N. E. Miles Early Childhood Development Center

This page is dedicated to information for prospective and current parents and families. Detailed information for enrolled families is found in the Parent Handbook (doc) and the ECDC Policies and Procedures for Parents (pdf). Note: Both our Parent Handbook and P&P are being significantly revised over the 2009-2010 year as we prepare our accreditation folios.

Waiting List

ECDC maintains a first-come waiting list for enrollment that is open to the public, but prioritizes meeting the needs of full-time staff, faculty, and students at the College of Charleston. Siblings of currently enrolled children are given first priority. A child may be placed on the waiting list at birth.

Waiting List Application (pdf)
Waiting List Application (Word)

Enrollment

Children are placed in class groups according to age as of September 1. ECDC follows the CofC academic calendar and children stay with their age group the entire year. The enrollment process for the next fall begins in February. Families on the waiting list are contacted for available spaces and a non-refundable registration fee ($100 for new children, $75 for returning children) is collected to hold a child's place through the summer.

Registration for the Maymester and Summer I sessions is done separately and open to currently enrolled children. Families may request a different schedule for these sessions than the one they have during the academic year.

Tuition

Tuition is paid monthly September through April and collected separately for each of the two summer sessions. Tuition is due on the first of each month.

2009-2010 Tuition Schedule (pdf)

Scholarships

A limited number of need-based tuition scholarships are available annually through the Nathan E. Miles Endowment fund. Applications should be submitted at the time of registration for the fall term. Announcements of awards are made late summer/early fall.

ECDC Scholarship Application (pdf)
ECDC Scholarship Application (Word)

Calendar

ECDC generally follows the CofC Academic Calendar. There are two additional days each year when children do not attend so that we can conduct parent-teacher conferences and we occasionally close for teacher professional development days.

2009-2010 Calendar (pdf)

PTO

ECDC has an active Parent-Teacher Organization that provides support for our program in many ways. Our PTO conducts fund-raisers, social events, and teacher care activities. Each classroom has at least one identified room parent to assist with classroom special events. All parents are automatically members of PTO, which meets several times throughout the school year. Officers for the 2009-2010 year are:

President: Cristy Landis landisc@cofc.edu
Vice-President: Beth Goodier goodierb@cofc.edu
Secretary: Kathleen Reardon kathleenreardon@blackbaud.com
Treasurer: Carol Ann Davis davisc@cofc.edu

ECDC PTO By-Laws (doc)

Volunteering

We see our parents as our first and best resource and we encourage family members to share their cultural traditions, talents, interests, and enthusiasm with us. Parents accompany us on field trips, participate as guest readers, and are often willing to provide professional expertise on long-term project investigation topics. Please talk with your child's teacher if you are interested/willing to volunteer in the classroom.

Advisories

As part of the College of Charleston, we follow university emergency procedures. If the college closes for an emergency, ECDC will close as well. When warranted, ECDC issues advisories to parents about illnesses or other conditions that will help keep our center as healthy as possible.

Current Advisory: H1N1 Novel Influenza Virus

The College Health Services has a webpage entirely devoted to their comprehensive plan, news, and links to many informational resources to deal with the H1N1 threat. Our staff have all received specific training to reinforce appropriate procedures and extra precautions. Until further notice, all adult visitors are asked to use hand sanitizers upon entering the building and refrain from going into the classrooms if possible. Other H1N1 resources developed specifically for staff, parents and children:

FAQ (A DHEC Publication)
CofC H1N1 Plan
H1N1 Info (prepared for Head Start)
Parent Letter (DHEC)
Activity Booklet for Children

Continuing Advisories:

Moluscum
Head Lice

Hot Topics

We try to provide our parents with up-to-date helpful information and resources on frequently requested topics, including:

Developmental issues

Health, nutrition, and safety

Food Guide & Pyramid

Community & cultural events of interest

Alternate opportunities for child care when ECDC is not in session (emailed to parents as needed)

Local elementary schools

Evening Info Sessions

We offer evening informational sessions several times each year and also maintain an on-site library of relevant books and other print information for parents.

2009-2010 Parent Information Topics & Schedule (pdf)