Thank you for your interest in MCDC for the early education and care of your little one. We are not currently taking names for our waiting list. If we can help you in finding care, we will be happy to direct you to neighboring centers and home daycares.
General Eligibility Requirements
Child must be at least 6 weeks of age. Maplewood children graduate by 6 years of age or when starting Kindergarten.
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When can I submit an application?
Families can submit an application once your child turns 2 weeks. Applications received before a child is 2 weeks will not be accepted.
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Is there an application fee?
Yes.
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Will I be contacted by the Center to verify my application has been received?
Yes.
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Visiting the Center prior to enrollment.
When a space becomes available we will invite your family to visit and tour Maplewood. If you would like to visits the Center before we have a space available, we ask that you contact us by email for a Pre-Enrollment Documents password and to learn when our next open house will be offered.
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Group Tours
Seasonally we offer group tours for families and professionals who are interested in learning more about Maplewood’s philosophy of early education and care. We encourage you to visit Maplewood Child Development Center during the our information sessions the first Saturday in Summer and Autumn, An application is not required to tour the Center. During our small group tours you will have an opportunity to walk through and listen to a teacher speak on what infants, toddlers, and preschoolers experience when attending the program, our Director share how our program is designed in the best interest for youngest in your family using the Pikler(R) Model and Respectful, Responsive, and Reciprocal Relationship-Based Care model, and our Board President to explain how teachers us the RIE(R) Approach and how MCDC stands alone in Chicago in partnering with families in the early education and care of the babies and children of MCDC.
Small group tours are ADULT ONLY events. Families and Professionals must register to join the tour.
First Visit/Pre-Enrollment Meeting, Play Date, and Enrollment Meeting
We encourage new families to request a first visit by phoning or emailing Maplewood once they have carefully reviewed our Goals for Maplewood, About Us, and our Maplewood Brochure.
Susan Bernstein, Director, will arrange with each family three appointments (first visit, play date, enrollment meeting) and provide your password to our Pre-Enrollment Documents.
1. FIRST VISIT / PRE-ENROLLMENT MEETING: Parents will meet with Ms. Bernstein without children to discuss the family’s needs and take a private tour of the Center. Pre-Enrollment Documents will be submitted before this appointment.
2. PLAY DATE: Parents will arrange a first visit with their children, a play date. *Families with Infants under 6 months of age may combine the first two appointments*
Families can then request Enrollment Application Packet at this time along with a registration fee payable in cash, check, or through Chase QuickPay or PayPal. Ms. Bernstein will then provide a password to the Enrolling Documents which contains information regarding Maplewood’s programs, tuition, fees, and a copy of our contracts. These forms will need to be started, completed by the family if possible before the Enrollment Meeting.
3. ENROLLMENT MEETING: Parents will meet with Ms. Bernstein for the Enrollment Meeting. A phone conference is available if necessary. The Contract will be finalized during the appointment, start date scheduled, registration fee and first tuition payments will be due, initial payments receipt provided, and parents will be given the New Maplewood Family Packet to include the Maplewood Family Handbook.
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Waiting List
Because of age-based group requirements dictated by Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, when making placement decisions our “wait-list” could more accurately be described as a “wait-pool”. Enrollment is offered as spaces determined by birth date become available.
Families are welcome to contact the Center periodically by phone or email to inquire about their child’s application. Although it is our policy not to provide detailed information about waiting list placement, we are happy to share general updates to help you determine the likelihood of availability, as well as whether / when to seek alternative child care options to serve your immediate or longer term needs.
Interested families who would like to be added to our waiting list may submit a Waiting List Application online or by mail. The waiting list fee of $100 is non-refundable and can be paid in cash, check, money order, or electronically via PayPal or Square. Please Note: all payments submitted via PayPal or Square need to include an additional $5.00 convince fee.
The Waiting List Application includes name and age of child, parent(s) or legal guardian(s)’s name with phone numbers, mailing address, and email address as well as the child’s requested start date.
We look forward to hearing from you.
