FAQ's

• When is the Center open?
• How old are children served by the Center?
• Does CCCC provide before and after school care?
• Do you teach children as well as care for them?
• What about meals & snacks?
• How much does the Center charge for tuition?
• When is Tuition due?
• What are my payment options?
• What tuition discounts are available?
• What other fees might I pay?
• What about transportation?
• What is the teacher-to-child ratio?
• How may I track my child's progress?
• What happens if I'm running late to collect my child?
• Is the Center closed when public schools are closed?
• How do you treat extended absence from school?
• What if my child suffers from allergies?
• Do you require parents to volunteer time?
• Does the Center sponsor field trips?

When is the Center open?
6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How old are children served by the Center?
6 weeks to 10 years.

Does CCCC provide before and after school care?
Yes.

Do you teach children as well as care for them?
Yes! Carroll Child Care Center is the region's most credentialed Pre-K school. We hold two certifications from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), one for instructional excellence and another for being one of the State’s top programs in exceeding MSDE training & education requirements for early childhood instructors. Our Center is the only County program to be certified by MSDE at Level 4. To teach your child, we use MSDE-recommended curricula, generally considered the best in the State. Our food program is unique. We offer free, completely subsidized meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks) to all of our children five days a week.

"Carroll Childcare Center has cared for our children for 10 years. Throughout that time, we always knew they were treasured, nurtured and safe. Our children loved the Center. In fact, they usually didn’t want to leave! The staff is second to none. It's a testament to the organization that so many Center employees have served for so many years, something you don’t see in care-giving of any kind. We extend heartfelt thanks to Carroll Child Care Center. We entrusted you with all that was precious to us, and you helped us shape great children!"

Heather & Steve Powell

What about meals & snacks?
We feed every child a balanced and nutritious breakfast, hot lunch, and afternoon snack each day. These meals are covered by tuition.

How much does the Center charge for tuition?

When is Tuition due?
Tuition is due every Monday for that week.

What are my payment options?
We encourage automatic debiting from checking or other accounts. We also accept credit and debit cards from VISA, MasterCard, and Discover, as well as personal checks and cash. Checks and cash may be deposited in our 'drop box' in the Center lobby. Finance Director Lyn Bowers meets with parents at the Center each weekday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM to address payment options and related matters. Lyn may be reached at 410-871-4079 or Lyn.Bowers@CarrollChildCare.com.

What tuition discounts are available?
The Center offers five (5) discount programs and subsidies for qualifying families:

Pre-Pay Discount
Plan A – 10 % off the Center’s regular rate for six (6) months advance payment (26 weeks)
Plan B – 5% off the Center’s regular rate for three (3) months advance payment (13 weeks)
Qualifying parents who present valid 6-month or 3-month POC vouchers (see below) may apply their discount to their co-pay only.

Multiple Child Discount
The Center discounts its regular rates to accommodate families who place more than one child in our care. Tuition for the youngest child is payable at 100% of the Center’s regular rate, but tuition for the oldest child is 15% less than the Center’s regular rate for that child's age. Tuition for each additional child is 10% less than the Center’s regular rate for care. Multiple child discounts are not offered for part-time children, children in the B&A or B/A program, or for families receiving any form of subsidized tuition.

Purchase of Care (POC) Subsidy
The Center accepts Purchase of Care (POC) vouchers issued by the Carroll County Department of Social Services. The State of Maryland uses Federal funds to provide this subsidy to help low-income families. Families receive a subsidy equal to as much as 75% of the cost of care and remit the balance, or 'co-payment', to the Center each week. For information, contact DSS POC Coordinator Robin Sayres at 410-386-3358 or Center Finance Director Lyn Bowers.

Sliding Scale (SS) Subsidy
Thanks to a grant from United Way of Central Maryland, the Center offers Sliding Scale (SS)  subsidies to qualifying families based on total household income and the number of children in the household. SS subsidies are dependent entirely on grant funding and cannot be guaranteed from year to year. See Lyn Bowers for details.

Scholarship Subsidy
When suitable grant funds are available, the Center is able to subsidize up to 75% of the tuition payable, for up to five weeks, for a family who finds itself unable to make tuition payments because of documented job loss or similar hardship.  See Lyn Bowers for details.

What other fees might I pay?
Unlike other childcare programs, Carroll Child Care Center doesn't charge for services you expect to be included. Here are the additional fees we assess:

Registration
A non-refundable fee of $40 for the first child and $10 for each additional child must be paid with the enrollment application.

Security Deposit
Advance payment of one week of tuition at the Center’s regular rate per child is retained by the Center.  This fee is refundable. See Lyn Bowers for details.

Keyless Entry Card
The Center assesses a non-refundable fee of $ 10 for a keyless entry (ADT-style) card to each family with children in our care. Additional and replacement cards cost $ 5 each. Families may purchase as many cards as they need.

Summer Program
The Center operates a popular program of field trips and special activities up to 12 weeks each summer.  A modest, age-weighted, weekly surcharge applies automatically to all children enrolled during this period and covers all transportation, food, and admissions costs.  Certain trips, such as our annual excursion to the Maryland Zoo, require an additional fee.  See Lyn Bowers for details.

What about transportation?
'Both the County and the Center transport students between nearby schools and the Center. The Center transports students to and from other schools in its modern, specially-outfitted passenger van. Routes are determined twice a year and are limited to serve the greatest number of children in the most efficient manner. For information, contact the Center Director at ext 101.

What is the teacher-to-child ratio?

How may I track my child's progress?
Parents and teachers meet formally at least twice a year. However, teachers are available to answer questions each day.

What happens if I'm running late to collect my child?
Parents who collect a child after 6 PM are assessed $ 15, plus $ 2 per minute past 6:05 PM that it takes to remove the child from the Center. Late fees are assessed per episode, are payable weekly, and are treated the same as tuition for collections purposes.

Is the Center closed when public schools are closed?
No. Being a private school, the Center operates on its own schedule. We're open all year long and closed far less than CCPS. An agenda of scheduled closings is provided to each family at registration. We schedule our own in-service and parent conference days. Although our inclement weather closing/late opening schedule frquently follows the CCPS schedule, the Center has its own protocol.

How do you treat extended absence from school?
Children absent for a week are assessed full fare for that week. If the absence extends beyond a week, tuition drops to half for the duration of the absence. The Center holds classroom space for familes who remit partial tuition during absenses.  See Lyn Bowers for details.

What if my child suffers from allergies?
Parents are required to alert the Center about all allergens affecting their child. In the case of food allergies, parents are required to monitor the Center's weekly published menu. Information about each child's allergic issues goes into the child's file and is reviewed by all of the staff who serve that child. The Center serves alternative food to children allergic to certain ingredients. For more information, contact the Center Director at extension 101.

Do you require parents to volunteer time?
No. However, we encourage parental involvement in your child's care. We appreciate your help with our events, whether you have a hand in organizing them, operating them or simply attend as a paying participant!

Does the Center sponsor field trips?
Yes! See 'Summer Program' under 'Tuition', above.  Popular destinations include the Maryland Zoo, the National Aquarium, Ravens' training camp at McDaniel College, and other fun venues. All trips are selected carefully to ensure optimum safety and age-appropriateness. During the excursion, we apply strict procedures to ensure each child's safety.