Dear CECI Families:

We are a non-profit, nature-based preschool offering classes for students aged 2-6. The mission of The Children's Education Center of the Islands is to provide a nature and play-based experiential learning environment to preschool aged children that creates a unique early childhood experience for young children to learn, grow, and that helps foster a sustainable culture in our community. Our school year typically begins in August and concludes in early June with additional camp programming (extended to age 8) offered during the summer and vacation breaks. We have two core programs:

• Our preschool program for children turning 2 or 3 on or before September 1.
• Our pre-kindergarten program for children turning 4 or 5 on or before September 1. (We are a State of Florida Voluntary Pre-K provider and offer state-subsidized care within the framework allowed by the state.)

In the spirit of our mission, we work to find a balance between affordable childcare for our community and establishing the tuition rates necessary to provide the caliber of education and experience you have come to expect from our school. Over the past year, we have completed a full strategic review of our school and are thrilled to announce we are coming off of this unique time period stronger than ever with an even more stellar program to offer your child(ren). Some of our renaissance comes in the form of enhanced teacher education and pursuit of certification. Some improvements are as simple as the addition of electronic invoices and billing with the option for ACH payments. We are investing in our teachers, our facility, our processes, and our educational product to best serve your child, your family, and the natural world.

Having previously mapped our school calendar to the county school district calendar, we now understand the families we serve are in need of care on a consistent year-round basis. We have heard this feedback and have modified our operations for the upcoming school year in order to best meet this need on a trial basis. In order to be open on those days, we need enough enrollment to offset the staffing minimums required to be open. Therefore, for those in our preschool program, tuition rates have been adjusted to ENCOMPASS those days. Since the state funding subsidies for our VPK program are structured very differently - and we are only compensated for the days your child is in attendance up to a maximum of 540 previously scheduled hours - there will be an additional, optional, charge for holiday coverage in the Pre-K program. Regardless of how the tuition is reflected,, this represents an additional 4 WEEKS OF CUMULATIVE EDUCATION AND CARE that we are committing to being open and available for your families. In further accommodation to your needs, we are endeavoring to return to a 7:30am opening and we are remaining open through 5:30pm to offer that full day coverage that many of the nearby preschools do not offer.

With the additional educational and care coverage we are offering, the educational experience we provide, and the rising expenses we have been facing, it is necessary for us to increase our tuition rates (for the first time in 4 years) in line with our value so we can continue to be a secure operation for our families and our teachers, for many years to come. Moving forward, we anticipate making small increases on a more regular basis to maintain pace with increasing expenses. To meet the center's needs in finding an equilibrium capable of breakeven, the staff and the board have rolled up their sleeves to reimagine our calendar and our tuition structure. When we put our new pricing apples to apples with comparable centers - taking into account the 204 school days with a potential of 10 hours a day of care - we are confident we are an excellent value.

For those in need, CECI continues to offer financial assistance in the form of a scholarship program, generously supported by the Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation and other sponsors. Scholarships are not guaranteed and you must complete an official application annually which is available for download in registration.

As we launch the 2021-2022 school year registration, we are offering priority to those families interested in 5 day a week care (both AM and full day) in order to accommodate as many full-time students, as possible. We will consider 2 day and 3 day students (when paired with a student of the alternating schedule) at the discretion of our director. With limitations on enrollment per class, we encourage you to register early!  You must pay your annual registration fee in order to finalize your registration and hold your spot. Those students desiring to register for the state-subsidized VPK program must submit their certificate, as well. We are standing by to address any other questions or concerns you may have! Tuition alone doesn't carry our school but your support and engagement does. Thank you for continuing to evangelize the wonders of our school and thank you for trusting us with your child's early learning!

Here's to a great year!
Kerra Pike & the Board of Directors