISD teacher will receive a 30 minute duty-free lunch and 45 minutes of planning time immediately following the morning Pre-K instructional time. 4. The ISD teacher will report daily attendance as instructed by ISD Elementary Principal and deliver absence notes once per week. 5. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide an employee to relieve the ISD teacher for brief personal breaks as needed during ISD Pre-K time. Curriculum 1. The collaborative class will use Scholastic curriculum and DLM Express curriculum. 2. ISD will provide the curriculum that will stay in the collaborative classroom for the duration of the school year. 3. The ISD teacher will plan together with each [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher for 45 minutes per week. Professional Development 1. All [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers and directors at the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will be invited to professional development opportunities hosted by the Independent School District. 2. The ISD teacher will be invited to all training and professional development hosted by the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER]. 3. The ISD teacher will attend participate in New Employee Orientation hosted by the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER]. 3
Assessment and Ongoing Progress Monitoring 1. The ISD teacher will complete ISD report cards for all ISD students. 2. The ISD teacher and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers will complete the School Ready Collaborative assessments. 3. The ISD teacher will share all assessments with the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teacher and director. Coordination of Student Support and Supplementary Services 1. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide breakfast, lunch and snack for children in the collaborative classroom 2. Families of students in the collaborative classroom will be responsible for transportation to and from [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER]. 3. The ISD Elementary school nurse will provide visual and hearing screenings to ISD students in the collaborative classes. 4. Proof of vision and hearing screenings will be provided to [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] for Child Care Licensing documentation. 5. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] and ISD will report any child abuse allegations within 24 hours, per Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards. 6. ISD and [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers will refer children who may need special education services to the ISD Elementary Counselor and complete the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Special Needs Policy packet. Physical Environment 1. The ISD teacher will have access to the collaborative classroom after work hours to set up the classroom and prepare activities/lessons as needed. 2. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide classroom furniture and learning materials for the collaborative classroom. 3. The ISD teacher and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers will collaborate on the supplies ordering process to prevent duplicate orders. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide consumable materials for the classroom through the supplies ordering process. ISD will 4
also provide consumable materials for the classrooms through the supplies ordering process at ISD Elementary. 4. The ISD teacher will have access to the Teacher Resource room at ISD Elementary. 5. The ISD teacher will have access to the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] office equipment (copier, fax, etc.) for educational services. 6. ISD will provide a laptop computer to be used by the ISD collaborative classroom. 7. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide wireless internet access for the ISD teacher. 8. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide the ISD teacher with personal storage space. 9. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide classroom repairs when the ISD teacher informs the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director. 10. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will provide custodial supplies and services. 11. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will pay rent and building utilities. Communication with Parents and Parent Involvement ENROLLMENT 1. Onsite registration will be offered at [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] before school begins and throughout the year. 2. ISD and [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will both maintain copies of student records. 3. All parents of children in the collaborative class must comply with Child Care Licensing minimum standards for enrollment, [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] policies, and ISD polices & regulations. ONGOING COMMUNICATION 4. Parents of students in the collaborative class provide will written permission for [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] to communicate with ISD and visa versa. 5. If a parent expresses a concern or complaint, the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] District Manager, the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Center Director, the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] teachers, the ISD Director of Pre-K, the ISD Elementary Principal, and/or the ISD Pre-K teacher will share the information with other collaborative partners. 5
6. Last minute communications from ISD to the families of students in the collaborative class will be emailed or faxed to [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER]. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will print the notices and send them home on the day requested. Management of the Collaboration 1. ISD and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] will work together to meet the target attendance level of at least 90% for the collaborative classes. 2. [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] assumes responsibility for complying with all Child Care Licensing regulations. 3. The ISD Director of Pre-K, the ISD Elementary Principal, the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] District Manager, and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director will meet twice during the year to monitor the collaboration and make changes as needed. The Independent School District and the [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] shall each retain the right to terminate or amend this agreement upon giving a thirty (30) day written notice to the other party. This agreement is in effect from July 1, 2009 - June 4, 2010. Independent School District Superintendent ISD Director of Pre-Kindergarten ISD Elementary School Principal [COMMUNITY- BASED CHILD CARE CENTER] Director 6