The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program:

• Is based on the quality components adopted for pre-kindergarten by the State Board of Education.
• Provides families in participating communities with a choice of quality pre-kindergarten options  in a school, child care center, Head Start, or nursery school.
• Increases access to quality pre-kindergarten to children and families throughout the commonwealth with a priority in at-risk communities.
• Builds on the work of the Pre-K Counts Public-Private Partnership for Educational Success, a three-year project funded by leading Pennsylvania foundations and supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

You are likely eligible for Pre-K Counts if:

• Your child is between the ages of 3 and 5 as required by your local school district.
• You meet required income guidelines. Your child’s eligibility to receive Pre-K Counts funding is based on your family’s size and income. To be eligible to receive Pre-K Counts funding, your total annual family income must be less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

For enrollment information (Daycare/Childcare, Traditional PreK/Preschool, School-Age) click on your desired location for contact information.

Then complete an enrollment application.

Early childhood education and learning programs, follow the Creative Curriculum®, and make sure that children learn the skills needed to be successful in school. Our centers provide a warm, caring and fun environment that stimulates their natural curiosity and encourages personal expression.

Children develop communication, reasoning and problem-solving skills through play, interaction with other children, and exploration of their environment. Early childhood education and learning programs help children grow physically, and mentally, while emphasizing and modeling the character development values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

Y programs are licensed by the Office of Child Development, PA Department of Public Welfare and meet YMCA of the USA Quality Check Standards.  Like a hotel rating system, Y programs are accredited by the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS program.  That’s important to you as a parent because you can be sure your kids are thriving in the highest quality learning environment with qualified, certified teachers who annually seek continuing education and certifications in CPR/First Aid, Water Safety, Fire Safety & Child Development.

All Y programs are Keystone 4 accredited. Each stars designation has its own research-based performance standards. These standards measure areas of childcare and education.

What you can expect from the quality rating is:

• Professional development and training for our teachers; half to two-thirds of the staff have completed or are enrolled in credentials or degrees
• Literacy activities including reading, story-telling and encouraging written and verbal communication
• Parent and community resources are used effectively in the quality delivery of the program
• Business, organizational and staff compensation practices are maximized
• A review of the program center by a nationally recognized environment rating scale that indicates a high quality score

Your child’s safety and security is our top priority and is achieved through established and practiced procedures. We take every precaution to insure safety for your child, including:

• Secure entry
• Frequent site inspections
• Maintenance of buildings, playgrounds and equipment

Healthy meals and snacks are the cornerstone of your child’s learning throughout the day. Smart food choices are taught and modeled by our staff such as drinking water and the importance of all four food groups.

Physical activity is an important part of every day at the Y. Large motor skills are developed through daily active play. Your child’s physical skills are individually strengthened through the use of the Y’s extensive facilities—including playgrounds, gyms, pools and more.

With loads of activity and learning, kids need time to recharge. Rest time is scheduled daily in calming environments with caring supervision.

The Meadville Family YMCA participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

The Non-Discrimination policy is below.

In accordance with Federal Civil Rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Civil Rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior credible activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.