What happens if there is severe weather while my child is in care at the school?

If the schools are closed due to inclement weather, the School Age Child Care Program is also closed. If severe weather occurs during school and/or program hours, but the schools do not send children home early, the child care programs will maintain regular hours.

If the severe weather occurs during child care program hours and warrants program closing, parents will be notified and must pick their children up as soon as possible. The children and staff at the child care program will take cover and a sign will be posted as to location. If a parent or designated person has not picked up the child by 6:00 pm, late charges will be enforced. No deductions to a bill will be made for school closings due to emergencies such as snow days, water main breaks, etc.

Is there is an emergency procedure that the staff follows?

In the event of an accident or emergency, child care staff will follow these procedures:

What happens if my child becomes sick while at child care

1. When your child becomes ill at child care, the Supervisor will call the parent or guardian to pick up your child. It is very important that you, or someone from your emergency list, pick up your child as quickly as possible. Child care sites do not have a separate place for your child to rest or extra staff to stay with your child when he/she feels sick.

2. A child that is absent from school due to illness WILL NOT be allowed in child care that same day. A child MUST be fever free and off fever reducers for 24 hours before returning to child care. Do not send your child to child care when you know he/she is ill.

3. A child who has been diagnosed with ringworm, pink eye, or a similar contagious disease
may return to child care and school when the doctor permits.

My child takes medication that will need to be administered during care hours. Can the staff give it to him?

1. The medication policy for child care is the same as that of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. This policy states that prescription medicine MUST be in the original container. Prescribed medicine must be accompanied by an authorization form signed by the physician and parent. Over-the-counter medicines must be accompanied by a signed note from the parent. A copy of the medication authorization form is provided at the end of this handbook. Additional authorization forms are available upon request.

2. If at all possible, please provide separate medicine for the child care site and the school office.

3. The child care supervisor is responsible for receiving the medication and permission form from the parent/guardian. The supervisor also records when medication is given and by whom.

4. SACC follows the school district policy governing the use of injections for insect bite allergies. It is the parent’s responsibility to communicate any special concerns to the Community Education Coordinator and to provide any necessary training to child care staff.

My child has some special needs that may require extra attention. Who should I talk to about this and what can I expect in terms of services?

1. The School Age Child Care Program will provide reasonable accommodations without discrimination regarding a child’s special needs or impairments. It is expected that the child’s parent or guardian shall communicate the nature of the child’s special needs or impairment and any particular information regarding the child’s care, on the Child Information form and prior to the child’s first day in the program.

2. The Discipline Policy applies to all children in child care.

3. Due process rights of students with special needs and their parents under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 will be enforced. Parents who feel their child’s rights have been violated may appeal using the following process:

a. Meeting with the Child Care Supervisor and Community Education Coordinator to discuss and correct the problem. Additional resource people may be consulted for assistance if necessary.

b. A written appeal to, and if necessary, a meeting with, the chairperson of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Section 504 committee.

c. A hearing through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s Department of Special Education Services.

How is snack handled during care? Do I bring snack or is it provided by the program?

Rec & Ed recognizes that there are a rowing number of children with potentially life threatening allergies enrolling in our programs. As public providers, we recognize our responsibility to work with parents to proactively and reasonably prevent participant exposure to specific allergens.

1. Before School, Kindergarten, and After School child care participants will be offered light snacks at each session. These snack are not a meal; if your child has a healthy appetite, please be sure that he or she has had breakfast before childcare and is supplied with an adequate lunch.

2. If you receive a message or see a sign indicating that a building or an area in a building is designated "no nut" or "dairy free," please be respectful of that rule if you send food with your child. For more information please call 734-994-2300. A list of "no nut" snack and sack lunch suggestions is available for your convenience at each childcare site or by clicking here.

3. The snacks that SACC offers will be nutritious, such as unsweetened cereal and milk, crackers, fruit,  cheese, juice, granola and milk. Sweets may be served on special occasions. If your school building is "no nut," all snack selections and preparations will conform to this policy. Snack menus are always posted, and we welcome parent input and suggestions.

4. Parents must indicate on the Child Information Form that their child has food allergies so appropriate precautions can be taken. Although we plan snacks according to this information, we do require  parents of childen with food allergies to send them with snacks from home.

5. If your child has an allergy action plan, please share it with the SACC Coordinator before you child participates in the childcare program.

6. Parents who send treats for special occasions should obtain prior permission from the Program Supervisor or Coordinator and send enough for the entire group of children to share. We encourage you to consider alternatives to sweets such as fruit, pencils, stickers, etc.

If a care provider has concerns about a child’s well being, will they report their concerns to protective services?

The Ann Arbor Public Schools School Age Child Care program is mandated by Michigan Law, Act. No. 238, governing all schools and child care programs to report any suspected abuse or neglect of children in their care.