Frequently Asked Questions

• Frontiers welcomes the application of all elementary students enrolled in the Rankin County School District. Student must: 
  • be completely, independently potty trained; 
  • have not yet turned 12 as of September 1;
  • not have needs that cannot be reasonably accommodated or affect the safety and welfare of students and staff. Frontiers sites are staffed to work with students in large groups; therefore, we cannot devote one-on-one attention or assistance.

SPECIAL NEEDS CONSIDERATIONS:

• Applications of children with special needs are welcome and considered on an ongoing case-by-case, trial basis, according to the program’s ability to meet the child’s needs in the after-school setting. 

  • To determine the program's ability to meet special needs, a committee of individuals within Rankin County School District (not limited to teachers, counselors, principals, members of the special education department, and Frontiers staff) will review applicants to determine if Frontiers may be an appropriate after school childcare setting for each student with special needs.

  • This review may also include observations of classroom (and other) behaviors to ensure participation in our program is appropriate for each student’s health, safety, social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs and to needs of the same for staff and other program participants. THIS REVIEW IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE PROCESS. 

    • Frontiers reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any child from the program, with or without prior notice or warning, based on the severity of an incident (even on the first offense), if the child fails to adequately adjust to the setting, policies, and procedures OR if it is determined that placement is unsatisfactory. (Please refer to the "Suspensions and Dismissals" section of our Parent Handbook for more information. )

• ​​​​​​During the school year: You must contact the site to verify availability. If a spot is available, the registration fee, tuition, and completed Parent Contract, per child, is required to be considered enrolled. Students must register annually - registration does NOT "rollover."  Click here for phone numbers.
• During the summer months: ALL enrollment is done at the Frontiers Administrative Office according to site availability. Site Coordinators do NOT have access to their site phones during the summer and cannot assist parents will registration or provide information regarding availability. Summer registration ends mid-July to allow us time to prepare files and financial records for sites. 

• Tuition is due the first school day of the month and is payable at site when you pick your child(ren) up. 
  • The deadline is always on the 5th at 6 p.m. If the 5th falls on a holiday or weekend, tuition is due the next the school day. (Exception - New for 2024-25: October tuition is due/drafted on the Thursday before Fall Break.) 
• Families with children at different schools must pay tuition at each individual school. This requires a separate check/money order for each school. There is no price break for multiple children in a family.
• There is a $40 late fee, per site, for tuition not paid on time. Child(ren) will be suspended until the account is clear and school officials will be notified of suspensions to assure alternate transportation is arranged for the duration of the suspension.

NOTE: Tuition may be paid by FREE bank draft (drafted on the 5th of each month until the parent cancels services). August tuition does NOT draft. Parents must use another appropriate method of payment for August tuition.  (Exception - New for 2024-25: October tuition is due/drafted on the Thursday before Fall Break.) 

• No, Frontiers is only open on the days school is in session. Tuition is calculated so the rate remains the same regardless of school holidays and student attendance.
• Frontiers is also closed on the early dismissal/"half" days in December and May.
• All spots are full-time students regardless of holidays, sick days, vacations, or how much/how little the child attends. We do not offer part-time student enrollment or "drop-ins."

• Frontiers students listed on the school's absentee report will be considered absent from Frontiers as well. If your child attends school but does not attend Frontiers that afternoon for any reason (such as riding the bus/car home, being checked out for dental appointments, etc.), please contact the Site Coordinator as well as the regular school officials. 
  • Frontiers does not always receive absentee reports or notices of transportation changes. Repeated failure to follow this policy may result in dismissal from Frontiers. Our first concern is the safety and whereabouts of your child. Appropriate phone numbers for Frontiers sites are listed here.

By attending Frontiers, parents must acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume all risks if their child is exposed to or infected with this virus, releasing Frontiers, Rankin County School District, and its employees from any and all claims/liability.
• If a child is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, a parent or other emergency contact will be notified to pick up immediately.
• If it is determined that a child has been exposed to or infected with COVID-19, the parent must notify the proper school officials and comply with quarantine mandates as set by Rankin County School District. (The child cannot return to Frontiers until he or she can return to school.)

NOTE: Tuition is NOT prorated for absences, including absences related to COVID. If quarantining results in missing the tuition deadline date, payment is due, in full, within three days of the child(ren) returning to Frontiers to avoid late fees and suspension due to non-payment.

• Frontiers can only administer medications with a current, completed, and signed Medication Authorization Form on file. Prescription and over-the-counter medications MUST be in original container with written dosage information. We will only accept one week's worth of prescription medication at a time. Frontiers cannot accept/store any medication that must be refrigerated.

NOTE: If a child's contract indicates the need for an EpiPen, that child will NOT be allowed to attend until Frontiers has an EpiPen in its possession. We do not have access to EpiPens or medication stored in classrooms or the school office during Frontiers time. 

No. Frontiers schedules include arts and crafts, games, and other planned activities to occupy the students' time. Please do not allow students to bring cell phones, iPads, Apple watches, trading cards, and/or similar items to Frontiers. Students will be required to keep these in their book bags or the Site Coordinator will hold them until pick-up. Frontiers is not responsible for loss or damage to items such as these.

• Yes. Students may bring/eat an extra snack from home, finish a sack lunch, etc., but may only do so during the scheduled snack time.
  • Food items must be ready to eat (as is) and cannot require heating, cooking, refrigeration, etc.
  • Food items cannot be shared and must not contain nuts.
    • Other food items and ingredients may be prohibited based student allergies. 

NOTE: In accordance with USDA nutrition standards and meal pattern guidelines for after school programs, Frontiers can only provide one snack per child, per day. The designated time for snacks is generally upon your child's arrival to Frontiers (2:00 p.m.) for most schools. 

• As a month-to-month service, tuition secures a child’s spot for the entire month.
  • Parents may withdraw a child at any time during the month; however, tuition is not adjusted or refunded based on attendance.
    • If a child attends any days in a “new” month, but withdraws without paying tuition, parents will be charged for days of service. Future enrollment will be based on spot availability. Any outstanding fees must be paid, in full, to be eligible for future enrollment.
    • TO CANCEL AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS written requests must be submitted, in writing, at least one week prior to the scheduled draft date (refer to the Tuition Calendar). The drafted amount plus a $40 fee will be charged for all “stopped” payments, account holds, or any payments reported as fraudulent - if services are rendered.