Beating the System

(…and you thought applying to college was tough!)

By Sarah Markel

The teenager behind the counter at REI raised a pierced eyebrow at Kathy Mimberg. “Wow, that must be some preschool,” he said, dubiously surveying the collection of long underwear, thermal socks, hand packs and a sub-zero sleeping bag she had chosen. Mimberg, 39, was preparing for a night standing in line outside her dream preschool, Beverley Hills in Alexandria.

There was only one available slot in the twos, and she wanted it for her son Matthew. But when her husband arrived at the school at midnight to begin his shift, he wasn’t alone. There was another dad in line. And he had a tent!

Every winter parents of toddlers across the region begin the arduous process of getting their tykes into preschool. For the uninitiated, it’s hard to believe what people will go through for something the kids are unlikely to even remember. Tears, shouting, begging, bribes; preschool directors have seen it all. There is a way, however, through the madness.

Think Ahead
Don’t wait. As absurd as it sounds, start planning for preschool during infancy. Survey the local schools, schedule tours for the October of the year before your child is likely to start. Find out the admissions procedures. Lottery? First come, first served? Application? There are advantages and disadvantages to each.

If you are thinking of moving, take the preschool possibilities into account so you don’t find yourself driving back to your old neighborhood three days a week. Most importantly, keep an open mind and develop several options that you can legitimately live with. No one wants to be the mommy who cries when her number isn’t drawn at the lottery.

Network. Hard.
Extroverts have the advantage here. Get out there and talk to preschool directors, parents and teachers. Ask the tough questions. Find out if there are alternative methods of getting into a preschool. Some church preschools give preference to children of church members. Others actively seek to create populations of children from diverse backgrounds and with various abilities. Many look to balance classes in terms of gender.

Create a Back-Up Plan
Even if you don’t get into your dream preschool on the first try, stay on the waiting list. There is often a lot of movement in August. It could mean forfeiting any deposits already made to another school.

Typically preschool classes get progressively larger, and thus easier to get into, as children age. Families with more than one child can work this to their advantage by transferring into their first choice school when their eldest child is 4. That way the younger siblings have priority for the future.

For Kathy Mimberg things worked out. The guy with the tent? He was looking for a place in the threes. Mimberg knows she was lucky. The following year the school switched to a lottery system. “For all the planning, it’s still about chance,” she mused. “At some point you just have to let go and see what your options are.”

Financial Aid
Not Just For Colleges Anymore

By Lexi Gray Andrews

Some parents begin storing away money for college before their children have uttered their first words. New parents may be shocked to learn, however, that in Virginia, child-care costs hover between $7,000 and $9,500 annually, while the average annual cost of a state university is only about $6,500.

Needless to say, child-care costs quickly rise to the top of parents’ financial planning priorities. Although they might not be as publicized as higher education funds, monetary resources do exist. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look.

Preschool Scholarships
Though they may not be widely publicized, many Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., preschools offer scholarship programs. Parents should consult with the preschool’s administration to discover the scholarship opportunities and request a scholarship application.

School-Age Child Care (SACC)
SACC, which encourages experiential learning, leisure time interests and field trips, provides after-school care for school-age children and charges fees on a sliding scale based on family income. For example, the monthly rate for one child in the program is only $269 per month for a family earning $50,000 or more. That’s a yearly total of only $3,228—far less than average. For more information or to register, call 703-449-8989.

Employer Benefits
Some employers provide child-care support for working parents, such as tax-free spending accounts, vouchers to help pay for child care and on-site child-care centers. Check with your employer’s human resources office to see what may be available to you and your family.

Child-Care Subsidies
Child-care subsidies help pay part of the cost of child care. Eligibility is determined based on income, reasons for needing day care and the child’s age. Apply through your county’s Department of Social Services.

Government Tax Credits
Some parents can deduct part of child-care costs from state and federal tax returns. Regardless of income level, all parents who pay child-care costs for at least one child under age 13 and need child care to enable them to work should qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit of up to $1,440. Parents must file a tax return to receive this benefit, though itemization is not required.

Child-Care Assistance and Referral
The Child Care Assistance and Referral (CCAR) program provides financial assistance for child care to low- and moderate-income families who are working or who are in education or training programs and need assistance with paying for the cost of child care. To apply or get more information, call 703-449-8484.

(January 2008)

Tags: admission, Education, financial aid, Top preschools