When does enrollment open for the 23-24 school year?
Enrollment for the 23-24 school year is open! Click the “Enroll Now” button on our website to begin the enrollment process.
What are your hours of operation?
Sprouts is open to serve students from 7:00am – 6:00pm, Monday through Friday.
What programs do you offer?
We offer programs for 2 through 5 year old students which include full-day education-based child care, preschool only programs, daily drop-in care and summer programs. You may view program descriptions and pricing on the Our Programs page.
What program should I enroll my student in based on their birthdate?
Sprouts follows the State of Iowa guidelines for student program placement by utilizing September 15th for program eligibility. Students will be placed in the program that reflects their age as of September 15th of the enrollment year. For example, a student must be 3 years old on September 15th to be in the three year old program.
Do I have to live in the Carlisle School District for my student to attend Sprouts programs?
No. There is no residency requirement for any of our programs.
Do you have an option for drop-in care?
Sprouts offers drop-in care based on availability. Families should call the office to check for openings. Daily rates will apply. Students utilizing drop-in care will be required to fill out all enrollment paperwork before care is provided.
Do you follow the Carlisle School District school schedule?
Sprouts follows the schedule of the Carlisle School District, running from August to May. We also follow the district schedule for closures due to the weather. In the event of a weather closure for the Carlisle district, Sprouts will not hold preschool-only classes, but our full-day child care programs, as well as drop-in care, will remain open.
What training and experience do you require for your staff?
All of the staff members at Sprouts Early Learning Academy are held to the highest standards. Before we hire, each staff member must pass a background check. Our required staff trainings and certifications include: Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse, Infant/Child/Adult CPR Certification, Infant/Child/Adult First Aid, and Universal Precautions & Infectious Disease Control. We also require continuing education classes for staff members to ensure that we are always up to date with the latest research related to child development.
What safety measures are in place?
Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is a top priority at Sprouts. Before attending Sprouts, each family is provided a Parent Handbook which explains all of our safety precautions and procedures. This handbook includes plans for severe weather, emergency contacts, fire and storm drills, and other safety precautions.
Before opening our doors, the Sprouts building underwent a complete renovation from top to bottom. During this process, the building had to pass city and state building codes as well as rigorous inspections by the State Fire Marshal as well as DHS. All of our classrooms include a safety exit directly to the outdoors which can be utilized in case of emergency. Our building also includes a voice announcing fire alarm system and emergency exit lighting. All of our ground level exits are ADA accessible and a radon mitigation system is in place.
All of the entrances to our classrooms are secured and require a key card to enter. Interior and exterior security cameras add an additional layer of protection to our students and employees.
What is the procedure to pick up my student?
Families are asked to send their child’s teacher a notification on their Brightwheel app when they are 5-10 minutes away from pick up. Parents can also call our Pick Up Number at 515-989-7946 to let staff know they are on the way. This gives our teachers a chance to get your student packed and ready to head out the door as soon as you arrive. Parents are asked to pull into the alleyway via School Street and pull up as far as possible to keep the traffic flow running smoothly. Students will be checked out of their programs using the Brightwheel app and then they will be ready to go home.
