AppleTree Early Learning PCS East Capitol Campus Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Enrollment Information

Q: How old does my student need to be in order to be eligible for enrollment?
A: Your student needs to be three or four years old by September 30, 2010.

Q: Do I need to be a D.C. resident?
A: Yes. As established by the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, non-residents will be considered on a secondary basis to DC residents and will be required to pay tuition.

Q: Does my child need to be potty trained?
A: Yes. Your child must be fully potty trained before the first day of school, unless related to an identified disability and documented in a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP).

Q: If my student is enrolled, and I want to enroll their sibling, do they get a preference?
A: Yes, we give preference to siblings.

Q: When does the application period end?
A: The initial application period ended on July 9. As spaces are available, students will continue to be accepted and enrolled as spaces are available. Families are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Q: Where will the campus be?
A: The campus will be on the grounds of Eastern High School in the lone remaining demountable. This is placed near the parking lot, near the corner of 19th and East Capitol Street NE. There will be a contained grass area around the demountable where children will play during the day. As the demountables are separate from the building, AppleTree students will be separate from Eastern High School students all day.

Q: May I visit the school?
A: Currently, we are renovating the site so it is ready for 3-and 4-year olds. Our existing campuses are running their summer school programs until July 16. You are welcome to contact the current campuses to schedule the tour. Once the site is complete, we will inform families so they may tour the space. We will also be holding a Recruitment fair on Saturday, August 14th from 11-3. Though the space will not be completely set up, most of it will be open and available for families to visit. Other Open House times will be scheduled as the site comes closer to opening.

Q: How long will you be at this location?
A: The East Capitol Campus is a temporary location. AppleTree will be at this site for the entire 2010-11 school year, until the last day of school on June 17. The following year, we are slated to open up our new campus on 12th St NE, near Lincoln Park and one on 22nd & Savannah Terrace SE.

Q: If I am enrolled in another AppleTree campus, will I give up my spot if I apply to the East Capitol Campus?
A: No. But, if you are accepted into the East Capitol Campus, you must decide which campus you would like to attend, as you cannot be enrolled in two.

Academic Program

Q: What is AppleTree’s mission statement?
A: The mission of AELPCS is to provide young children with the social, emotional and cognitive foundations that will enable them to succeed in school.

Q: What type of curriculum does AppleTree use?
A: AppleTree uses the Opening the World of Learning (OWL) curriculum to guide classroom instruction.

Q: How many teachers are there in each classroom?
A: Each classroom is staffed with a Lead Teacher and a Teaching Fellow, both of whom hold at minimum a Bachelor’s degree; as well as a highly-qualified Teaching Assistant. Each classroom has three teachers and twenty students.

Q: Will the East Capitol Campus have experienced staff?
A: Yes. All Lead Teachers as well as administration and other support staff have worked at other AppleTree campuses.

General Information

Q: What are AppleTree’s hours of operation?
A: AppleTree is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Breakfast is served daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The instructional period runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The optional Extended day program runs from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Q: How much is tuition?
A: There is no tuition fee, but there is a meals fee and a fee for the optional Extended day program. Both fees are based on a sliding scale. AppleTree participates in the National School Lunch Program, which is a national meals subsidy program, so you may be eligible to receive your school meals for free or at a reduced price. Eligibility is determined by the Federal Income Chart included below.

Meals Extended Day Total
Free $ - $ 80 $ 80
Reduced $ 17 $ 180 $ 197
Paid $ 120 $ 400 $ 520

This chart reflects fees for the 2009-2010 school year, it is based on a full month (20+ school days) and is subject to change for the 2010-2011 school year.

FEDERAL INCOME CHART
For School Year 2009-2010
Household size Yearly Monthly Weekly
1 $20,036 $1,670 $386
2 26,955 2,247 519
3 33,874 2,823 652
4 40,793 3,400 785
5 47,712 3,976 918
6 54,631 4,553 1,051
7 61,550 5,130 1,184
Each additional person: +$6,919 +$557 +$134

Your student may qualify for free or reduced price lunch if your household income falls within the limits of this chart. This chart is subject to change for the 2010-2011 school year.

Q: How many meals will my child receive? Can my student bring in their own lunch?
A: Your student will be served breakfast, a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack. Meals meet FDA guidelines for school lunch. If you wish to provide meals for your child, you must do it everyday and it should include breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.

Q: Does AppleTree have a website?
A: Yes. Please visit us at http://www.appletreeinstitute.org.

Contact Information

AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School
East Capitol Campus
1700 East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 525-7807