KidsCo Distance Learning Hubs will be in operation from September 14, 2020- Duration of MCPS Virtual Learning. Our centers will operate from 8:30am-5:30pm Monday through Friday at all KidsCo school year locations. Tuition for the Distance Learning Hubs is $300 per week/per child. Invoices will be sent out via email bi-weekly. Tuition will be due two weeks prior to the date of service.

As part of the proposal that was submitted to MCPS, we are unable to provide part-time schedules and drop-in care. Please know that flexibility is something that we always want to offer our families and we feel terrible that we cannot provide this option. If things do change throughout the year and we are able to make schedule changes, we will certainly let families know.

• KidsCo team members will practice good social distancing procedures at the center. All team members and children will wear a cloth mask each day. Gloves will also be used when necessary (as dictated by the CDC and MSDE licensing regulations).
• Children will stay with the same group of children and staff each day. They will not intermingle with other groups.
• Our group sizes will have 13 kids with 2 staff members. No part-time schedules are offered.

• Our team members will provide assistance and support with virtual learning each day.
• Team members will check in with each student between sessions to help each child manage his/her workload.
• We ask that each child bring necessary items for virtual learning. This includes a laptop and headphones. We will have supplies including pencils, paper, scissors, etc… to assist with their work.

• Each afternoon we will be offer some of KidsCo’s favorite activities that the children have been used to participating in the past. These activities are intended to be “hands-on” and engaging. Our activities will be anywhere from arts & crafts, STEM projects, yoga, active outdoor activities, and much more.
• We plan to utilize the outdoors as much as possible, weather permitting.
• For the safety of our staff and children, we kindly ask that parents refrain from entering our facilities at drop off/pick up. We also ask that all families take their own and their child’s temperature prior to coming to our center.
• A parent will need to bring a thermometer to the center and take their child’s temperature in front of one of our team members.
• All parents must wear a mask and practice social distancing when dropping off and picking up their children.
• A KidsCo team member will be standing outside and will greet you and your child. In the afternoon, we will have you text the site’s number and we will have a team member bring your child out to you.
• A team member will have the sign-in/out tablet and will enter your child’s PIN number each morning and afternoon to “check” your child in and out.
• If there are multiple families dropping off at the same time, please ensure that you are standing at least 6ft. away from other families. Our team will place spacing markers on the ground as a reminder of social distancing.
• If possible, have the same parent or designated person drop off and pick up your child each day. Older people such as grandparents or those with serious underlying medical conditions should not pick up children, because they are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Any family dropping off after 9:30, we ask the you text the Director for a staff member to come outside to check in your child along with handling all screening procedures.

• Prior to any child or team member entering the center, he/she’s temperature will be taken in a designated area. Persons who have a fever of 100.4 or above or show other signs of illness will not be admitted to the facility. We encourage parents to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and keep them home when they are sick. Additionally, if someone at your home is sick, we kindly ask that you not send your child. We will be asking families screening questions upon arrival.
• Team members are also asked to be mindful of signs of illness in themselves and persons whom they live with. Team members will also be asked screening questions prior to entering the facility.
• Hand hygiene stations will be set up at the entrance of the facility, so that children can clean their hands when they enter. We will provide hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Children and team members will then go to the nearest sink and wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap.

Frequency & Products

• All KidsCo programs will intensify all cleaning protocol.
• All rooms will be routinely cleaned multiple times a day (at least every 2 hours or sooner, if necessary) including surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. This will also include cleaning objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, bathroom sink handles, countertops, desks, chairs, and playground structures. Our facilities will use appropriate sanitizers that are approved by the MSDE Office of Child Care.
• Cleaning products will not be used near children, and staff will ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children from inhaling fumes.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Toys

• Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be used.
  Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions or excretions will be set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a person wearing gloves. These toys will be cleaned with water and detergent, rinsed, sanitized with an EPA-registered disinfectant, rinsed again, and will then air-dry. You may also clean in a mechanical dishwasher.
• Machine washable cloth toys will be used by one individual at a time or will not be used at all.
• We will not share toys with other groups unless they are washed and sanitized before being moved from one group to the other.
  Children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered a high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures.

• During this time, KidsCo will not be providing snacks or meals for children. We ask that parents pack all snack and food items for their children.
• Our team members will use gloves when assisting children with their meals.

• In “normal” times, we love to communicate with families in person! However, given the severity of this virus, we ask that parents communicate any of their questions or comments to our screening staff member that is at the door. If a parent needs to communicate with any other team members or the Director, please do so by calling the center or emailing the Director.
• Our team members can also set-up times to chat via Zoom.

• Upon learning of a COVID-19 case in someone who has been in the center, we will immediately notify local health officials and MSDE Office of Child Care. A course of action will then be decided for the childcare programs by the health department including if and for how long the center will need to close. We will also communicate any cases and the course of action with all parents and staff. Please note that as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, we are required to maintain confidentiality regarding any person who many contract the virus.
• The health department will also give us guidelines on how to clean and disinfect the center following a COVID case.
• Additionally, if our center is located within an MCPS facility, we will also immediately notify the school principal, our representative from Community Use of Public Facilities, and MCPS’s representative (Seth Adams).

Childcare programs require the complete exclusion of any staff or child that has tested positive for COVID-19 or is symptomatic, until cleared by a medical professional and full compliance with all the following CDC recommendations for quarantine and other safeguards:

• Individuals that have not been tested but have shown symptoms may return to the program after:
  • • Healthcare provider has deemed that a COVID-19 test is not necessary and
    • 3 days with no fever (without taking medication to reduce a fever) and
    • Symptoms improved and
    • 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
• Individuals that have tested positive and are not exhibiting symptoms may return to the program after:
  • • No fever, remain symptom free, and after receiving two negative tests in a row at least 24 hours apart
• Individuals that have tested positive and are exhibiting symptoms may return to the program after:
  • • 3 days with no fever (without taking medication to reduce a fever), symptoms improved, 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and after receiving two negative tests in a row at least 24 hours apart.
• Individuals with conditions that weaken their immune system and have exhibited symptoms might need to stay home longer than 10 days. These individuals must consult with their healthcare provider for more information on appropriate quarantine guidelines.

• Given the current state of the COVID-19 virus, we must all work together. Our team members are here for working parents during this time and we would like to be there for them in return if for some reason the center has to close for any reason. It is important for us to be able to pay our team members in the event of any closure. KidsCo must strongly enforce our two-week cancelation policy. If the center is shut down for any reason (including COVID-19); families will have the option to cancel their enrollment; however, they will be required to give two-week’s notice and fully pay tuition during this time even if the center is closed. Additionally, if any family cancels, they will still need to pay during the two-weeks and will lose their enrollment priority spot and will go to the end of the waiting list, if there is one.

• Prior to attending KidsCo, please make sure you understand and are comfortable with the potential risks associated with sending your child to childcare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While, our team is working hard to ensure that the facilities are clean and resemble strong social distancing practices; there is always risk associated with it and KidsCo is not liable for anyone who may contract the COVID-19 virus. Parents will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that they understand the risks of sending their child during a pandemic.