PALS Enrichment Program Policies

Amended on September 2, 2026

Membership
1. Commitment: Membership is open to homeschooling families, with children between the ages of 4-18, who are committed to supporting our program and abiding by our policies.
2. Clearances
  1. General: All attending adults must have valid clearances on file to register and attend. Anyone who does not have valid clearances on file must be accompanied by a PALS adult at all times.
  2. Ongoing Reporting: All attending adults should notify the Board immediately if their clearance status changes.
3. Orientation: All families must complete an orientation before they are allowed to attend classes; this can be done in person or digitally.
4. Waivers: Parents must sign waivers acknowledging the risks involved in participation and releasing the PALS from liability for incidents.
5. Policy Agreement: All parents and guardians are required to read, agree to, and adhere to these policies and procedures.
6. Accounts: If a family does not attend for one semester, their account will be archived on the website. Their account will be removed if they do not register for the following semester.
Membership Waitlist
1. Procedure: Families who are interested in joining will be put on a waitlist. The order of the waitlist will depend on when all valid clearances are turned in and whether they are a new or returning family.
  1. Families that accept their invitation off the waitlist and then decide not to attend will be entered onto the waitlist at that time. They will lose their initial spot on the waitlist.
2. New Family re: Waitlist: Families who have never attended PALS and families who have previously attended PALS but have taken 2 or more semesters off are considered new families.
3. Returning Family re: Waitlist: Families that have previously attended PALS and have taken one semester off are placed at the top of the semester waitlist.
Registration
1. Age Requirements: Children registering for classes must be between 4-18 years old on the first day of classes.
2. Age Exemptions: Students seeking age exemptions must be within one year of the minimum age for that class.
  1. Families will reach out the Registrar before Class Registration: the deadline will be the Wednesday before Class Registration
  2. The Registrar will contact teachers before Class Registration for approval.
  3. If approved, age exemptions will be entered manually one hour after general registration has opened.
3. Class Registrations: All class registrations will be finalized the Friday after the second week of classes.
4. Class Cancellations: At the end of the registration period, classes with insufficient enrollment (3-4 or fewer students) may be cancelled. Any students being moved from a cancelled class will have priority placement on waitlists.
5. Class Withdrawals or Changes: Class fees for any classes dropped after the registration period will remain as teachers determine their class fee total after registration is over. Families are responsible for paying class fees for classes dropped after the registration deadline; class fees for all classes added after the semester begins are due immediately.
6. Class Waitlists: The order of the waitlist is determined by the timestamps on the website.
  1. Students being moved out of a cancelled class are exempt from this.
Fees and Financial Matters
1. Community Share Fee: All families pay a fee of $135 per family per term to secure their registrations. This fee is due on or before the first day of classes. This fee is nonrefundable and covers operating costs such as rent, insurance, and other overhead.
2. Class Fees: Class fees will be set by the teacher and should reflect the material cost of the class. No adjustments to the class fee will be made after registration.
3. Scholarships: Families may qualify for scholarships based on available funds. This scholarship is for full or partial coverage of the Community Share Fee and does not include class fees.
4. Payment: Payment is accepted through PayPal or check (made out to PALS Enrichment) and is due on or before the first day of classes.
5. Refunds: There will be no refunds.
6. Withdrawals: Families are responsible for all fees for any withdrawals made after the class registration period has ended, including if the family decides not to attend. Families will not be allowed to register again in the future until this is paid.
7. No Shows: A family is considered a no show if 1. they do not register for classes without communication or 2. if they do not attend for more than two consecutive weeks without communication; they will be unable to register for classes for the following term.
8. Class Fee Reimbursements: Teachers may receive all of their class fees, for all students registered after the deadline and any subsequent registrations, plus a 10% overage. Teachers must submit receipts to be reimbursed; teachers may claim up to $10 for at -home printing costs without a receipt.
9. Permanent Equipment: Teachers can request a purchase of equipment prior to class registration, if this equipment can be saved and used by PALS to alleviate current and future class fee costs for families. A request should be submitted to the Treasurer prior to class registration for the semester and will be voted on for approval.
Parent Expectations
1. Attendance: Regular attendance is expected of all students and parents. Parents must notify the Job Coordinator in advance of any absences.
2. Behavior Expectations: Parents are expected to treat each other and the facility with respect. Parents are also responsible for their children’s behavior at all times.
3. Jobs: Each family is required to register and complete jobs in order to participate. The requirement is one job per class period for which the family is attending, with a max of three jobs.
4. Job Accommodations: Families can inquire about job accommodations before job registration due to physical, medical, or other restraints. These are not guaranteed.
5. Community Tasks: Each family is required to register and complete one Community Task per semester, in addition to their per period job requirement. Accommodations may include exemption.
6. Supervision: Children who are not enrolled in a class must remain with a parent. They may not attend or participate in any class unless they are registered and have paid all class fees.
7. On Site Requirement: PALS Enrichment is NOT a drop-off program. Parents are expected to remain in the building with their children and are responsible for them at all times. PALS is not responsible for the safety, well-being, or behavior of your child. Parents are responsible for any property damage caused by their child.
8. Designated Caregiver: If you must leave the building temporarily, your children should be signed over to another adult in attendance who takes responsibility for them.
Student Expectations
1. Attendance: Regular attendance is expected of all students and parents. Parents must notify the Job Coordinator in advance of any absences.
2. Behavior Expectations: Students are expected to be respectful of others and the facility. Disruptive behavior will be addressed through a tiered system of warnings, parent involvement, and, if necessary, temporary or permanent removal from the class. Ultimately, parents are responsible for their children’s behavior at all times.
3. Supervision: Children who are not enrolled in a class must remain with a parent. They may not attend or participate in any class unless they are registered and have paid all class fees; children 4+ are not allowed to accompany their parent to any classroom jobs.
Class Proposals
1. Teacher Eligibility: Attending adults are eligible to teach in their second semester. Returning families who take more than one semester off are not eligible to teach until they have returned to PALS for a semester. All adults who teach must be in good standing with the PALS program, in other words, having a history of reliably attending PALS days and communicating absences in advance.
2. Timeline:
  1. Week 6: Class Proposals Open: Proposals are submitted via a Google form.
  2. Week 6: Class Brainstorming Meeting, in M rooms and Whitney Park.
  3. Week 8: Class Proposals Due and Class Surveys sent: Students have the opportunity to vote on what classes sound interesting. This process helps determine which classes are accepted and will be placed on the final schedule.
  4. Week 9-10: Class Grid Created: The schedule of classes for the upcoming term is fixed at this point.
3. Teacher Commitment: Teachers commit to teaching their proposed classes; the deadline to notify the Registrar of any changes is when class proposals are due. After that, if any teacher rescinds their offer to teach, it may impact their ability to teach in the future. Any teacher who cancels a class after registration will not be allowed to teach classes for two full semesters.
Teacher Expectations
1. Teacher Behavior: Teachers are expected to uphold the core values of the PALS community; PALS strives to foster a respectful, welcoming, and collaborative community. As such, teachers should demonstrate respect for all students in their classroom and should avoid using offensive or profane language.
2. Classroom Management: Teachers should maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students.
  1. First Day of Classes: Teachers are encouraged to start on the first day by setting classroom expectations that will help create a safe, supportive learning environment. There should also be opportunity for students to introduce themselves, including their pronouns and preferred name.
  2. Student Support: Teachers should maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students. If a teacher needs support with classroom management - i.e. managing disruptive behavior, supporting students with unique learning needs, or managing a hands-on class that has a lot of students - they should contact the front desk or Board member. If there are issues with a specific student, teachers are expected to communicate with the parents of the involved student. They may also include a Board member in the conversation to help figure out the best way to support the student and maintain a safe, supportive classroom environment.
  3. Parents: If a parent needs to be located during the PALS day, the adults at the front desk have a master schedule that will show the location of a parent who is teaching or assisting during that class period.
  4. Attendance: Teachers are required to record attendance. These records will be kept with the Secretary after the semester ends.
  5. Clean-up: Teachers should make sure their room is cleaned up before leaving the classroom. This includes wiping the tables, sweeping, disposing of trash, and putting the supplies back in their appropriate containers or cabinets.
  6. Communication: Teachers can use the PALS website to send emails to their students, if needed
3. Classroom Assistants: Teachers should have ongoing communication with their classroom assistants. This includes having contact information for relaying lesson plans in case of an absence.
4. Absences: Teachers should always let the Job Coordinator know of any absences and should have a lesson plan available for their co-teacher or assistant.
5. Student Notes and Confidentiality
  1. Rosters re: Student Notes: Teachers should view the notes on their class roster via the PALS website prior to the first day of class. These notes provide important information about notes allergies, dietary restrictions, pronouns, special needs, etc.
  2. Confidentiality: Student information in your class roster is confidential and may not be shared. This includes student names, health notes, parent notes, and contact information. Any information accessed behind your PALS login is considered private and should be treated accordingly.
Assistant Expectations
1. Classroom Management: Assistants should be actively involved in helping with classroom activities and providing support to the teacher.
2. Communication: Assistants should have ongoing communication with their teachers. This includes having contact information for relaying lesson plans in case of an absence.
3. Teacher Absences: When teachers are absent, the assistant should be willing to substitute.
4. Teen Assistants: Teens can serve as an assistant in a class and will have a guaranteed spot in the class. It does not count as a parent job and this does not secure teacher registration for the family.
Facility Rules
1. Rules of Use: All families will adhere to MAUMC’s Building Rules. All families should begin leaving the building promptly at 2:30, unless they are assisting with afternoon clean up.
2. Signing In and Out: Families are not permitted inside the facility until 9:30am. Each person must sign in and out upon entering and leaving the building, including infants and children.
3. General Care: No food or drinks are allowed in any carpeted classroom. Before leaving, please spend some time cleaning up after yourself.
4. Nursery: This is an unmonitored space for parents to bring children during class periods. Families are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Food is not permitted in the nursery.
5. Lost and Found: Any items found at the end of the day will be placed in a Lost and Found box on the relative floor. These boxes are not secure and are the responsibility of MAUMC. Items not claimed by the end of the term will be donated.
6. Smoking: Our rental facility has a non-smoking policy in both the building and on the grounds.
7. Solicitation: PALS is to be solicitation free. Fundraising by students is permitted on a case-by-case basis; contact the Board for a request.
Lunch Guidelines
1. Lunch Rooms: There are three in-building lunch rooms: gym, M rooms (quiet room), room 202 (teens).
2. Clean Up: Each family should clean up after themselves no matter where they are eating.
3. Teen Lunch Room: This is located in room 202 and is reserved for teens. This is an unmonitored space and parents are responsible for their children here and for ensuring that space has been set up and cleaned up.
4. Quiet Lunch Room: This is located in M1-M3. This is an unmonitored space and parents are responsible for their children here and for ensuring the space has been set up and cleaned up.
Health and Safety
1. Allergies: Allergies should be disclosed in your family and child profile on the website to ensure awareness. Parents should also notify teachers of any allergies before classes begin. Since lunch rooms are unmonitored spaces, parents are responsible for ensuring their children are eating safely.
  1. Allergen Statement: We have several families at PALS with peanut and shellfish allergies. We encourage anyone bringing anything containing peanuts and shellfish to be considerate of the families at PALS with these allergies. If refraining from bringing these foods is not an option, we ask that you inform anyone around you before you begin eating and that you wipe off any surface. PALS supplies spray and paper towels in all lunch spaces for use. You should also wash your hands and face using soap.
2. Child Safety
  1. General: Every adult at PALS is responsible for reporting unsafe behavior, either to a Board member or the front desk.
  2. Two Adults Rule: There will always be at least two adults assigned to a classroom. Adults are responsible for making sure they are meeting this requirement and should immediately notify the front desk if there is a concern about failure to abide by this policy.
  3. One-on-One Contact: Adults are not permitted to be in a room alone with an unrelated child ever. Adults are responsible for making sure they are meeting this requirement and should immediately notify the front desk if there is a concern about failure to abide by this policy.
3. Emergency Procedures: A written emergency plan will be posted on each classroom clipboard, detailing procedures for fire, medical emergencies, and lockdowns.
4. Illness: Parents should keep their children home if they or someone in their household are ill. Please do not attend within 24 hours of any illness.
5. Weapons: No weapons of any kind are allowed, including as part of Halloween costumes or cosplay.
Technology Use
1. Photos and Videos: PALS does not take photos or videos and is not responsible for monitoring members taking photos during the day. We encourage anyone to seek permission from parents before taking photos of anyone during the PALS day. Any family with safety concerns regarding photos or videos should communicate with the Board or their child’s teachers.
2. Use in Classrooms: Anyone in the classroom should refrain from using personal devices unless specific to that class or permitted by the teacher.
3. Wearable Technology: Smart glasses and other hidden recording devices are not permitted to be used in the building.
  1. Requests to use wearable technology as a medical or disability accommodation must be submitted to the Board.
Special Events and Field Trips
1. Planning: Field trips will be coordinated by a Field Trip Coordinator (parent job) and Event Coordinator (Board member).
2. No Drop Off: Parents are responsible for accompanying their child to all PALS field trips.
3. Funding: PALS does not sponsor these events. All fees will be divided amongst the attendees.
Inclement Weather
1. Closings: If PPS issues a cancellation due to weather, we do not hold classes.
2. Delays: If PPS issues a delay due to weather, there may still be classes.
3. Announcements: In either case, we will announce our open/closed status by email by 9am.
Conflict Resolution
1. Conflicts will be handled according to our Conflict Resolution Procedure.
Confidentiality
1. Information that is behind your account login should not be shared. This includes rosters and other people’s personal information.
Non-Discrimination Policy
1. PALS does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff if any, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Furthermore, PALS embraces nonpartisanship to respect the diversity of our political opinions and according to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code expressly directing that nonprofits shall “not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Ongoing Review and Feedback
1. Transparency: The Board will publish all meeting minutes, semester reports, and financial reports to the website.
2. Suggestion Box: The Board will monitor an in-class and virtual suggestion box for all community members to use. These suggestions will be handled by the Secretary and be brought to the Board for review.
3. Annual Meeting: The Board will hold an annual meeting after the Spring semester ends. In this meeting, the Board will vote in new members, review and change Bylaws and policies, review a yearly financial report, update any necessary information about clearances, verify insurance policy, review the Books and Records.

PALS Enrichment Program Policies

Membership

Membership Waitlist

Registration

Fees and Financial Matters

Parent Expectations

Student Expectations

Class Proposals

Teacher Expectations

Assistant Expectations

Facility Rules

Lunch Guidelines

Health and Safety

Technology Use

Special Events and Field Trips

Inclement Weather

Conflict Resolution

Confidentiality

Non-Discrimination Policy

Ongoing Review and Feedback