PDE Openings
Part Day Enrichment has openings in all classes for the 2008-9 preschool program. Registration is ongoing at the Child Development Center, between 9am and 5pm. Children ages 3-4 years are eligible to attend and must be three by Sept. 30. Please bring copies of immunization records and current LES. These items will NOT be returned. The child’s birth certificate is required to be seen but will not be kept. A $10 non-refundable registration fee will be charged. Two-day, three-day and five-day morning classes and three-day afternoon classes are available and begin on Aug. 11. Fees are based on total family income. Call 456-4139 for details.

New Afternoon Program
A new afternoon program is underway at the Part Day Enrichment Center. The program takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Children 3-5 years old are eligible. Our Part Day Enrichment (PDE) program is one of only two National Assoc- iation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited program in Northern Louisiana. The other is a private school. - The PDE utilizes current early childhood research, our program follows the Creative Curriculum, which is proven to meet each child’s developmental needs and prepare them for kindergarten. - Staff/child ratios (the number of children for whom one caregiver can provide care) differ from local centers. Our teachers consistently are responsible for no more than 12 children each. - All employees have passed extensive background checks. Exacting training and testing standards mean our PDE staff is professionally responsible and held to a higher level of accountability than other programs. - Frequent inspections (DoD Unannounced, Multidisciplinary inspections, ACC Staff Assistance Visits, NAEYC accreditation) assure Barksdale's PDE standards meet rigid AF criteria. Recent national studies indicate DoD CDC and PDE programs serve as benchmarks for the nation. Local centers and programs are still playing catch-up to DoD. Air Force Part Day Enrichment programs are considered the DoD leaders and Barksdale's PDE routinely scores among the highest in the Air Force. - Parental satisfaction is clearly evident from ICE responses, customer comments to local surveys and discussions with parents and program management. - Our teachers have been with the program for four or more years while some off base centers with lower pay scales may have very high staff turnover. The Air Force believes it is important for children to be taught by the same person from day-to-day so that person gets to know the children and establishes an emotional bond with them. - Snacks served in Barksdale's PDE program are USDA certified and must meet dietary standards approved by ACC. Other programs may not offer snacks or meals unless supplied by parents.

Free Child Care
Persons needing additional child care during late duty hours and recalls should call the Extended Duty Care (EDC) program. This care is FREE. Transportation is available to or from the CDC or School Age Program. 

The EDC Returning Home Care Program can also provide 16 hours free child care per child to persons returning from 30+ day deployment in support of Global War on Terrorism. The program must be used within 30 days of return from deployment.

As a joint project between Family Child Care and the Air Force Aid Society, persons with a permanent change of station (PCS) to or from Barksdale are eligible for 20 hours free child care per child.

Volunteers at base agencies may also receive free child care. This is a joint venture between Family Child Care and the Family Support Center. Call 456-8912 for details about any of these programs.

New Child Care Payment Policy
A new Air Force policy that applies to patrons of Child Development and Youth Programs, including school age is now in effect. All CDC/Youth Center patrons must provide a credit/debit card or bank authorization and agree to have the card charged or account debited in the event of nonpayment. All information is safeguarded in accordance with AFI 33.332, Provacy Act Program.

Family Day Care Home Component
The Barksdale Air Force Base Family Child Care Program announces its sponsorship of the Family Day Care Home component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. All children in attendance will be offered the same meals at no separate charge and with no physical segregation of or other discrimination against any child because of race, sex, age, color, disability or national origin. Participants who are members of FITAP assistance units or Food Stamp households are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits. This statement applies to all family day care homes under the jurisdiction of this agency.

If any member of a household believes they have been discriminated against, they should write immediately to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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