Project Excel Program Handbook

Parent, Student & Staff Handbook

The Pontiac School District and Project Excel do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, height, weight, or disability in its programs and activities. It is the policy of the School District of the City of Pontiac that no person shall be discriminated against when applying on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin or ancestry, handicap, sex, or belief. No person shall be excluded from participation and be denied of benefits, or be subjected to discrimination under any Project Excel program or activity on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Further, the School District of the City of Pontiac's Board of Education strictly adhere to provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Michigan Department of Education policies and regulations prohibition discrimination.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Associate Superintendent of Human Resources 47200 Woodward Avenue, Pontiac, MI 48342 248.451.6800.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT & REGISTRATION ENROLLMENT & ACCEPTANCE

1. Returning students from the previous year in good standing;
2. Siblings of students from the previous year in good standing
3. Recruitment from District-Wide Open House;
4. Teacher and/or administration recommendation; and
5. Written or verbal notification of acceptance of the program*

Program Policies & Procedures

• (1) The ratio of caregivers to school-age children present at all times shall be based upon all of the following provisions:
  • (a) For children school-age up to 12 years of age, there shall be 1 caregiver to 18 children or a fraction thereof, including children who are related to the staff and the licensee.
  • (b) For children from 13 to 17 years of age, there shall be 1 caregiver for 25 children or a fraction thereof, including children who are related to the staff and the licensee.

• Program Information
• Child Care licensing Information
• Building Information
• Student Information
• Staff/Volunteer Information

• Step 1: The Site Coordinator will address the behavior and/or discipline issue to the student and develop a plan of action that will enable the student to correct the behavior. This will be considered a verbal warning. The plan will be documented and will be documented in the student's file.  
• Step 2: The Site Coordinator will address the continuing behavior and/or discipline issue to the student and develop an agreed written plan of action that will enable the student to correct the behavior. This will be considered a written warning and may result in program suspension. The plan will be sent home for parent written notification and will be documented in the student's file.
• Step 3: The Site Coordinator will discuss the continuing behavior and/or discipline issue to the parent(s) and/or guardian(s), and if need be with the Program Director. The Site Coordinator will make the final decision and recommendation to either terminate the student or to secure another plan of action.

• First offense-remind parent/guardian of policy and consequences
• Second offense-parent/guardian must schedule meeting with Project Excel Site Coordinator
• Third offense-suspension from the program.

• Change of name, address, email or phone number
• The addition or deletion of spouse or family member on student's application
• The addition or deletion of an adult, guardian, or family member from the list of Emergency Contact Persons

1. Snacks and meals shall be provided by the center, except when 1 of the following circumstances occurs: (a) A majority of the children are in attendance less than 4 hours. (b) Food is provided by a parent.
2. Food provided by the center shall be of sufficient quantity and nutritional quality to provide for the dietary needs of each child according to the minimum meal requirements of the child and adult care food program as administered by the Michigan Department of Education based on 7 C.F.R. Part 226, 1-1-05 edition, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Child and Adult Care Food Program and is hereby adopted by reference. A copy can be obtained at no charge on the internet at: www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/CACFP/cacfphome.htm, or Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 30650, Lansing, Michigan, 48909
3. A child shall be served meals and snacks in accordance with the following schedule:
   • (a) Four hours to 6 hours of operation: a minimum of 1 meal and 1 snack.
   • (b) Seven hours to 10 hours of operation: a minimum of 1 meal and 2 snacks, or 2 meals and 1 snack.
   • (c) Eleven hours or more of operation: a minimum of 2 meals and 2 snacks.
4. The center shall assure that a child is not deprived of a snack or meal if the child is in attendance at the time when the snack or meal is served.
5. Menus shall be planned in advance, shall be dated, and shall be posted in a place visible to parents. Food substitutions shall be noted on the menus.
6. The center shall assure that a child with special dietary needs is provided with snacks and meals in accordance with the child’s needs and with the instructions of the child’s parent or a licensed physician.
7. Adequate staff shall be provided so that food service activities do not detract from direct care and supervision of children.

• Topical nonprescription medication, including, but not limited to diapering cream, triple antibiotic, sunscreen, and insect repellent, requires written parental authorization annually.

• Have a single service towel available
• Turn on the water to a comfortable temperature between 60 degrees and 120 degrees.
• Moisten hands with water and apply soap.
• Rub hands together vigorously until a soapy lather appears and continue to rub for at least 30 seconds.
• Rub areas between finger, around nail beds, under fingernails, and jewelry, and back of hand.
• Rise hands under running water until free of soap and dirt. Leave water running while drying hands.
• Dry hands with a clean, disposable paper or single use cloth. Turn off tap with disposable paper or single service towel.

• Staff will put on gloves. • Clean up bodily fluid/diaper.
• Wash areas with soap and water, rinse, and sanitize areas.
• Wash hands of child.
• Take off gloves and wash hands.

• Wash area/surface with warm water and soap/detergent.
• Rinse area/surface with clean water.
• Submerge, wipe, or spray the article or surface with a sanitizing solution.
• Let area/surface air dry.

1.  All program directors, site supervisors, and caregivers shall complete 16 clock hours of professional development annually on topics relevant to job responsibilities, including, but not limited to: 
   • Child development and learning
   • Health, safety and nutrition
   • Family and community collaborations
   • Program management • Teaching and learning
   • Observation, documentation, and assessment
   • Interactions and guidance
   • Professionalism
   • Child care center administrative rules.
2. Each caregiver, site supervisor, and program director shall complete blood-borne pathogen training before unsupervised contact with children.
3.  Each staff member shall be trained at least twice a year on his or her duties and responsibilities for all emergency procedures referenced in R400.8161(1).
4.  All program directors, lead caregivers, and at least one caregiver on duty in the center at all times in programs serving preschool children and younger shall have current first aid (every three years) and infant, child, and adult CPR training (every year). All program directors, site supervisors, and at least one caregiver on duty in the center at all times in programs serving only school-age children shall have current first aid (every three years) and child and adult CPR training (every year).
5. Infant and Toddler teachers will complete infant safe sleep training and shaken baby training.
6. All staff hired after January 2, 2014, will be provided an orientation of the center’s policies and practices, and the child care administrative rules before unsupervised contact with children.

1. A volunteer shall not have unsupervised contact with children in care if he or she has been convicted of either of the following: (a) Child abuse or child neglect. (b) A felony involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of offering to volunteer at the child care center.
2.  A volunteer shall provide the child care center with documentation from the Department of Health and Human Services that he or she has not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect before having unsupervised contact with a child in care. (3) Each child care center shall establish and maintain a written policy regarding supervision of volunteers, including volunteers who are parents of a child in care.

1. The center shall have on file a report, signed by a licensed physician, for each staff member and each volunteer who has contact with children at least 4 hours per week for more than 2 consecutive weeks. This report shall declare, to the best of the physician’s knowledge, the physical capability of the staff member or volunteers to perform the duties required. The report shall be signed not more than 6 months before, or 30 days after, the start of employment.
2.  The center shall have on file evidence that each staff member and each volunteer who has contact with children at least 4 hours per week for more than 2 consecutive weeks is free from communicable tuberculosis, verified within 1 (one) year before employment.