Question: How long is your waiting list?
Our waiting list generally has between 600 and 800 names. The best chance any family has to enter the program is when their child is age three years as of September 1.
Before age three our classes only have six children enrolled. At age three we have a morning class with 15 children and an afternoon class with 15 children. The earlier you apply to the program, the greater your chances of enrolling. However, enrollment is guaranteed to no one except children currently enrolled in the program.

Question: My child is very bright/gifted/talented. Do you evaluate children?
This is not a service we provide.

Question: Whom do you serve? Just UT faculty?
We enroll from the community at large. Priority is given to families currently in the program or previously served. Children are enrolled on a first come, first served basis. We enroll 104 children between the ages of 18 months and six-years-of-age.

Question: How can I enroll my child?
You may request an application by calling the Laboratory at 471-3974 or by emailing us at cfl@uts.cc.utexas.edu. Please indicate the age of your child, including if he/she is not yet born, so we may send the appropriate application. Included with the application is a brochure providing basis information about the program. When emailing us please provide your name and mailing address.

Question: What is the cost of your program?
Tuition varies from year to year and reflects the number of hours a week a child attends. You may email or call us to request information on the current cost of the program.

Question: Help, my child is driving me crazy!
A good starting place would be to ask your pediatrician for advice. A local non-profit agency, Family Connections, offers a parent "warm-line" that you may call with your questions and concerns. Their phone number is 478-5725.

Question: What makes your school so special?
The teachers leading our classrooms are the "best of the best". We call them "Master Teachers" because they are masters at what they do. These teachers are responsible for the university students working in their classroom as well as the children. They provide a perfect example of "best practices" for children. Although our primary clients are those students enrolled in Human Development and Family Sciences courses that are assigned to the Laboratory, children and families are major beneficiaries of the experience at the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory.

Question: Can you recommend another program?
We do not recommend specific programs. Our brochure includes a listing of other early childhood programs in the geographical area of the university. We do recommend that you consider a program that is accredited by The National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. You can access a list of accredited programs in Austin by going to the web site of The National Academy of Early Childhood Programs at www.naeyc.org.

Question: What does your program do?
We are a training and research program in child development in the Department of Human Ecology. We enroll 104 children between the ages of 18 months to 6 years of age for a traditional preschool experience. We are not a daycare program. Children attend two or four half-days a week. No children attend on Friday. The University must be in session for the Laboratory to be open. University students participate in our program for a variety of experiences supporting their study of human development.

Question: Is financial assistance available?
Only a limited amount of scholarship money is currently available to our program and is awarded based on demonstrated need. We make admissions decisions independent of financial aid decisions. An application for a scholarship may be requested upon enrollment. Applications are ranked in order of need, which is determined by the same formula used in the National School Lunch Program. This formula takes into account annual income versus family size. Other criteria may also be considered.