FAQ
Is the Early Learning Center at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown a licensed facility?
Our center is licensed by The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
What are the qualifications of your staff members?
All staff members meet the requirements set forth by the Department of Job and Family Services for working with children. This includes criminal records checks through the FBI and Ohio BCI, checks through the Federal and State Sex Offender registries as well as the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System. Our staff must be certified in first aid, CPR/AED, communicable disease recognition and child abuse recognition and prevention. Additionally all teachers must meet education criteria which includes a minimum of 20 hours of professional development, relevant to early childhood education, every two years.
Is the Early Learning Center at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown secure?
Yes, all doors to the Early Learning Center are locked and monitored. A security professional is also present at the JCC Campus during operating hours.
Does my child need to be Jewish or a member of the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown to enroll?
No. You do not need to be Jewish or a member to attend the Early Learning Center. We are open to children of all backgrounds regardless of religious beliefs, national origin or race.
What is the Jewish content of your curriculum?
The ELC is guided by Jewish values that are shared across many of the world’s cultures and faith traditions. We celebrate Jewish holidays and traditions in ways that are developmentally appropriate for all children, regardless of their background.
What type of curriculum is followed at the Early Learning Center?
The Early Learning Center uses the Creative Curriculum. These are play based or environmental based curriculums, which align with our learning philosophy. The Creative Curriculum, Heggerty, and Read It Again! are used to meet the goals and objectives for the children's learning in all areas of development: social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language. These goals are aligned to Ohio’s Birth-K Early Learning Content Standards and Ohio’s K-6 Content Standards.
Is there a scheduled nap time for all of the age groups?
Yes. The Early Learning Center provides time for all children to rest. Quiet activities are provided for children who are unable to nap and calming music is played throughout this period of time to help the children relax and feel at ease during the rest period.
Are there any items parents are responsible to provide?
Parents are responsible for providing a lunch for their child. Parents of children in diapers/pull-ups need to provide a supply of diapers/pull-ups and wipes to be kept at the center. We also ask parents to provide extra clothes to keep here at the center for use in case of an accident.
What is your policy regarding illness?
If a child is suspected of having a communicable disease parents are contacted to pick up their child. Children who are not well enough to resume all scheduled activities including outside play are encouraged not to attend. When children at the center have been exposed to a communicable disease, information specific to the disease will be sent home with each child who possibly was exposed to the communicable disease.
What are the tuition fees?
For information regarding pricing please contact us. The contract period is 12 months. Payments for tuition are automatically scheduled for the 15th of each month.
Are there any times throughout the year that you are closed?
We are a full-year program that will close during major holidays. In addition, we close for the Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as several staff development days throughout the year.
Download the 2023-2024 ELC Calendar HERE.
Are there any subsidized child care spaces in your settings?
Yes. We do accept publicly funded child care services through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Families wishing to enroll and use ODJFS funds must contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services office in the county in which they live to apply and receive authorization before they will be allowed to attend.
Is there a waiting list that I can place my child on?
Once our program is full, a waiting list is created for each classroom. An enrollment packet must be completed in order to be added to our waitlist. Registration fee is not due until the student is accepted into the program. Our priority list is current ELC families, JCC and Federation employees, JCC Members, Akiva families, and the general public. As space becomes available individuals on our waiting list will be contacted.
Can I set-up a visit to see the child care center?
Yes. You may contact the Early Learning Center Office to schedule a tour of the facility. We encourage interested families to schedule their visits to ensure someone is available to meet with them and devote the time necessary to answer their questions.
