Enrollment and Registration Timetable
Early January: An Open House for new families is held in early January. This is the first time that applications are made available for new families. Current Meekins Members and Alumni families are emailed a survey requesting their intention to re-enroll or withdraw for the following year. Current Meekins Members or Alumni families that do not return their survey by the mid-January due date will not have preferred status for registration over new families. Early February: The Membership Committee meets to compile class lists for the following school year. New families are notified of either their acceptance or wait list placement. Mid- February: Enrollment packets are sent to all families accepted for the following school year, which include instructions for finalizing enrollment and two Registration Form packets. A child's position in the school is only secured once two Enrollment Contracts and a check for the non refundable application fee (for current families only), plus the contract fee, plus a deposit of May tuition are received by the Membership Coordinator. Failure to return all forms and fees will result in forfeiture of the place in the class. Early March: The first Registration Forms packet is due. Failure to return all forms and fees will result in forfeiture of the place in the class. Early June: The second Registration Forms packet is due. Failure to return all forms and fees will result in forfeiture of the place in the class. May tuition is considered non-refundable after June 1 in the event of a withdrawal.
Withdrawal
Members who wish to withdrawal their child from school for any reason must provide a 30-day written notice to the Membership Coordinator, and pay all tuition fees for that 30-day period, as well as any fees that are in arrears. In such cases, the May deposit will be refunded (100%) if written notice of withdrawal is submitted and received by June 1. After June 1, any May tuition previously paid for the upcoming school year will not be returned either in part or in full (0% refund). If a child's notice of withdrawal is received on September 1 or after, then the full September tuition payment is still required.
Requests for waiver and/or reduction of the 30-day notice may be submitted to the Meekins Board of Directors. Likewise, if a family withdraws for medical reasons or other reasons beyond their control, they may submit a request for refund of the May deposit to the Board for consideration.
Background Checks for Parent Volunteers
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires background checks for every parent that participates at a cooperative preschool if they are counted in staff-to-child ratios, or are left alone with children. Our parent volunteers are included in staff-to-child ratios, and are left alone with children (taking them to the bathroom, in the hallway, on field trips, etc.). To comply with these requirements, Meekins needs three forms signed and on file before school starts. These forms include: a Sworn Disclosure Statement, a Criminal History Record check and a Child Protective Services check. Without these forms on file, the co-oping parent will not be allowed to participate in the classroom.
The Commonwealth of Virginia also requires two reference checks for every parent that participates at a cooperative preschool if they are counted in staff-to-child ratios, or are left alone with children. Our parent volunteers are included in staff-to-child ratios, and are left alone with children (taking them to the bathroom, in the hallway, on field trips, etc.). To comply with these requirements, reference-check forms attesting to the good character and reputation of each participating parent are required, and must be signed by two people other than spouses or relatives.
