GUIDE
TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES
BY
ANTONELLA CORSI-BUNKER
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR CHOOSING DAY CARE AND PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
If you bring your children to the United States, you may need to find child care for them day care, enroll them in school, or occasionally hire a “baby-sitter.”
You can find many kinds of day care in the Twin Cities for babies and children up to 12 years of age. Children are known by their age groups, so use these terms when asking about day care:
Infant - newborn to 12 months
Toddler - 13 to 30 months old
Preschool - 31 months to 5 years old
Latch-key - 6 to 12 years old
A good place to start looking for day care is:
Career/Life Alliance Services (CLAS), (952-894-0727) or 1-800-736-6416).
CLAS is a free child care resource and referral service for University of Minnesota staff members and their dependents. CLAS can provide a list of licensed providers available to you based on your child's age, your preferred location, and other factors. CLAS also provides numerous online resources regarding elder care, education, and healthy lifestyles.
If you contact them online, they will ask you to enter your company login and password.
Use Company Login: University andPassword:Minnesota
The government agency that licenses child care providers requires a certain level of cleanliness, safety precautions, and nutrition. It is the parents' responsibility to call references, ask questions, and ultimately make the decision whether a provider will meet your standards of care for your children. CLAS can provide a list of helpful questions ranging from discipline to emergency procedures.
Unlicensed child care is also available but the government agency does not require these to adhere to its standards of size, cleanliness, or meal programs.
Another good resource you can use to help you search for child care online, find a referral agency in your region, choose quality child care and find other resources available to families, is the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network . Among others, they provide a checklist created by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies that will help you know what to look for and ask to find out if the program you are considering will be a safe, healthy and happy place for your child.
Here is a list of some of the Day Care centers in Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area:
The Goddard Schools
These schools offer year round programs for preschool children. Private kindergartens are also available. You may find information on their website or call 1-800-GODDARD
Kinder Care Learning Centers
Kinder Care is a licensed child care provider with learning centers across the country and different high quality programs.
Care Quest
The University offers referral services through CareQuest, a telephone network to help students, staff, faculty and hospital employees find childcare off campus. This service is free to eligible University families earning less than $50,000 per year. Parent counselors will answer your questions about childcare in the community, and help you identify programs that will meet the needs of you and your child. You interview the providers yourself and make your own arrangements. To get started, call (651) 222-4664 weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
What Happens Now
This organization gives advice and answers questions related to choosing a Day care provider
University of Minnesota Child Care Center
A ChildCareCenter is available at the University (612-627-4014) but generally has a long waiting list.
TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES
BY
ANTONELLA CORSI-BUNKER
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR CHOOSING DAY CARE AND PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
If you bring your children to the United States, you may need to find child care for them day care, enroll them in school, or occasionally hire a “baby-sitter.”
You can find many kinds of day care in the Twin Cities for babies and children up to 12 years of age. Children are known by their age groups, so use these terms when asking about day care:
Infant - newborn to 12 months
Toddler - 13 to 30 months old
Preschool - 31 months to 5 years old
Latch-key - 6 to 12 years old
A good place to start looking for day care is:
Career/Life Alliance Services (CLAS), (952-894-0727) or 1-800-736-6416).
CLAS is a free child care resource and referral service for University of Minnesota staff members and their dependents. CLAS can provide a list of licensed providers available to you based on your child's age, your preferred location, and other factors. CLAS also provides numerous online resources regarding elder care, education, and healthy lifestyles.
If you contact them online, they will ask you to enter your company login and password.
Use Company Login: University andPassword:Minnesota
The government agency that licenses child care providers requires a certain level of cleanliness, safety precautions, and nutrition. It is the parents' responsibility to call references, ask questions, and ultimately make the decision whether a provider will meet your standards of care for your children. CLAS can provide a list of helpful questions ranging from discipline to emergency procedures.
Unlicensed child care is also available but the government agency does not require these to adhere to its standards of size, cleanliness, or meal programs.
Another good resource you can use to help you search for child care online, find a referral agency in your region, choose quality child care and find other resources available to families, is the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network . Among others, they provide a checklist created by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies that will help you know what to look for and ask to find out if the program you are considering will be a safe, healthy and happy place for your child.
Here is a list of some of the Day Care centers in Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area:
The Goddard Schools
These schools offer year round programs for preschool children. Private kindergartens are also available. You may find information on their website or call 1-800-GODDARD
Kinder Care Learning Centers
Kinder Care is a licensed child care provider with learning centers across the country and different high quality programs.
Care Quest
The University offers referral services through CareQuest, a telephone network to help students, staff, faculty and hospital employees find childcare off campus. This service is free to eligible University families earning less than $50,000 per year. Parent counselors will answer your questions about childcare in the community, and help you identify programs that will meet the needs of you and your child. You interview the providers yourself and make your own arrangements. To get started, call (651) 222-4664 weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
What Happens Now
This organization gives advice and answers questions related to choosing a Day care provider
University of Minnesota Child Care Center
A ChildCareCenter is available at the University (612-627-4014) but generally has a long waiting list.
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