Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question not listed below?
Contact us, and we'll be happy to help.

What ages of children do you serve?
Our learning centers serve children from age 6 weeks to 6 years. However, we offer support services and trainings that provide families and caregivers with information that is useful at any age. Visit our outreach services page for more information.

Why do you serve children with and without disabilities?
Part of what makes Siskin Early Learning Centers unique is that we serve children with and without disabilities. Research has shown that children with special needs develop better when surrounded by typically developing children.

Inclusion benefits all children. Children with special needs benefit from having typically developing children as peer models. Children with special needs often model their behaviors based on typically developing children, helping them become more independent, social and engaged.

In addition to receiving a quality preschool education, typically developing children learn the important value of acceptance and diversity. They graduate Siskin Early Learning Centers with the understanding that each person is different with his or her own gifts and talents.

On what types of disabilites does your organization focus?
We serve children with disabilities such as autism spectrum conditions, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and developmental behavioral delays and disorders.

My child does not have a disability. How do I enroll?
Visit our Admissions for Typically Developing Children page for information on how to enroll your typically developing child.

My child has a disability. How do I enroll?
The Institute does not recruit children with disabilities. Instead, children with disabilities are assigned to our early learning centers by either the Tennessee's Early Intervention System (TEIS) or the Hamilton County Department of Education. Children with disabilities ages 3 or younger are placed by TEIS, while HCDE places children ages 3 and older. Families must contact these agencies to receive education services. Visit our Admissions page for information.

What is TEIS?
Tennessee's Early Intervention System (TEIS) is a voluntary educational program for families with children ages birth through two years of age (until the day before the third birthday) with disabilities or developmental delays. Every state has a Part C program for children birth through two years of age and their families under the Individual’s with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Each state decides its own eligibility rules. Learn more about TEIS in this Q&A brochure.

What are TEIS' eligibility requirements?
In Tennessee, a child with a diagnosis from the list below or children whose test results show that they have a 25% delay in two developmental areas or a 40% delay in one area may be eligible for TEIS.  Information from the child’s doctor as well as the results of a developmental test will determine if a child meets the eligibility criteria in Tennessee. A child may have a developmental delay if he or she is far behind other children their age in one or more of the five major skill areas:

1. motor (crawling, walking, using their hands to play)
2. communication (babbling, indicating wants and needs, talking)
3. cognitive (thinking skills including making choices and solving problems)
4. social (playing near or with other children or adults)    
5. adaptive (taking care of ones needs)

Do you take child care certificates?
Yes, we gladly accept child care certificates. For information on how to obtain child care assistance, please contact:

Human Services Division of Hamilton County, Tennessee
218 M. L. King Building
317 Oak Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423.209.6800
http://www.hamiltontn.gov/HumanServices

Do you take part-time admissions?
Yes, we accept part-time admissions, but preference is given to full-time applicants.

Is there a waiting list for Siskin Early Learning Center-Downtown?
There is a waiting list for our downtown learning center. For more information, contact Lonna Harris at 423.648.1759 or Lonna Harris.

Is there a waiting list for Siskin Early Learning Center-East Brainerd?
There is a waiting list for some age groups at our East Brainerd learning center. For more information, contact Sarah Briggs at 423.643.4059 or Sarah Briggs.

My child does not have a disability. What is the benefit of enrolling him/her with children with disabilities?
Typically developing children receive a high-quality preschool education at our learning centers. They benefit from low child-adult ratios and a curriculum that is individualized to meet the needs of every child. Additionally, children learn the values of diversity and acceptance at an early age.

What type of curriculum do you follow?
Creative Curriculum is a fully integrated, developmentally appropriate program that is individualized to meet the needs of all children. The curriculum allows us to improve and advance the four areas of development (social/emotional, physical, cognitive, language) through interactive activities, classroom organization, toy and material selection, planning daily schedules and communication with children. We customize the curriculum by using thematic studies, assistive technology, visual supports and findings from our research center.

One such customization is the addition of the research center's The Engagement Classroom model. It supplements the Creative Curriculum by allowing us to focus on functional skills such as engagement (participation), independence, and social relationships. We believe that children cannot learn if they are not engaged. Our job is to promote engagement and expand children’s interests to teach new skills — individualized goals, independence and social relationships, and the Creative Curriculum outcomes.

I understand you have a research center at the Institute. How does that affect what happens in the learning centers?
Our research center focuses on finding the best ways to intervene with children who have special needs. To conduct studies, our doctoral-level research team sometimes conducts studies in areas such as our classrooms or playgrounds. Additionally, we often implement our innovative research findings in learning centers.

Are you accredited?
Yes, we have several accreditations, which help ensure that our learning centers are following the best practices for early childhood development and special education. For a list of our accreditations, visit our Accreditations page.

What are your child to staff ratios?
We have very low child-adult ratios. With about 12 to 15 children in each classroom, we feature 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 ratios.

Tell me about your teaching staff.
Most classrooms at the learning centers feature a lead teacher and two teaching assistants. Our 21 lead teachers, most of whom have at least a bachelor's degree, have an average of 11 years of experience in education. We have more than 40 teaching assistants, many of whom have earned their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

What additional services do you provide in the learning centers?
Children at our learning centers benefit from a variety of services, such as comprehensive therapy services, an on-site nursing staff and an on-site nutritionist. For a complete list, visit our Support Services page.

How can parents be involved?
We encourage parents and caregivers of children at our learning centers to be involved. From volunteering in the classroom to being a part of the Siskin Family Association, there are a variety of ways families can participate at the Institute. For more information, contact Maria Stammen at 423.648.1768.

Siskin Early Learning Centers are funded through Siskin Children's Institute, and through contracts with the State of Tennessee and the Hamilton County Department of Education.