Parent Handbook

If your child becomes ill at Kids USA Montessori, we will contact you right away. The child will be cared for separately from other students with close supervision until they are picked up. Parents are required to pick up their child within one hour of notification. Children may return only after being symptom-free for 24 hours without medication or with a doctor’s note confirming they are no longer contagious.

Yes, but only under specific conditions. Prescription medications must be in their original containers and not expired. Nonprescription meds must follow label instructions, and a doctor’s note is required if dosage details are unclear. Parents must complete a medication permission form, and all medications must go home at the end of each day. Medications given only once or twice daily should be administered at home.

Kids USA Montessori participates in the USDA Special Nutrition Program and provides cereal, baby food, iron-fortified formula, breakfast, lunch, and snacks at no extra cost. The school is nut-free and accommodates food allergies with a completed Food Allergy Emergency Plan from a healthcare provider. This plan must be on file before your child can attend, and any substitutions must be supported by a doctor’s note.

To enroll your child, all required forms must be completed and submitted at least three days prior to their start date. This includes enrollment forms, emergency authorization, physician’s statement, feeding preferences (if applicable), allergy plans, and more. Kids USA Montessori does not accept incomplete paperwork and will notify parents in writing about any policy changes.

In the event of a fire or emergency, staff follow a practiced protocol to ensure children’s safety. Teachers calmly announce, “Fire drill boys and girls; line up at the door, please,” a phrase familiar from monthly fire drills. Children are escorted outside to their designated meeting spot, as indicated on each classroom’s floor plan. Infants are placed into evacuation cribs, and headcounts are done using both the sign-in/out and transition sheets. Teachers do not attempt to fight fires unless it’s necessary to protect a child or enable a safe exit. Once outside, children remain supervised, away from fire or emergency vehicles, and hazards like ant hills or broken glass. The Director or fire department will provide further instructions regarding re-entry or off-site evacuation.

The same secure verification process used during regular pick-up times is followed at evacuation sites. Only individuals listed on the child’s enrollment form as authorized pick-up persons will be permitted to take a child home—and only after presenting a valid photo ID. This ensures the safety and accountability of every child, even in off-site situations.

During a fire or evacuation scenario, the Director sounds the alarm and checks each classroom to confirm everyone is out. The Assistant Director secures the emergency binder, announces, “I have the binder!” and assists the infant classrooms in evacuating. If the cook is not already part of the child/staff ratio and is present in the building, she assists the young toddler classroom. This team-based approach ensures that all children are quickly and safely evacuated with proper documentation in hand.

Kids USA Montessori offers a comfortable, private space with seating for mothers who wish to breastfeed their child. Parents are also welcome to provide expressed breast milk for their child, which can be served while the child is in our care. This ensures that all children receive the appropriate nourishment while respecting the preferences of their families.

As required by Texas State law, Kids USA Montessori staff are mandated to report any suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the police or Child Protective Services (CPS). Our staff receive annual training on recognizing and preventing abuse, and we actively engage in raising awareness about child safety through trainings, newsletters, and community partnerships. For any concerns about child abuse or neglect, we encourage parents to reach out to the National Parent Hotline at 1-855-427-2736 or call the Abuse & Neglect hotline at 1-800-252-5400.

Tuition is automatically set up via ACH draft, with the draft amount limited to your account balance. Families who prefer not to use ACH can pay by check or credit card if their payment is received before 6:00 am on Monday. If a payment is returned NSF, a $35 fee will be applied, and a $10 per day late fee is charged for non-payments. Additionally, a non-refundable annual registration fee is due at enrollment, and extra fees may apply during summer months or holidays for additional activities, such as a $200 per week fee for school-age children during summer.

Children are expected to be in attendance by 9:00 am daily to ensure they benefit from the full curriculum and daily routines. Parents must notify the front office by 8:30 am if their child will be absent; failure to do so incurs a $5 no-call penalty per occurrence, and full tuition is still due to reserve your child’s spot. At pickup, children must be signed in and out only by the custodial or designated individuals. Late pickups are subject to a $2 per minute penalty until the child is collected.

Parents at Kids USA Montessori are expected to maintain a positive and professional environment, ensuring that interactions—whether in person or in the classroom—are appropriate for young children. Confidentiality must be respected regarding all program information, including staff, children, and internal communications; sharing confidential details on social media or elsewhere can lead to disenrollment. In addition, parents should follow policies regarding referrals, timely communication of concerns, and staying informed by checking notices in folders or posted at the reception. These measures help maintain safety and an optimal learning atmosphere for every child.