The A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning offers a high-quality, immersive learning environment for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. The school is designed to support all elements of your child’s growth, learning, and development through a variety of resources and activities from an excellent team of educators. Co-located with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, we uniquely partner to provide effective, research-based curriculum focused on language and literacy development and building essential skills.
It is never too early to begin looking for the best place for your child’s learning experience or to express interest in our school. Learn more about our school, what makes us unique, or see an example of a current classroom project.
What is a typical day like at the school?
Our staff use an emergent, child-centered approach to curriculum with intentionally planned experiences and an emphasis on play.
Much of the morning and afternoon are free-choice activities for children including creative, sensory, and literacy choices.
Daily routines also include circle time, indoor or outdoor walks, and gross motor skills play. Each day’s schedule is structured to allow our teachers to spend time engaged with the children in activities as well as providing students an opportunity to “breathe” and take as much time as they want with specific activities.
Every classroom builds a weekly curriculum guide that is created by the teachers within that room. These guides include classroom interests, skill development, and approaches toward learning. The guide provides families with the opportunity to see what their child will learn in the following week. The curriculum guides are updated on a weekly basis and are available to view in the corresponding classroom’s page.
Learn more about what goes into building our curriculum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enrollment
Who is eligible to apply for enrollment?
No affiliation with the center or The Ohio State University is needed. However, younger siblings of children currently enrolled at the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early learning will be given priority as well as families living in the Weinland Park neighborhood.
What are your tuition rates?
For your convenience, we have made our current tuition rates available. Contact SFC_Enrollment@osu.edu or call 614-247-7488 for the most up-to-date information.
Do you offer any financial aid?
We offer multiple enrollment pathways and reduced tuition fees which are decided by the partnering agency through which a child is enrolled. Contact SFC_Enrollment@osu.edu or call 614-247-7488 for the most up-to-date information.
How far in advance can/should I apply for my child to attend?
We encourage families to apply as early as possible, and the child’s name may be added to an interest list any time during pregnancy or after the child is born. Learn more about enrollment here.
What if I would like to enroll, but you are currently not accepting applications?
An interest list is kept for both the preschool and the infant/toddler classes. This list changes often based on the priority levels of current applications. When a space becomes available, you will be contacted by our enrollment specialist.
Are part-time spots available?
We do not offer part-time spots.
How long does it take to have my child get into the school?
This varies based on the priority levels of current applications and spaces that are available. An interest list is kept for both the preschool and infant/toddler classes. When a space becomes available, you will be contacted by our enrollment specialist.
Classroom & School
What are your hours?
The school is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 51 weeks of the year.
What is Step Up to Quality?
Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) is Ohio’s quality rating program. SUTQ recognizes early care and education programs that provide quality standards to Ohio’s children through several benchmarks. The A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning earned a five-star rating, the highest rating in the state of Ohio.
What type of research will be conducted with my child?
The partnership with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy and The Ohio State University provides a setting that encourages research. Examples from past research projects include implementing preschool science curriculum, behavior management strategies, and language interventions. All research conducted at the school must be proposed and approved by the Schoenbaum Family Center Research Advisory Board made up of administrators, educators, and researchers. Consent must always be given for children to take part in specific research activities.
How many teachers and students are in a classroom?
The school will not exceed the following state-required teacher-child ratios:
- 1:5 or 2:12 for infants 0 to 18 months old
- 1:7 for toddlers 18 to 30 months old
- 1:8 for 2 ½- to 3-year-olds
- 1:12 for 3-year-olds
- 1:14 for 4- to 5-year-olds
The program will also not exceed the following state-required maximum group sizes:
- 12 for infants 0 to 18 months old
- 14 for toddlers 18 to 30 months old
- 16 for 2 ½- to 3-year-olds
- 24 for 3-year-olds
- 28 for 4- to 5-year-olds
Health & Safety
Can you accommodate my child’s documented food allergies?
Yes, our chef prepares allergen-free food items for children with documented food allergies. All food served conforms to USDA standards and guidelines. Families are not permitted to bring food for children’s consumption with the exception of breast milk.
What happens if my child is sick at school?
Children who become ill at school will be sent home with a written notice informing families of symptoms and will be cared for by one of our staff in a quiet place and offered a cot to rest on until the family arrives. Families of ill children will be contacted by phone, email, or text.
Medical Safety
Teachers have first-aid training and will administer basic first-aid treatment, if appropriate.
Teachers are permitted to only wash and cover abrasions but are not permitted to apply topical creams or ointments.
If the injury is a medical emergency, first aid would be administered, and the emergency squad will be called. Parents/guardians would be contacted right away. The emergency transportation service decides if the child needs to be transported and to which medical facility. A teacher and/or other school personnel will go with the child to the hospital and will bring the child’s medical record and emergency forms.
Emergency Procedures
Fire Safety
The center will conduct a monthly fire drill. At the sound of the alarm, the children and teachers will immediately leave through the classroom and walk away from the building.
An emergency fire procedure is posted in each classroom and log of monthly drills is posted in the school.
Fire alarms and extinguishers are checked monthly to ensure operability.
Response to Tornado Alerts
An alarm will sound to indicate a tornado warning.
The children and teachers will move to the basement hall and remain there until the alarm stops, indicating the danger is over.
The tornado safety procedure is posted in each classroom of the center; the school conducts periodic tornado drills.
Response to Threats of Violence
Teachers will be notified by classroom phone and/or intercom.
Teachers will follow the procedures outlined by The Ohio State University.
Evacuation of Building due to Fire, Weather Conditions, or Loss of Power, Heat or Water
Families will be contacted as soon as possible. Arrangements then can be made to come to pick up your child. If a parent cannot be reached, the emergency contacts listed on your child’s emergency form will be called.
