Maryland Excel

[daniellesweety1]

Good Morning Ladies and Gents,

I just had a few questions that maybe you all can assist with. I'm in the process of uploading forms for the Maryland Excel program but I need to add things like Inclusion for children with special needs and something about IEPs and lastly Parent Conferences. Does anyone have this type of info in their handbook? If so, how could I word it to keep it short and maybe what section of the handbook? My coordinator was telling me a little info about it and she just basically said it had to be in my handbook and a schedule for it I believe.

Any and all help would be great.

Thanks

[Unregistered]

I am part of EXCELS as well. I went to the workshop where they will go over all of the necessary items to make sure it is included in your handbook/contract.

This works for the IEP - I put it in my contract : INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN/IFSP
Parents of children with disabilities or special needs should provide an IEP/IFSP to ensure the best care possible.

This is in my handbook for parent conferences, and I put it in right after Activities & Curriculum and before Enrollment Policy:

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT/CONFERENCES

There will be times and ways you can get involved in your child's child care experience. You are welcomed and encouraged to participate in any or all of these. Some examples of ways to be involved include:
• Chaperoning on field trips
• Lending objects for units of study
• Helping your child at home with the concepts we are studying here
• Helping your child prepare for "Show and Tell"
• Helping to provide treats or other items for our parties

Parent conferences will be held twice a year beginning from enrollment date to ensure each child is meeting their individual milestones. I will also complete an evaluation within the first 90 days of enrollment. Parents can decide between an e-mail/phone conference or a personal conference depending upon their scheduling needs. The child cannot be at the conference due to this evaluative information.

For community resources, please see me and I will assist you in finding assistance.

I put the inclusion statement in the Enrollment Policy:

ENROLLMENT POLICY

My home daycare provides equal enrollment opportunities for all children without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender and/or special needs or disabilities.

There are several forms that I must have completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is to ensure that your child will get the very best care possible from me. The forms are as follows:

Signed Contract (agreeing to all items in the handbook) and Rate Agreement
Health Inventory
Medication Form (if needed)
Emergency Form
Immunization Form (shot record)

You are required to keep me informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information listed on any/all of the above forms. If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to ask.


Hope this helps!

[daniellesweety1]

I am part of EXCELS as well. I went to the workshop where they will go over all of the necessary items to make sure it is included in your handbook/contract.

This works for the IEP - I put it in my contract : INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN/IFSP
Parents of children with disabilities or special needs should provide an IEP/IFSP to ensure the best care possible.

This is in my handbook for parent conferences, and I put it in right after Activities & Curriculum and before Enrollment Policy:

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT/CONFERENCES

There will be times and ways you can get involved in your child's child care experience. You are welcomed and encouraged to participate in any or all of these. Some examples of ways to be involved include:
• Chaperoning on field trips
• Lending objects for units of study
• Helping your child at home with the concepts we are studying here
• Helping your child prepare for "Show and Tell"
• Helping to provide treats or other items for our parties

Parent conferences will be held twice a year beginning from enrollment date to ensure each child is meeting their individual milestones. I will also complete an evaluation within the first 90 days of enrollment. Parents can decide between an e-mail/phone conference or a personal conference depending upon their scheduling needs. The child cannot be at the conference due to this evaluative information.

For community resources, please see me and I will assist you in finding assistance.

I put the inclusion statement in the Enrollment Policy:

ENROLLMENT POLICY

My home daycare provides equal enrollment opportunities for all children without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender and/or special needs or disabilities.

There are several forms that I must have completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is to ensure that your child will get the very best care possible from me. The forms are as follows:

Signed Contract (agreeing to all items in the handbook) and Rate Agreement
Health Inventory
Medication Form (if needed)
Emergency Form
Immunization Form (shot record)

You are required to keep me informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information listed on any/all of the above forms. If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to ask.


Hope this helps!

Thank YOU so much for responding, I actually have a little info like this in my handbook already . Guess I was over thinking it, I thought that it has to specifically say the word "inclusion" hahaha. But from what you have I guess not. I also did do a form for Parent Conferences, but I will add the part of either they can chose the phone/email and how often. Didn't have that. I can add a simple statement like that to include IEPs.
Thanks a bunch. You've helped a lot.

[Unregistered]

Glad I could help!

Another bit of advice...one of the daycare ladies, who has been doing this forever, suggested putting everything into the handbook and have the parents initial each header. That way, you don't have as much paperwork to keep up with at inspection time, and the parents are more likely to actually read each section. You are more covered with less work and liability. At the bottom, put a place for them to initial each year so you are also covered that way...

[daniellesweety1]

Glad I could help!

Another bit of advice...one of the daycare ladies, who has been doing this forever, suggested putting everything into the handbook and have the parents initial each header. That way, you don't have as much paperwork to keep up with at inspection time, and the parents are more likely to actually read each section. You are more covered with less work and liability. At the bottom, put a place for them to initial each year so you are also covered that way...

I like this idea but I have a slight problem, how do you shorten your handbook? Mine is long and Every section I have in there I feel its in important. . I thing I can actually think of to do is to take it somewhere and get copies made. Bc using my ink will cost too much. I can email them it but of course who's to say they will read it. I can print it front and back for them and just put an initial spot on the most important section but thats kind of like their copy so do I just do one main book on my end and also have each parent initial this specific book. Or that will kind of mean I need two copies of each book .

Or Can I Just do one signature page on the back and have them sign for the handbook or return the signature page when all forms are handed it?

Hope I didn't confuse you as to what Im trying to say

[Unregistered]

I have a very long handbook too - kind of a requirement for Maryland EXCELs.

I e-mail a copy of the handbook to the parents, and I take it to Staples for double-sided printing. I have the parents initial each heading and then sign at the end for that year. The cost isn't much, and I deduct it at the end of the year anyway.

[daniellesweety1]

I have a very long handbook too - kind of a requirement for Maryland EXCELs.

I e-mail a copy of the handbook to the parents, and I take it to Staples for double-sided printing. I have the parents initial each heading and then sign at the end for that year. The cost isn't much, and I deduct it at the end of the year anyway.

So do you have a separate sheet that is just used for them to initial on? I already email but I'm trying to get an idea of how I should make them sign for it . Do you kind of do both copies, email and print but you keep the printed one? Or you still give them a hard copy and just take a tear off sheet with their signatures?