Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition assistance is provided to families on a needs basis. Income is the most common reason for acceptance, however, other family circumstances, including special education needs, may make you eligible. 

Virginia Early Learning Partners is a 501c3, non-profit that is part of the Henrico Education Foundation (HEF). The organization is not operated by the state. VAELP partners with the Virginia Department of Education to ensure that the public/private partners provide equivalent programs for their students. 

No. At this time VAELP and HCPS use a quality matrix in combination with an area needs assessment to bring childcare programs on. We currently utilize more than 20 sites and look to expand the programs annually. The list of partnering centers can be found here.

Virginia has developed a quality rating and improvement system that all VAELP programs must participate.

Selecting and monitoring a childcare provider is the right and responsibility of the parent or guardian. Providers listed with VAELP are regulated by the Virginia Department of Education. Providers have been screened, evaluated, and receive ongoing training through VAELP, however, VAELP neither guarantees nor endorses specific providers.

Virginia Early Learning Partners utilizes state and federal grants to provide a portion of the spaces that are funded each year. Additional slots are available through a partnership with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) that allows for Virginia Preschool Initiative dollars to pay for tuition at select private childcare centers.

Yes! We encourage families to utilize VAELP to cover the portion of the day that is designated as school hours. Our programs run just like public school. We follow the HCPS school calendar. VAELP covers your school day and families are encouraged to obtain childcare subsidy through DSS for the additional hours (before and after care) and days that care is needed when schools are closed. The combination of funding allows for parents to choose a high quality center for full days and a full year program.

All pre-K students are expected to attend daily, just as they would at the public school. If a child has a pattern of being chronically late, leaving school early or being absent, the assigned program staff will contact parents and guardians to schedule meetings, provide support and set goals. Any child who has missed 5 consecutive days without communicating with program staff could be removed from the program.

Visit our Preschool Years page for information on the application process.