Ohio's Early Learning Initiative (ELI)
What is ELI? The Early Learning Initiative (ELI) is a collaborative partnership between the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and School Readiness, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Child Care and Development. This initiative is designed to provide educational experiences for children often identified as at risk of school failure, they will enter kindergarten ready for success. In addition, the initiative strives to meet the child care needs of working families. The initiative's early learning services are supported by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding. (Taken from the ODE website.)
> More Information and Income Guidelines

Preschool Program
Mini University's preschool program is based on NAEYC's Accreditation Criteria, Creative Curriculum for Preschool, and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Early Learning Content Standards. The four themes of ODE that guide the work we do with Preschoolers are:

1. All children are born ready to learn
2. Environments matter
3. Relationships are influential
4. Communication is critical

• Social Emotional Development
  How to follow classroom rules
  How to use thinking skills to resolve conflicts
• Physical Development
  How to coordinate my eye-hand movements
  How to control the small muscles in my hands
• Cognitive Development
  How to compare and measure
  How to make and interpret representations
• Language
  How to interpret meaning from books and other texts
  How to ask questions

Tuition Schedule
The primary source of funding for the Preschool classrooms is the State of Ohio Early Learning Initiative (ELI) grant. Families must complete all required paperwork at the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services so the County can begin the process of determining eligibility. Families living outside of Montgomery County are eligible to apply for ELI through their county of residence, and might also be eligible for Preschool at these locations, if space is available. The cost of Preschool is $191.00/week and most of this cost is funded through Mini University's ELI grant. As the qualifying agency, the Department of Job and Family Services makes all determinations regarding eligibility and monthly family co-pays, if applicable. Families not eligible for preschool services through the Early Learning Initiative may be able to enroll in Preschool on a space available, private pay basis. Tuition is billed monthly at the rate of $625/month due on the 1st of each month, September through May. Tuition is reduced to $500 for the month of December, since no Preschool services are provided for the two week winter break.

Child Nutrition
Many Mini University Centers participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP is a child nutrition program of the United States Department of Agriculture. Childcare centers are reimbursed a meal rate to help with the cost of serving nutritious meals to enrolled children. The meals must meet CACFP meal pattern requirements for children and infants. Accordingly, participating Mini University Centers provide iron fortified infant formula and baby foods for the families that choose to use it in our infant program. Toddlers amd preschoolers have a breakfast, lunch and snack each day that meet the requirements set forth by CACFP.
> More details can be found in our Partners in Education handbook (4MB PDF)