Children's Courtyard

LOCAL SCHOOLS HELP HURRICANE REFUGEES
Experts Offer Tips and Discounts to Kids Dealing with Disaster

(Houston, TX) Countless victims of Hurricane Katrina are flooding into Houston. The Children's Courtyard is already helping by providing significant childcare discounts as well as advice to families in need.

Many refugees are young children who are terrified and confused about why they had to leave their home. While parents struggle with their potential loss, their kids are growing restless in cramped shelters and hotel rooms. The Children's Courtyard invites them to attend learning centers where they can play with toys as well as other children their age. Teachers hope to provide a distraction from the disaster for these young victims who have already suffered so much. In addition, the discounted childcare will help parents with finances as they tend to pressing needs.

Besides Louisiana youth, children in Houston are affected by the hurricane as well. As they watch the news unfold on television, many will worry about their own homes and lives. Teachers at The Children's Courtyard are trained to help students cope with a variety of issues in the classroom. Their expert tips can help parents counsel their children in this time of tragedy.

The State of Texas has relaxed immunization requirements for refugee students for 30 days. The Children's Courtyard will provide discounted tuition during that time and will reassess the need for assistance following the state's 30-day window. The only requirement for admission is that the child be less than 14-years-old and have necessary documentation. Discounts are available in the Houston, Dallas and Austin areas. Admittance is also subject to availability at the school.

The Children's Courtyard began as a preschool in Arlington, Texas, in 1986. Now, it operates 76 programs for infants, preschoolers, and school-age children in the Austin, Houston, and DFW areas. It is unique to its industry because of its innovative Lab Schools that train and develop staff as well as its state-of-the-art facilities reserved only for school age kids. The Children's Courtyard is ranked 8th among North America's 50 largest for-profit early childhood organizations and was voted 4th among large businesses in the Dallas Business Journal "Best Places to Work" survey. For more information, please visit www.childrenscourtyard.com.