The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center (CFDC) was established in 1993. Berkley is part of the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences and serves as a learning laboratory for early childhood students. As a NAEYC nationally accredited program, Berkley enrolls children of UMKC employees, students, and the community. We offer full-day, twelve month a year early care and education. Building an equal relationship between family, child, and teacher is a cornerstone of our philosophy.
Enrollment
Once an opening for enrollment occurs, we immediately look at the waiting pool. When a classroom spot becomes available, we work with established guidelines; siblings and applicants who qualify for MO DSS subsidy (UMKC affiliate or community) have priority. We also take into consideration diversity, age and gender distribution and time in the waiting pool. As a result of the application process, we are unable to “number” our applicants. Until an actual opening occurs for your child, we are unable to give a definite time frame for enrollment.
The majority of our enrollment occurs in the fall. However, people occasionally make life-changing decisions that affect their enrollment (e. g. moving). Life changes can result in an unanticipated opening for a child. As a result, we encourage you to join our waiting pool as soon as you become interested in our program.
We enroll the infants as a group in the fall. We believe in creating a strong community between the children, teachers, and families. Therefore, the classroom of children and teachers remain as a unit for the next two years. When a spot in the infant/toddler rooms becomes available, we immediately look at the waiting pool.
When the children move to the preschool program, ratios of children to teachers increase, thus more openings in our program become available. The ratios for two-year olds turning three are 7:1 and the ratios for children three years and older are 9:1, thus increasing the possibility of enrollment. Therefore, we encourage you to remain in the waiting pool as your child grows.
Upon enrollment, we assess a non-refundable registration and insurance fee. Families pay annual enrollment and insurance fees thereafter. Two-week advance payment of tuition is required at admission as a deposit. We refund the deposit when your child leaves the program by applying it to your last month`s tuition payment, provided families meet all of the terms of the contract. The deposit amount depends upon the classroom in which the child is enrolled. Families pay monthly tuition in advance. Each fiscal year a new payment schedule is available from the center.
Infant | Toddlers | Young Pre-Primary | Pre-Primary |
---|---|---|---|
$1,406.38 | $1,406.38 | $1,105.00 | $1,068.00 |
We view Berkley as a place for families, where we will all grow and develop together. We strive to nurture a culture of respect and trust; where the children and adults experience a sense of connection and new possibilities.
The Berkley Family Involvement Program, Inc., or FIP, focuses on advancing and promoting the educational experience of young children, their parents, teachers and community. Parents are encouraged to participate in Family Involvement opportunities, which we consider more than just a Parent Teacher Organization.
The Family Involvement Program’s purpose is to advance and promote the educational experience of young children and their parents. FIP is also dedicated to supporting teachers and staff at Berkley.
FIP meets monthly to discuss the fundraising, community events and education programs that are provided by the involved Parents, Teachers, and Community to support our children.
FIP invites all families and staff to attend and give input during the monthly meetings, or to send comments to the Room Reps or Board for sharing. The FIP stands as an independent non-profit organization with a board of directors. Although FIP is a separate organization, it shares a vision and supports the Berkley CFDC. There are also many special positions or committees allowing for participation in FIP. For details on positions and committees please refer to the parent handbook (PDF), page 32.
We have two donation opportunities to help keep FIP running:
(Berkley is closed the 2nd Friday of each month for Professional Development Day (PDD). May’s PDD will be the 3rd Friday of the month. There is no PDD in June or December.)
July 2023 | Tuesday, July 4th-Closed, Independence Day Friday, July 14th-Closed, PDD |
August 2023 | Friday, August 11th-Closed, PDD |
September 2023 | Monday, September 4th-Closed, Labor Day Friday, September 8th-Closed, PDD |
October 2023 | Friday, October 12th-PDD – Closed |
November 2023 |
Friday, November 10th-Closed, PDD Wednesday, November 22nd-Close at 4:00pm Thursday, November 23rd-Closed, Thanksgiving Friday, November 24th-Closed, Thanksgiving |
December 2023 | Monday, December 25th-December 29th-Closed, Winter Holiday Break |
January 2024 | Monday, January 1st-Closed, New Year’s Day Friday, January 12th-Closed, PDD Monday, January 15th-Closed, Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday |
February 2024 | Friday, February 9th: PPD – Closed |
March 2024 | Friday, March 8th: PPD – Closed |
April 2024 | Friday, April 12th – Closed |
May 2024 | *PPD is the 3rd Friday of the month Friday, May 17th: PPD – Closed Monday, May 27th -Closed for Memorial Day |
June 2024 | *No PPD* Wednesday, June 19th – Closed for Juneteenth |
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