This center provides both a developmentally appropriate learning program available to the preschool children of Mansfield ISD employees and a progressive laboratory facility for MISD high school students.

Goals and Philosophy

The Children’s Center recognizes that children are unique individuals. All aspects of their growth follow a pattern, but all development is at the individual’s own rate. Children learn best through play. Therefore, our task is to provide an environment and a curriculum, which are developmentally appropriate for young children, and flexible enoughto meet their individual needs. This type setting provides opportunities for children to develop to their full potential physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. The Children’s Center welcomes all children regardless of language, class, culture, race, or family structure.

Facilities

The Children’s Center occupies two classrooms in the Ben Barber CTA and includes laboratories for each age group; kitchen areas, an observation room, and the fenced playground. The children will take supervised campus field trips to areas of interest, such as the TV studio, agricultural barns, science labs, culinary arts, health sciences and many others. The center is designed to accommodate forty preschool children from 18 months through five years of age.  

Hours of Operation

The MISD Children’s Center is open from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday starting the first Monday of Professional Development in August until the last day of school in May. The center will be open for scheduled Professional Development days as needed. The staff and children of the Center will observe the same holiday schedule as that of the staff of the MISD system.

Please note: When the district is closed because of inclement weather, the Center will also be closed.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition payments will be arranged monthly, bi-monthly or weekly based on your family pay schedule. The daily tuition rate includes breakfast and lunch. Due by April 30 each spring there will be a non-refundable Enrollment/Commitment Fee to reserve a child care space. The tuition rates and fees are based on those charged by programs of similar LAB schools, as well as any decision made by the Ben Barber principal and Mansfield ISD in regards to this program.

Mansfield ISD Child Care Cost

Revised $33 per day

Lunch & Snacks no additional cost

Music & Movement no additional cost

MISD Holidays no tuition required

Winter Break no tuition required

Spring Break no tuition required

Enrollment/Supply Fee - $75 per year

Tarrant County Child Care Cost Average

Base $35-$45 per day

Lunch & Snacks additional cost

Music & Movement additional cost

MISD holidays tuition required

Winter Break tuition required

Spring Break tuition required

Summer Break deposit required

Enrollment/Supply Fee $70-$100 per year

Standards & Policies

The children’s center is state licensed to accept children as young as 18 months through 24 months for enrollment when these requirements are met:

Standard 746.1507 states in determining child/caregiver ratios the following apply:

1. Child/Staff ratio is based on the specified age of the children in the caregivers group or the age of the youngest child in the group, depending on the activity and the number of children at the child care center.

2. You may use the developmental or emotional age, rather than the chronological age, of a child with special needs, if this is recommended by a health-care professional or other qualified professional and is documented in the child’s record.

3. Adults must be more actively involved in the supervision of children under 24 months due to their limited muscle control and physical skills.

4. Children 24 months are also at greater risk during an emergency requiring evacuation of the center.

Children’s Center Policy:

1. The licensing rules, regulations and standards we are governed by are those of the State of Texas. These are minimum standards and we are always striving “to meet and exceed” the state standards.
   
   
2. Currently enrolled children have first priority for the limited child care spaces each new school year.
   
   
3. The age range between the oldest and the youngest child dictates the ages of a particular classroom.
   
   
4. Any child on the appropriately ages Waiting List will be eligible for enrollment for the following year based on the existing classroom list.
   
   
5. Parents must call or e-mail the Center to update addresses  and telephone numbers.