BYU Child & Family Studies Laboratory Parent Handbook

Our philosophical foundation is based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children criteria set forth in Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC, 2020). We use current theory and research in child development to have children construct new ideas as they interact with their environment, peers, and teachers. They need repeated opportunities for hands-on lessons that allow them to touch, taste, think, talk, look, and listen.

Further, children benefit from a curriculum in which they take an active part in daily experiences that build off their social, cultural, and linguistic contexts. This is partly accomplished by teachers who establish a relationship with each child to better identify their unique learning needs. Understanding the child’s cultural context begins by working with our CFSL families to better understand a child’s interests and family dynamics.

Our goal is to model and foster a love of learning as we work to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of our students. This is accomplished through purposeful lessons that incorporate play to foster ‘self-regulation, language, cognitive, and social competencies’ (pg. 9). We document this throughout the year in our private electronic portfolio and regular email updates to ensure a rich connection between home and school.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice: A Position Statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Copyright © 2020 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap/contents.

• Train BYU students majoring in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Family and Consumer Science Education (FCSE) in appropriate teaching techniques for young children.
  
• Provide a developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten for children and parents.
  
• Encourage, facilitate, and conduct research with young children and families.

Amy’s AM Class Times: 8:15 - 10:45 am (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) 8:15 - 10:15am (Tuesday)
Amy’s PM Class Times: 12:30 - 3:00 pm (Monday - Thursday)

Dorie’s AM Class Times: 8:30 - 11:00 am (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) 8:30 - 10:30 am (Tuesday)
Dorie’s PM Class Times: 1:00 - 3:30 pm (Monday - Thursday)

Whitney's Kindergarten AM Times: 8:30 - 11:15am (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) 8:30 - 10:15am (Tuesday)
Whitney's Kindergarten PM Times: 12:45 - 3:30 pm (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) 12:45 - 2:30 pm (Tues)

Vision in Curriculum Planning

Teachers in the Lab

Because of this training opportunity, new teachers rotate into the labs after Christmas and after spring break. The head teacher remains constant and serves to bridge the gap between the old and new student teachers, thus ensuring a smooth transition for the children.

Daily Schedule

You can find our detailed daily schedules and learning plans, complete with curriculum goals and assessment strategies, posted in the observation booths each week.

Large Group and Small Group Work

Discovery Experiences/Centers

Literacy

Math

Assessment

Data is reviewed daily at the end of the day and then used to guide the creation of future lessons. In addition, we communicate with parents about their child’s progress in each area through pictures taken throughout the week and uploaded to a private, individual electronic portfolio. At the conclusion of the school year, each parent can download a digital portfolio documenting their child’s progress. Detailed information on how to set up, access, and download the portfolio will be emailed by the CFSL office.

FERPA - The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Classroom assessments will be used for planning purposes in the teacher-training courses affiliated with the practicum class in the lab school. BYU students remove identifying markers when items are used in their university courses. Children’s assessments are helpful as they work with their major professors to learn how to assess, plan, and teach to the individual needs of the students. BYU students in other university courses do not have access to the children nor any assessment data except what they are able to observe in an observation booth. Further, the booths are closed before and after school when assessment data is discussed.

Each classroom is equipped with cameras that is only used for research or training purposes. The Director gives permission to access cameras as needed such as when a student teacher needs to film their lesson. Prior to filming, parents will be asked to give written consent if research or additional class assignments require the use of classroom cameras. Documentation includes the purpose of the recording, who will see it, and when it will be destroyed. Should parents opt out of the research, CFSL staff will ensure the child is not in the video.

When the cameras or other electronic devices (i.e. iPad; phones) are used for training purposes, the video can only be accessed by the student and the university Professor associated with the training. Videos are deleted within 48 hours or at the conclusion of the semester, if needed for final grading.

Videos of the children are never shared publicly on any open source such as our website without written consent. You will see videos on our SeeSaw electronic program, which is a private, secure program that only is accessible by parents after receiving a secure invitation.

Lastly, in our registration materials, parents are asked to opt out of sharing directory information with other parents for carpool, birthday party invites, or play dates. Consent to share directory information can be given or removed at any point in the year by contacting the CFSL office. For any additional questions regarding your child’s FERPA rights, please see the BYU website. (https://enrollment.byu.edu/registrar/records-privacy-ferpa) Our children receive the same FERPA protection as our BYU students.

What is generally referred to as ‘discipline’ is referred to as ‘guidance’ in early childhood education circles. The word ‘guidance’ reminds us of the important principle that children are still learning and need to be guided. Many of the errors that children make at this age occur because they don’t understand the expectations or because they are still learning how to control their impulses. Thus, helping them correct their mistakes and learn what to do is just as important (if not more so) as learning what not to do.
 
Our age-appropriate lessons and clearly phrased instructions are the primary tool in preventing management issues. When a child is disruptive or unengaged, we look first to our curriculum to better meet their needs. Children are given positive reminders about the expectations in the classroom. Teachers guide them from a disruptive situation back into the class activity where they can be successful.

Teachers also assist children with emotional regulation strategies or problem-solving techniques when there is a disagreement with a friend or they are struggling to engage in an activity. The methods used show children how to express emotions in appropriate ways as we teach them how to rewind and make better choices next time. For example, a ‘care center’ in the classroom shows various emotional expressions and provides strategies such as basic yoga, ‘cranky cream’ (lotion), or stress balls to work out their frustration prior to tackling a tough situation. These strategies show children what they can do as well as help children better understand what is not acceptable such as hitting to get what they want.

It is common for young children to show verbal or physical aggression when they're frustrated. This might include things like biting, hitting, kicking, throwing objects, pushing, or having a tantrum.

We sincerely want all children to succeed while making sure everyone stays emotionally and physically safe. When children show these behaviors, our staff guides them towards better ways to cope with strategies such as visiting the care center, getting a drink of water, or taking a short walk down the hall. However, if a situation involves serious injury or if a child repeatedly shows a pattern of aggressive behavior to others, we take extra steps to ensure the safety of all the children which could include temporarily removing a child from the class.

The CFSL work with the parent(s) of a child exhibiting severe aggressive or a pattern of behavior that repeatedly jeopardizes the health and safety of other children or staff members to create an action plan to reduce unsafe behavior. For purposes of this section, a “pattern of aggressive behavior” means the same type of aggressive actions happening again and again even after we've tried to help the child find better ways to handle their frustration.

If the plan is not working to reduce aggressive behavior, the CFSL may place a child on probation with certain conditions, suspend the child from the program for a period of time, or rescind the child’s enrollment status in the program. If a child is suspended or dismissed from the program, tuition already paid will not be refunded, but no additional tuition will be required during the period of suspension or after dismissal.

We recognize the critical role that families play in the educational process. When good communication between home and school exists, it positively impacts the child's experience at school. Our CFSL teachers value parent involvement so their efforts with the child are not an isolated part of the child’s experience. Knowing and understanding the social and cultural background of the child helps us better plan lessons to connect to their world. Whether it's through conversations during drop off and pick up, emails, or parent-teacher conferences, both teachers and parents can exchange information that truly benefits the child's growth in every way.

Parent Input

Seesaw Portfolios

Parent Volunteers

Booths are also used by university classes where BYU students can see how young children interact with their peers or observe ‘best teaching practices’ from CFSL staff. University students do not have contact with the children at any time nor are they allowed outside during recess.

Sick Children

• gives evidence of a cold (sore throat, runny nose, cough and frequent sneezing)
• has discharge from the eyes or ears
• has a rash
• has a temperature over 99 degrees
• has an upset stomach or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• when any other family member has a contagious disease which the child has not had (such as measles, chicken pox, etc.). The child should be kept home during the incubation period as directed by the physician.

Please call our main office at 801-422-3219 to let us know when your child will not be attending due to illness so we can share with concerned friends and teachers. In the event that your child becomes ill at school, you will be notified immediately, with the child made as comfortable as possible until he/she can be picked up.

Health - Immunizations

https://immunize.utah.gov/utah-immunization-rule/#:~:text=R396%2D100%2D3.,-Required%20Immunizations.&text=(2)%20A%20student%20born%20after,%2C%20Rubella%2C%20and%20Hepatitis%20B.

Lastly, please provide emergency contact names and phone numbers of someone local in case of an emergency and we cannot reach you. These are only used if repeated texts, emails, and phone calls do not reach either parent.

Medication

We keep a written record of the time and amount of medicine administered. This is given to parents at pick up and will also be kept in our CFSL files. The lab school is not authorized to administer over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.

Snacks

Allergies

• The Head Teacher reviews allergies with all support teachers to ensure each are aware of what the allergy is, what an allergic reaction looks like and what should be done should a child encounter something they are allergic to.
  
• If a child has a food allergy, a sticker is placed on the child’s name tag indicating the food allergy source. This is a visual reminder to all teachers not to give a child any type of food made with that item to that child.
  
• Parents provide the Head Teacher a list of foods the child cannot eat. The list is posted in the classroom to be referred to prior to feeding any child with an allergy.
  
• Parents can make prior arrangements with the head teacher to send replacement snacks if they are unable to eat items such as fruit snacks, granola bars, cheese sticks, crackers, or apple sauce.
  
• Food that is brought from home for special allergy purposes is labeled and stored in the classroom or in the pantry separate from the other snack items used.
  
• Our school is a peanut free environment due to the seriousness of many children’s allergies to such food products. Teachers keep food allergies in mind when planning lessons that involve food.

Injuries/Accidents

If the injury is not serious (minor cuts, scrapes, etc.), we will treat it with a band-aid or ice and fill out an “owie form”. This form will be given to you at the end of the day explaining the injury, how it happened, and how the child reacted. The teacher that saw the accident and/or who took care of the child afterwards will sign the bottom. Any questions can be directed to your Head Teacher.

Our CFSL policies to protect children, staff, and families are:

1. Employ an adequate number of qualified staff to provide appropriate supervision of children. Our ratio of 1:4 (preschool) and 1:5 (kindergarten) ensures that children are never alone with an adult or without supervision. This allows teachers to better recognize signs or changes in behavior that may indicate the possibility of abuse.

2. The CFSL has an 'open-door policy' where any parent is welcome to come unannounced into the classroom or observation booths. Non-parent visitors are only allowed in the observation booths to limit unauthorized access to the children.

3. Both indoor and outdoor areas are designed to reduce the possibility of private, hidden locations in which abuse may occur. All classroom and outdoor spaces are regarded as public, while providing opportunities for solitude yet "unobtrusive adult supervision".

4. Per the University's Minor Protection policy: "One-on-one interactions are individual interactions (whether in person or through electronic communication or other means) between one adult and one minor in a manner that is not clearly visible to another adult in the immediate vicinity. Adults should avoid one-on-one interactions. Where avoiding one-on-one interactions is not feasible, the adult should take reasonable precautions to eliminate the risk of improper contact, such as:
   
   1. Providing a well-illuminated, easily accessible space or room observable by other adults; and/or
      
   2. Providing prior written notification to the adult’s supervisor and the parent/guardian. (https://minorprotection.byu.edu/one-on-one-interactions-avoided)

   Should a child need to be removed from the classroom, they are taken into the hallway or main office so a second adult is always present to witness the interaction.

5. Access to the facility is controlled by requiring all non-parent visitors to check in at the CFSL office. They may enter the observation booth but may not access the classrooms without being escorted by staff. Non-parent visitors are not allowed to observe on the playground.

6. All BYU students assigned to the lab or hired to work in a classroom are supervised in the observation booth and/or classrooms by the CFSL Director and Head Teachers throughout the day.

7. We encourage "warm, responsive touches [that] convey regard and concern for children of any age such as pats on the back or hugs. These must be "welcomed by the children and appropriate to their individual characteristics and cultural experience."
   
   1. Teachers should refrain from playing with their hair, lying on the floor/ground; carrying children; rubbing their backs, rubbing their arms, etc.
      
   2. Children sit beside teachers and not laps at the carpet unless directed to do so by the Head Teacher. This ensures the teacher is able to help manage the entire class rather than focused solely on the child in the lap.
      
   3. Should there be a need to physically touch a child, teachers must be in sight of another adult and have permission from the Head Teacher so they know what they can and cannot do with each child. This allows for developmental needs to guide this interaction and shows respect to each child. This also protects the staff member from accusations - and is for the safety of all.

8. Children are only released to parents, legal guardians or those persons authorized in writing. Staff check identification against the list of approved adults to pick up a child when authorized individuals are unfamiliar to them.

9. To ensure the safety of children and staff, the following must be successfully completed prior to their first day with children:
   
   1. A background and fingerprint check
      
   2. Yearly BYU ecclesiastical clearance
      
   3. Self-disclosure document that requires notification of previous convictions. Failure to fully disclose previous convictions are automatic grounds for dismissal.
      
   4. Approval of BYU Risk Management through their registration system

10. Teachers always look at all classroom doors to avoid children leaving at any point in the day without an adult.

11. Teachers continually re-count throughout the day and at major transition times (leaving and coming back from recess; small group to whole group, etc.) to ensure all children are accounted for.

12. The children go outside every day unless the air quality is bad or is extremely cold. In these instances, recess is held inside. Unless prior arrangements have been made between the Head Teacher and a parent, all children are expected to go outside for recess every day.

13. A teacher always goes outside before or with the children. All areas on the playground are supervised by a teacher. One adult is always stationed near the class door to help children who need to get a drink of water or go to the bathroom. The teacher assigned to be in the classroom during recess supervises the child(ren) while inside.

Duty to Report Abuse:

A person does not need tangible proof to have a duty to report abuse under Utah law—a duty arises when there is reason to believe abuse is occurring or occurred.

BYU personnel, volunteers, contractors, and students who have knowledge of and fail to report or to cooperate in an investigation of abuse may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and dismissal from the university. The university will seek to preserve the confidentiality of the reporting party, provided that it does not interfere with the university’s ability to investigate and take corrective action and is not prohibited by law. Retaliation against a person who has filed a complaint of abuse is a violation of this policy, and the retaliating person may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and dismissal from the university, depending on the circumstances and severity of the retaliation. Encouraging others to retaliate also violates this policy.

Incidents of Sexual Abuse or Sexual Exploitation of a Minor on campus or in a University Program should also be reported to the university’s Title IX coordinator, who ensures that university policies and procedures for investigating these complaints are followed and, if appropriate, disciplinary procedures are initiated.

https://minorprotection.byu.edu/parents
https://minorprotection.byu.edu/policies-and-procedures

The following are excerpts from the NAEYC position statement on the "Prevention of Child Abuse in Early Childhood Programs and the Responsibilities of Early Childhood Professionals to Prevent Child Abuse" that the CFSL draws on for their beliefs and procedures:

"We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of children. Child abuse violates children’s health and safety and betrays their trust. Child abuse is defined as any non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child for which there is no ‘reasonable’ explanation (National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse 1995) and includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse."

"We are committed to promoting children’s safety, healthy development, and learning."

We "deplore child abuse in any form in any setting and believe that all early childhood professionals, families, and communities must be vigilant in protecting children from all forms of abuse."

In the interest of your child’s security, we require that a parent or responsible adult (16 years or older) pick up your child. If more than one person is authorized to pick up your child, please include their names and phone numbers on the registration document filled out at the beginning of the year. Additional names can be added by emailing cfsl@byu.edu or calling the office at 801-422-3219.

Because we cannot release your child to an individual not on their pick-up list, please call the office for last minute changes. Should someone attempt to pick up your child who is not on the list, we will call parents. If a parent is out of town, we will then only release the child to those on the approved list of carpool or emergency contact. 

If there are special instructions and/or restrictions regarding individuals not allowed to pick up your child, please provide that information in writing to the Director. 

Check-In and Out Procedure

Parking

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory (CFSL) has been assigned 16 stalls that are located perpendicular to our playground. Approximately 60 children are enrolled in all our morning and afternoon sessions to utilize those 16 stalls. Class times have been staggered as much as possible and each class has a 10-minute pickup window at the end of the school session to ensure there are enough stalls for all cars.

Each day the playground gate will be unlocked for drop-off and pickup. The gate will remain locked during classroom times to maintain a safe and secure environment for the children as well as limit others in the BYU community from using this private entrance. Please do not hand children or hop over the gate. If the gate is closed, please enter the main building and proceed down the west hallway to enter the main CFSL office.

Parking Procedures: Please see the parking procedures listed on our website.

Playground Use

Grievance

Research

Preschool Tuition

Kindergarten Tuition

Refund Policy

Should you need to withdraw from our program at some future point, please notify the office in writing so that we may work to find a replacement. When that replacement is found, you will be financially obligated for the prorated amount of tuition based on the starting date of the replacement. Any surplus tuition will be refunded to the original payment method. If a replacement is not found, it is anticipated that the full tuition amount will still be paid regardless of if your child attends or not.

We do not charge late fees for tuition received from the 1^st through the 10^th of each month. Any payment received on or after the 11^th day is charged a $25 late fee. Several reminder notices will be emailed and phone calls made to encourage tuition be paid prior to charging a late fee. Please note that failure to pay your tuition does not release you from your tuition obligation.

*See Guidance section for tuition policy when a child’s enrollment has been rescinded.   

Paying Tuition

1. Click on the following link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/webcfsl
2. Please click on the “Child & Family Studies Laboratory” and fill in the information requested.
3. Add in the amount you would like to pay toward your child(ren)’s tuition at that time.
4. Select the program your payment applies to and then select “Add to cart.”
5. Select the cart image in the top corner and enter in your payment information to complete your payment.

If there is a fire in our building or any other type of emergency, a fire alarm will sound. When this occurs, the children are immediately evacuated to the playground area. This provides the children with a familiar, safe, contained space where we can count them and keep them safe until we can ascertain the actual emergency. Under NO circumstances are you to enter our building when this alarm rings. Know that your child is safe in the playground area.

If you come and the alarm is sounding, our teachers will bring your child to you. If an actual emergency occurs more than one hour before your scheduled pick-up time, you will be notified; otherwise, the children will be kept safe on the playground until your regularly scheduled pick-up time. Should the playground be judged unsafe, the children will be evacuated across the street to meet at the gazebo by the stairs leading to the Smith Fieldhouse. This meeting location allows the children to be a safe distance from the building but also separate from the other people evacuating from the JFSB. If the safety of the children warrants further distance from the building, children will be taken down the stairs to the Smith Fieldhouse parking lot where parents will be notified through the Remind texting program and phone calls to pick them up at that location. The purpose in this meeting location is to allow for parents to have quick and easy access in picking up their child in the event of an emergency in the JFSB.

If there are any other emergency situations that would prevent parents from gaining access to campus from the north end of campus, the children will be escorted to the Smith Fieldhouse as outlined above.

Clothing

Toys

Birthdays

Parties: Please be mindful that if birthday invitations are brought into the classroom with your child, we respectfully request that everyone in the class be invited. It can hurt feelings if invitations are handed out to some and not all. If that is not conducive to your needs, you are welcome to request parent contact information from the CFSL office for those in your child’s class to make outside arrangements with individual children and parents.

Field Trips

If off-campus field trips are taken, BYU students drive BYU vans to and from the location. BYU students complete the required university trainings to allow them to drive these vehicles. At least 2 CFSL staff are in each van to ensure the children are safe. The CFSL provides car seats for each child. Your head teacher will request written permission prior to any field trip so you are aware of the details of each trip. You are welcome to meet us at the location if you prefer to drive your own child.

Weapons

https://policy.byu.edu/view/firearms-and-weapons-policy