Effective August 10, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer initiated Executive Order 2020-164, that requires children ages 4-11, to wear a face covering upon entering and exiting a building, common spaces and hallways. In addition, children 12 years of age and older are also required to wear a face covering in classrooms.

Children, ages 4-11, do not need to wear a mask within their classroom cohort or outdoors when children are practicing physical distancing.
Children should NOT wear a face covering:

• If they are two years of age and younger.
• If they cannot medically tolerate or independently remove a face covering.
• During activities such as mealtime, sleeping, swimming and some high intensity activities.
• Outdoors when children are practicing physical distancing.

RCS will not require children, ages 2-3, to wear a mask. If a parent/guardian chooses to have their child wear a mask, the child will be required to exhibit an understanding of how to wear the mask safely and how to remove it without assistance.

Yes. Staff will ensure hand hygiene and assist children, as necessary, to store masks and reduce the opportunity for cross contamination. They will also help children troubleshoot mask problems.

We continue to partner with our families and provide the love, care and support needed to overcome challenges.

The right fit is important. Face coverings should fit snuggly around the nose, mouth and chin, leaving minimal to no gaps. Children should be able to breathe easy.

Try to involve children in picking out their own face covering. Be careful with strap adjustments that could potentially be a choking hazard. Practice wearing face coverings at home and try to make it fun!

It would be very helpful if families could send an extra mask in case a mask becomes dirty, damaged or wet. RCS will have a supply of pediatric masks.

RCS Caring Steps Children's Center opened on September 4, 2018.

RCS Caring Steps Children's Center is open Monday-Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The children’s center is located at 3838 N. Rochester Road, north of Gunn, in Oakland Township. The district purchased and renovated an existing building that formerly housed a church/school. The center offers 36,000 square feet on 23 acres. New classroom configurations feature new furniture, flooring, ceilings, and more.

Childcare is offered from six weeks through age 5. 

Yes. Services are open to all members of the greater Rochester community and beyond. This includes residents of neighboring cities. RCS teachers and staff living outside the district are also welcome to utilize the childcare services for their children. RCS residency is not a requirement.

Registration is done via email or by phone at caringsteps@rochester.k12.mi.us or (248) 726-4800. Your paid registration fee secures your spot within the program at Caring Steps Children's Center. .

Employees of the Rochester Community School District will receive a 5% discount off the monthly tuition for the RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center. The discount is applied to the oldest child’s account each month and is limited to 10 percent per family. The discount applies to all employees working within the Rochester Community School District who have a district identification badge.

Yes. Tuition includes breakfast, lunch, and two snacks. Infants will be provided with a variety of age appropriate foods.  Outside food is not permitted and allergies will be accommodated on a case by case basis. 

No. Partial day rates are not available. Of course, you may pick up your child at any time, but in order to plan for appropriate staffing levels, only full-day rates will be offered.

New students may enroll at any time as space permits.

The RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center is designed as a year-round, 12-month program and does not break for the summer. A family may choose to dis-enroll their child from the program for the summer and then re-enroll the child again as space permits; however, they will need to pay the registration fee.

Caring Steps provides care for children five years old and younger. 

Summer-specific programs are offered through the RCS School Age Care (SAC) program. More information is available on the website at: WEB LINK NEEDED HERE.

Yes. The center will make every effort to provide childcare during inclement weather. 

The educational philosophy of RCS Caring Steps Children's Center follows the HighScope Curriculum and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. 

• Infants (6 weeks – 12 months): Nine children in each classroom with three caregivers
• Toddlers (12 – 30 months): 12 children in each classroom with three caregivers
• Young Preschool (30 months – 3 years): 14 children in each classroom with two caregivers
• Preschool (3 – 4 years): 24 children in each classroom with three caregivers
• Kindergarten Preparation (4-5 years): 30 children in each classroom with three caregivers

Please note, our current class sizes are ideal for our center and maximize our learning environment. Our exceptional child-to-caregiver ratios are voluntarily small and are better than the guidelines permissible by Michigan state law. In some circumstances, Caring Steps class sizes and staff members may vary, but we will always be in compliance with ratios mandated by state regulatory agencies.

The facility is fully secure. All visitors must enter through the main entrance using the visitor verification system. All exterior doors remain locked throughout the day.

At RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center, we welcome children with unique needs and will speak individually with prospective parents to ensure we can provide their child with the care they require before enrollment.

Since Special Education services are available for both children and adults, ages 0-26, living within the boundaries of Rochester Community Schools, the RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center will not duplicate services. Please contact the RCS Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Department to learn more. Information is also available on our website at WEB LINK NEEDED HERE or call 248-726-3195.

Staffing will be contracted through Genesee Education Consultant Services Inc. Job postings and more information can be found on the GECS website at https://www.gecs-inc.org/rochester.html

Caring Steps does not serve peanut or tree nut products.  Nut products are not permitted in the building.

No. Transportation services are not provided to and/or from Caring Steps Children's Center.

Although the children’s center offers childcare and preschool services to people living outside the RCS district boundaries, K-12 students MUST reside within school district boundaries, based on their home address.

Yes. To schedule a tour, please call (248) 726-4800.

Please note: During the COVID 19 pandemic, we have suspended all in person tours at this time. A video highlighting our building and programs is available at the link below. 

https://vimeo.com/439329410