Admissions Process
Who We Enroll
We are a Nursery to Kindergarten /First Grade early childhood program.
Ages/Grades: We are currently accepting applications for 2023 and 2024. We are enrolling children 10 months to 7 years. We offer Toddlers, Pre-School, Dual Language UPK, and Outdoor Kindergarten classes. Each year we have a few rolling admissions spaces. Parents seeking winter, spring or 24/25 school year enrollment, should apply now.
What we look for in our selection process: Children are precious gifts, with unlimited potential. They thrive in family as well as in community. As a small school, community is everything to us. We seek families who want to be a part of building and maintaining a nurturing, harmonious community of parents, teachers and children – Parents who value spending time together at special school and other events, building bonds throughout the year.
Diversity is also important to us. We attract many mixed heritage families and appreciate that so many think our school is a great match for them. We are as concerned with economic diversity as we are with ethnic diversity. Morningside PlayCare’s sliding scale tuition program is designed to sustain our socio-economic diversity.
Match: It is so very important for all that there be a match between family and program. In a nutshell, we value cultural diversity, language, yoga, time in nature, play, service, and healthy eating. The research in educational psychology has well established that shared-values-communities offer the strongest emotional and learning support for children. We want families who value what we offer and children who will thrive in our setting. During the admissions process, children and parents have an opportunity to have a playdate in the classroom and get a feel for what we are about.
When To Apply & When You Will Be Notified
Applications are currently being accepted for 2024.
Applications completed by December 15th are Early Decision, and will receive an admissions decision in December. Applications received by February 1 will be given a decision by February 15th. Applications received after this time will be on a rolling admissions basis and will receive a quick-turn-around decision. Children may be accepted as they become ready, provided spaces are available. Families may be wait-listed if their children are young for the seats available. Families applying for financial assistance should complete the process as early in the year and cycle as possible – best by January 15th. Families with infants, as well as expectant parents, are encouraged to attend Open House events and submit applications. When needed we maintain a wait-list.
ALL UPK APPLICANTS and OUTDOOR KINDERGARTEN / FIRST GRADE APPLICANTS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BY FEBRUARY 1st
Tuition Assistance – Sliding Scale
Families with financial need are encouraged to apply.
To allow for a sliding-scale tuition, each year a percentage of tuition dollars are set aside based upon the number of full-tuition families we enroll. This is how we create economic diversity. Financial aid is awarded based upon an industry-standard formula for calculating family need. Tuition is a range. Those applying for financial assistance should submit financial aid applications simultaneously with the application for admission.
Sponsor a Child For Forest School – Socio-Economic Diversity in Forest School is a Great Idea to Fund!!
Contact Us if You are Interested in this Most Special Giving Opportunity – 212-316-0313.
What Are the Steps in the Application Process?
Attending an Open House event: These events are held in the evenings after school, or early mornings prior to the start of school. There is a tour, a presentation about our program and an opportunity to ask questions. Register for and view our Open House Schedule here.
Fill out an application form. You may email to request a form, or file the preliminary form via the link on this page. The application fee is $50 for an in-person application.
Schedule Your Interview: The PlayDate is part of the formal application process; parents and child attend. Your visit will be scheduled shortly after your application has been received. If you don’t hear from us within a few days, please do reach out. This family visit to our school takes place during the school day, in the classroom. Parents have an opportunity to ask questions as their child plays.
If your family circumstances require a quick turn-around time for an admissions decision, send us an email after filing your application, and request that we fast-track your process. We will do so.
Receive an admissions determination letter. For admitted families, the letter will include an enrollment agreement, a registration form, our Parent Handbook and a current academic calendar.
Have your child’s pediatrician complete a medical form. (Parents are encouraged to schedule the doctor’s visit before the late-summer rush.) Submit all forms related to registration.
Tuition at Morningside PlayCare Immersion
Our school is open 12 months of the year. Children enroll for 12 months, which may begin in September, January, or on a rolling admissions basis, where space allows. Our tuition ranges from ($0 for PreK4) to $14,400 to $44,2,00 for a 12 month school year depending on the child’s age, the length of the child’s day and the parents’ eligibility on our sliding scale tuition formula. Parents may opt for a half-day, a full-day, or an extended day.
Forest School and UPK are for a 10 month year.
Sliding Scale Tuition
Morningside PlayCare’s Income Diversity Sliding-Scale Program is a special initiative designed to enable tuition rates that create economic diversity. All parents are asked to “stretch” to make it possible for their child’s environment to be enriched by diversity. Working parents should NOT be discouraged by our tuition rates. Our financial aid is primarily derived from making tuition from higher income families, available to moderate and lower income families. While our tuition rates are easily affordable for some, they are out of reach for most NYC families. It is our intention that everyone (including MPC's most committed staff) stretch themselves to achieve this ambitious goal. Families who wish to apply for aid should fill out the form below and return it within five days of submitting their application for enrollment.
Family's who don't need the aid, should know they are making an appreciated contribution.
Outdoor Classroom - In the summer of 2023, we received funding to encourage socio-economic diversity in our Outdoor Classroom. Children born in 2018, 2019 and early 2020, entering PreK, K, or Grade 1 in 2024, are encouraged to apply. It is our goal under this program to set tuition for this class at 5% to 12% of family income.
Parents are encouraged to apply by February 1st.
PreK 4 - Children born in 2019 or 2020 may enroll in our Universal PreK Dual Language Class. Tuition for this
class is 0 because it is paid through a contract with the NYC Department of Education. Children attend tuition-free.
Parents are encouraged to apply by December 15th for the following school year.
Two
Reasons
Diversity
is so Important
1) Everyone’s educational experience is enhanced in a multi-cultural setting where multiple perspectives are considered, and similarities and differences valued.
(2) Our nation is stronger when all of our children are preparing to participate as globally competent citizens in a future ripe with possibilities and challenges.
Even if you don’t have a child enrolled here you can make our world a better place.
A contribution to the Income Diversity Fund makes it possible for a child to participate whose family is at the lower ends of the income spectrum. For this child, the opportunity to become fluent in Mandarin would not otherwise exist. A low-income child has the most to gain from learning a second language in early childhood, because it might be the single largest advantage they ever acquire in their academic career—an invaluable asset to bring to the global job market. By donating today, you help change the trajectory of a young life. Yes, I would like to make the difference in a young child’s life. Please contact me to discuss how I can contribute.
Morningside PlayCare does not discriminate with regard to race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation.
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