School Year Program Frequently Asked Questions (Parent Handbook)

What is the cost for the Before and After School Program?
Depending on your district, morning tuition ranges from $5.50-$9.50 per day and afternoon tuition ranges from $10-15.50 per day. There is also a flexible schedule option for families whose attendance is not consistent. This flex option is offered at $4 per day over part-time rates. Please see your own district's registration form on this website for detailed costs in your district.

What is the cost for full-day teacher In-Service Days?
There is a $33 per day charge for each teacher in-service day. On these days we operate a full-day program from 7 AM - 6 PM. Field trips will be billed additionally if applicable.

What are the program's hours?
  • Our before and after school program operates from 7:00 AM until the beginning of the school day and after school until 6:00 PM.
  • In South Fayette, our K-Plus program operates an AM session from 9:00 AM-12:45 PM and a PM session from 11:40 AM - 3:20 PM.
  • In Upper St. Clair, our K-Plus program operates an AM session from 8:00 AM-11:45 PM and a PM session from 11:00 AM - 2:45 PM.
  • In all districts, on in-service days, we operate full-day programs from 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

    • On which days does the program operate?
    Our program operates during school days, teacher in-service days and early dismissal days from the first day of school through the last day of school. On days when school is delayed due to snow, the programs will begin at 9:00 AM and will operate an extended morning program until the start of the school day.
  • Our program does not operate during school holidays, vacations, or days when school has been canceled due to snow.

    What if school is delayed due to snow?
    If the school day is delayed, our program will also be delayed and will operate from 9:00 AM until school begins. However, if the school day is delayed and then canceled later that morning, the program will notify the child's parent or emergency contact to come pick up the child.

    What if school is delayed due to a teacher In-Service late start day?
    In some school districts, school is delayed for 2 hours once a month for teacher in-service hours. On these days, if your child is nomally registered in the morning on this day, then he/she may attend the extended morning program. The program will run for an additional 2 hours until the beginning of the school day. There will be an additional charge of $7 for the additional 2 hours.

    How do I sign-up my child for full-day teacher In-Service days?
    If you would like your child to attend any of our full-day in-service days, simply reply to the email invitation that you will receive 2 weeks prior to each In-Service day. Please be aware that it you sign-up your child for a particular In-Service day, you will be required to pay for the day regardless of whether your child attends.

    What should my child bring on full-day teacher In-Service days?
    Our program operates from 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM on teacher in-service days. Any items from home necessary for field trips (i.e. a packed lunch) will be listed in the monthly newsletter.

    What if school is dismissed early due to Open House or Teacher In-Service?
    On district-planned early dismissal days, we operate our after school program from the time of dismissal until 6:00 PM. There is an additional cost of $7 for the extra hours. There is no PM K-Plus on early dismissal days.

    What if my child is going to be absent?
    If your child attends the morning session and will not be attending on a day he or she is scheduled to attend, please notify the program on or before the morning of the absence.

  • If your child attends the AM or PM K-Plus program and will not be attending on a day he or she is scheduled to attend, please notify the program on or before the morning of the absence.
  • If your child attends the afternoon session and will not be attending the program on a day he or she is scheduled to attend, please notify the program no later than 2:00 PM on the day of the intended absence. Please call your child's EDS school at the following phone numbers:
    • EDS - Baker Elementary School: (412) 851-2825
    • EDS - Eisenhower Elementary School: (412) 831-6359
    • EDS - Streams Elementary School: (412) 851-2827
    • EDS - Bower Hill Elementary School: (724) 941-5451
    • EDS - McMurray Elementary School: (724) 941-5500
    • EDS - Pleasant Valley Elementary School: (724) 941-5525
    • EDS - South Fayette Elementary School: (724) 693-9767
    • EDS - Chartiers Valley Primary School: (412) TBA
    • EDS - Chartiers Valley Intermediate School: (412) TBA

    Our voice mail answers 24 hours a day. If we do not receive notice that your child will be absent on an afternoon that he or she is scheduled to attend, you will be charged a $10 no call fee.

    Afternoon dismissal is hectic and children who do not report to us when they are scheduled to do so, alarm everyone. If we have not received notice of absence, and the child does not report to the program, we will attempt to locate the child in the building during dismissal. We will then attempt to contact the child's parent or emergency contact. We cannot allow children to go anywhere but to the program if they are scheduled to be with us and we have not been notified by a parent or authorized guardian. We must enforce this policy for the safety of all the children.

    What is the procedure for dropping off my child in the morning?
    Each parent or authorized guardian is responsible for signing in each child to the EDS room in the elementary school in the mornings.

  • Children attending the AM K-Plus may arrive on the school bus or may be dropped off by their parents. Please let us know how your child will be arriving at the program.

    What is the procedure for picking up my child in the afternoon?
    Each parent or authorized guardian is responsible for signing out each child from the EDS room in the elementary school in the afternoons.

  • Children attending the PM K-Plus program may ride the school bus home or may be picked up by their parents or may stay for the afternoon extended day program. Please let us know how your child will be going home.

    What if I am going to be late to pick up my child?
    Parents must pick up their children no later than 6:00 PM. If the parent is unable to pick up the child by 6:00 PM, the parent should notify the individual designated for emergency pick up. Parents will be charged $10 for every 15 minutes beyond 6:00 PM. The child's emergency contact will be phoned at 6:30 PM if the parents have not contacted the program.

    Who may pick up my child?
    Only those individuals authorized on the child's enrollment form may pick up a child. If a parent would like someone other than those individuals listed on the enrollment form to pick up his/her child, the parent has two options:

  • The parent must send a signed note with the child or give the person who will be picking up the child a signed note, or
  • The parent must call the program earlier in the day, notify the program of the change and supply the child's password as listed on the enrollment form.

    What is the morning procedure for reporting to classrooms or school buses?
    Children are dismissed to their classrooms directly from the EDS room in the mornings.

  • Children attending AM K-Plus will be escorted to their classrooms after lunch.

    What is the afternoon procedure for reporting to the program?
    Children attending the program are dismissed from their classrooms and report directly to the EDS room in the afternoon. Children should bring all of their belongings including outer clothes, lunch boxes, books etc.

    Should my child bring anything from home?
    Children need tennis shoes and comfortable clothing for athletic activities. The program provides all sports equipment and other materials needed for projects. If items are brought from home, the program cannot be responsible for their loss or damage.

  • The program attempts to spend some time each day outside if the weather permits and the temperature is 32 degrees or above. Please send hats, gloves, and boots (if appropriate).

    Can my child eat breakfast at the program?
    Children may bring breakfast from home if parents wish them to eat breakfast at the program. If your child attends a school where breakfast is served, your child may take part in the breakfast program.

    Is there an afternoon snack?
    The program provides an afternoon snack for the children before 5:00 PM.

    How will conflicts and disruptive behavior be handled?
    When conflicts develop between children, program staff will listen to the children, and help to resolve the conflict through effective communication.

    How will serious or continued conflicts be handled?
    Serious conflicts will be handled in the following incremental manner:

  • A child may not be allowed to participate in the particular activity where conflict exists for a designated period of time or the child may be asked to write an apology.
  • If the conflict continues, a conference with the child's parents will be scheduled to discuss options for solving the conflict.
  • If the conflict does not resolve, a contingency (behavior) contract will be designed with input from the parents, teachers and child on a daily basis.
  • If the conflict persists, the child will serve an on-site detention. Prior to the detention, the child's parents will be notified of the date and amount of time to be served in detention.
  • If the conflict still persists, parents may be asked to keep the child out of the program for a designated period of time.
  • If the conflict still exists and the staff considers it unresolvable and detrimental to the program or to other children, the parents will be directed to remove the child from the program.
  • Serious conflicts, as determined by the director, may be handled by immediately directing the parents to remove the child from the program.

    What is considered a serious conflict?
    Serious conflicts include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • A child presenting danger to others or self.
  • A child unable to conform to the program's rules of respecting other people and other people's property.
  • A child whose behavior is disruptive to the group and whose behavior demands an inappropriate amount of the staff's attention.

    Under what conditions may I not send my child to the program?
    Parents may not send a child to the program if:

  • The child has a strep throat which has not been treated by an antibiotic for a minimum of 24 hours
  • The child has any rash of acute onset associated with fever or symptoms of illness
  • The child has an oral temperature of 100 degrees or greater
  • The child has had persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea in the 12 hours prior to coming to the program
  • The child has impetigo that has not been treated by an antibiotic for a minimum of 24 hours.
  • If a child is diagnosed with a contagious disease, the child will require a statement from the doctor indicating that the disease is no longer communicable upon return to the program.

    Under what conditions will I be contacted and my child be sent home due to illness?
    Children who develop any of the following conditions while at the program will be sent home:

  • Oral temperature of 100 degrees or greater
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Uncontrollable or persistent cough
  • Appearance of acute illness or complaint of severe pain. A staff member will notify the parent of a child's illness. If a parent cannot be reached, the child's emergency contact will be notified to pick up the child. It is expected that the child will be picked up as soon as possible. Until the parent arrives the child will be excluded from activities with other children and will rest quietly under the supervision of a staff member.

    Can I send medication with my child?
    Prescription medication will be given to a child only if the medication is in the original bottle bearing the child's name, the doctor's name, a current date, and directions for administration. The parent must send a signed note with the child authorizing the staff to dispense the medication. Parents must sign in all medications on the medication log.

  • Non-prescription medication will be given to a child only if accompanied by written instructions and written consent from the parent.

    How will an accident or medical emergency be handled if it occurs?
    If an accident or medical emergency occurs, the staff member in charge will:

  • Administer the necessary first aid immediately,
  • Call an ambulance if the child's injury requires emergency room treatment,
  • Call the parent or emergency contact (if the parent cannot be reached),
  • Stay with the child at the hospital until the parent or emergency contact arrives.

    What is the registration fee?
    The discounted registration fee is $35 per child. After the discounted registration period is closed, the registration fee is $45 per child. Registration fees are non-refundable. If you withdraw your child from the program, you will be required to pay an additional registration fee to re-enroll him or her. This policy applies even if the re-enrollment is within the same school year.

    When and how do I pay the tuition?
    Our program is dependent on parental support for continued success and expansion. Therefore, it is very important that parents comply with the following procedures regarding tuition payment:

  • Tuition should be made payable to Extended Day Services (EDS) and be mailed to EDS, 2589 Boyce Plaza Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241.
  • Tuition is billed monthly and mailed directly to the parent.
  • Tuition is due by the 1st of the month.
  • All tuition checks postmarked after the 1st of the month will receive a $10 late fee.
  • Each monthly tuition payment is non-refundable and based on scheduled attendance; regardless of the number of days the child attends the program during the month.
  • Checks returned due to insufficient funds will carry a $20 charge. If three checks are returned within a school year, EDS will accept only cash or a cashier's check from the individuals listed on the account.

    Do I need to fill out any forms?
    Each parent must fill out the emergency contact/registration agreement form, keeping the original for your records and returning a copy to the program. The child's physician must fill out the medical form in its entirety and sign it. All forms, with the exception of the health form, must be returned prior to the child's first day in the program. The health form must be returned within one month from the child's first day in the program. These forms are required according to licensing regulations.

    Who has access to my child's records?
    Your child's records are confidential. The program will not share your child's records with anyone without written parental consent. Parents will have access to their child's records at any time and may request that additional relevant information be added to the records.

    What may cause my child's enrollment to be terminated?
    A child's participation in the program may be terminated if:

  • His/her health examination form is not returned within one month after entering the program.
  • His/her behavior is chronically disruptive or poses a danger to himself/herself, to others, or to the program.
  • He/she is picked up after the 6:00 PM closing of the program more than once a month.
  • His/her tuition is not paid.

    What is the procedure for withdrawing my child from the program?
    Parents must give the program two weeks notice for withdrawal for any reason. If two weeks notice is given, we will credit your account for unused tuition.

    Is there a summer program available for my child?
    EDS operates two full-day summer camps throughout the summer months at Eisenhower Elementary School and South Fayette Elementary School. Summer Camp is designed for students entering grades K through 7. All students have the opportunity to select from many summer course offerings including cooking classes, arts and crafts classes and a variety of sports classes.

    Summer Camp includes weekly swim trips and many field trips to places such as Idlewild Amusement Park, Carnegie Science Center, and Oglebay Park as well as laser tag and cosmic bowling. For more information about the summer program, please call the EDS administrative office at (412) 221-1980.