Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition varies by location and age group. Please contact us directly for accurate pricing and current availability. Our team is happy to walk you through your options.

Yes. We use the Funnydaffer Curriculum, a research based early childhood curriculum designed specifically for Florida standards. Funnydaffer provides:

• Developmentally appropriate lesson plans
• Hands on, play based learning aligned with the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards
• Strong support for language, literacy, math, and social emotional development
• Flexibility to customize lessons based on children’s interests and teacher creativity

Yes. We accept School Readiness vouchers in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Duval and Episcopal Children’s Services.

Safety is our top priority. Our centers feature:

• Secure entry systems — Our sign in/sign out process links your fingerprint to your child’s profile.
• Cameras throughout the center — All classrooms, hallways, and outdoor areas are monitored.
• Strict pick up procedures — Only individuals with written parent/guardian authorization may pick up a child; ID is required.
• Comprehensive staff background screenings — All staff undergo Level II background checks in compliance with DCF regulations.

Our illness policy helps protect all children and staff by reducing the spread of contagious illnesses. It outlines when to keep your child home and when it is safe for them to return.

A helpful guideline: If your child is too ill to participate comfortably in daily activities, they should stay home.

Read our Illness Policy.

We maintain an open door policy, and our leadership team is always available to support families.

Teachers use Procare Connect to share daily updates, photos, and important information.

Infants (0–18 months) & Toddlers (18–36 months)

• All diaper changes and feedings recorded
• Daily photos (1–3 per day) with learning context
• Attendance and transitions logged

Preschool (3 years and up)

• 2–3 photos weekly with a summary of the week’s learning
• Attendance and transitions logged

Enrollment is simple:

1. Schedule a tour
2. Complete the enrollment packet
3. Pay the registration fee
4. Secure your Guaranteed Start Date

What is a Guaranteed Start Date?
Waitlists can be unpredictable. Our Guaranteed Start Date allows families to plan ahead with confidence. We project openings weeks or months in advance and provide you with a confirmed start date for your child.

Schedule a tour.

The majority of our teachers hold a Child Development Associate (CDA), Staff Credential, or an AA/AS in Early Childhood Education.

All staff complete 30 hours of professional development annually in compliance with APPLE Accreditation standards. We also provide:

• Extensive on site training
• Ongoing CLASS based professional development
• Two annual professional development days
• Monthly training during staff meetings

We ensure teachers are always learning, growing, and providing the highest quality care.

Social emotional learning is built into every part of our day. Using the Funnydaffer Curriculum and CLASS aligned teaching practices, our teachers help children build confidence, empathy, independence, and strong peer relationships.

What this looks like in the classroom

• Warm, responsive interactions that help children feel safe and connected
• Teaching children to identify and manage emotions with simple, age appropriate strategies
• Guided peer play that builds sharing, cooperation, and problem solving
• CLASS focused emotional support and intentional language modeling
• Funnydaffer SEL activities such as stories, songs, and role play
• Predictable routines that help children feel secure and independent
• Family partnership to support consistency between home and school

At Discovery Tree Academy, we use positive guidance to help children learn healthy social skills and self control. Our teachers focus on building strong relationships, modeling calm behavior, and redirecting children toward positive choices.

We never use corporal punishment, threats, or discipline tied to food, toileting, or napping.

When behavior concerns arise, we follow a step by step support process that may include:

• Redirection
• Brief removal from the activity
• Parent partnership
• If needed, support from our child guidance team

Our goal is to partner with families to help every child grow socially, emotionally, and academically in a safe, respectful environment.

Safety is our top priority. All Discovery Tree Academy staff maintain CPR and First Aid certification, and any injury—big or small—is handled with care and professionalism.

What families can expect:

• Immediate attention to the child and appropriate first aid
• Documentation of every incident on our official incident/accident/observation form, signed by the teacher, a director, and the parent the same day
• Phone calls home for all injuries involving children 18 months or younger
• Immediate parent notification for any significant injury or any minor injury involving the head, face, or neck
• Clear communication so families always know what happened and how it was handled

We prioritize keeping children safe, responding promptly, and keeping parents fully informed at every step.

Yes. We participate in the Federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which has strict guidelines for how meals are prepared and served.

We are a nut free school, and we can accommodate food allergies or dietary needs with the required medical documentation (such as a Food Modification Form completed by a licensed healthcare provider).

We work hard to make drop off a positive, comforting experience for every child. Teachers greet each child and family by name, ask quick check-in questions, and build a warm connection right from the door.

If a child is upset, teachers offer reassurance, a hug if welcomed, and calm support. We help them settle by guiding them to a favorite activity—reading a book, building with blocks, or joining a friend.

Our program is tuition based, which means you are reserving your child’s spot in the classroom—not paying per day of attendance.

• Weekly tuition is due every Monday.
• Payments not received by close of business on Tuesday are considered late.
• Families may pay in person or online through Procare.
• We accept cash, checks, and credit cards.

Yes. Because we are a tuition based program, tuition reserves your child’s spot in the classroom whether they attend or not. This ensures consistent staffing and high quality care for all children.

We do offer two vacation weeks per year, which provide 50% off one full week of tuition. Families may use these weeks for planned vacations or unexpected time away.