Admissions

Admission to the Family Center center-based childcare program is done once a year. Applications are sent out from September through November for the following September. All prospective parents must attend an open house. Admissions decisions are made in early March.

The Center's main focus is on the provision of care and educational experiences for young children; support, education and community for families; and professional training and development. Our conceptual model is guided by the developmental growth of children and adults. In the admissions process, consideration is given to the following:

Age and gender of the child
Amount of time applied for
Family need
Diversity: family structure, ethnicity, income, special needs
Family interest in and commitment to participation in the Center

For families who qualify, the Family Center is an Agency for Child Development voucher-approved site. Tuition assistance is also available each year. Scholarships are based on financial need. Families wanting admission to the onsite special education program must send in an application and attend an open house. However, admittance to the program is based on evaluation, recommendation, and approval by the Early Intervention System or the Committee on Preschool Special Education. Admissions preference is granted to returning children, to the children of Bank Street College staff, and to siblings of Family Center children. The Family Center is a part of Bank Street's Division of Children's Programs, which also includes the School for Children, which educates children ages three to thirteen. The Family Center is not, however, an entry point to the School for Children, which has a separate admissions process.