The N.J. Department of Youth and Family Services requires that we distribute to the parent of each student a written “Information to Parents Document”. This Parent Handbook is that document.

The “center” (in this case, Wee Scholars Academy) must comply with this requirement by reproducing and distributing to parents this written statement, prepared by the Bureau of Licensing in the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). In keeping with this requirement, the center must secure every parent’s signature attesting to his/her receipt of the information.

Our center is required by the State Child Care Center Licensing Law to be licensed by the Bureau of Licensing in the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. A copy of our current license must be posted in a prominent location at our center.

We are required to:

• Comply with all applicable provisions of the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers;
• Post our license in a prominent location within the center;
• Retain a current copy of the manual and make it available for parents’ review; Parents may order a copy of the Manual of Requirements by sending a check or money order for $5 made payable to the “Treasurer, State of New Jersey”, and mailing it to: NJ Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, Publication Fees, PO Box 657,Trenton, NJ 08646-0657.
• Make available to parents, upon request, the Bureau’s Life/ Safety and Program Inspection/Violation and Complaint Investigation Summary report(s) on the center, as well as any letters of enforcement or other actions taken against the center during the center’s current licensing period;
• Post a listing or diagram of those rooms and/or areas that have been approved by the Bureau for children’s use;
• Comply with the inspection/investigation functions of the Division, including the interviewing of staff members and children;
• Afford parents the opportunity and time to review and discuss with the center director or sponsor any questions or concerns about the policies and procedures of the center or whether the center is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the manual;
• Advise parents that if they believe or suspect that the center is violating any requirement of the manual, they may report such alleged violations to the center sponsor or director or to the Bureau;
• Afford parents of enrolled children an opportunity to participate in the center’s operation and activities and to assist the center in complying with licensing requirements;
• Afford parents of enrolled children the opportunity to visit the center at any time during the center’s hours of operation to observe its operation and program activities without having to secure prior approval;
• Provide parents with advance notice of any field trip, outing or special event involving the transportation of children away from the center, and, for each event, secure the written consent of the parent(s) before taking a child on such a field trip, outing or special event;
• Post a copy of the center’s written statement of policy on the disciplining of children by staff members in a prominent location within the center, and make a copy of it available to parents upon request, which is a part of this Parent Handbook;
• Indicate through this document that any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been or is being subjected to any form of hitting, corporal punishment, abusive language, ridicule, or harsh, humiliating or frightening treatment, or any other kind of child abuse, neglect or exploitation by any adult, is required by State law to report such allegations to the Division’s Office of Child Abuse Control or any District Office immediately, and indicate that such reports may be made anonymously;
• Indicate through this document that parents and staff members may secure information about child abuse and/or neglect from the Division Parents may secure information about child abuse and neglect by containing: DCF, Office of Communications and Legislation at (609) 292 -0422 or go to www.nj.gov/dcf and select Publications;
• Inform parents of the center’s policy on the release of children, which is part of this Parent Handbook;
• Inform parents of the center’s policy on administering medication and health care procedures, which is part of this Parent Handbook;
• Provide parents with a copy of the center’s policy on management of communicable diseases, which is part of this Parent Handbook;
• Provide parents with a copy of the center’s policy on the expulsion of children from enrollment, which is part of this Parent Handbook;
• Inform parents that the center is required to comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), P.L. 1945, c. 169 (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), P.L. 101-336 (42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq.), and indicate that anyone who believes the center is not in compliance with these laws may contact the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety for information about filing an LAD claim at (609) 292-4605 (TTY users may dial 711 to reach the New Jersey Relay Operator and ask for (609) 292-7701), or may contact the United States Department of Justice for information about filing an ADA claim at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).