Thank You!

Thanks to your help, we are currently in Phases 2 & 3 of preschool construction and are actively planning for Fortress Early Learning Center to open in Fall 2016! Read more below.

The Need

Two things have kept us from expanding our preschool program to full-time with a higher enrollment.

Classroom Space
The configuration of our classroom space is such that we can only enroll 22 students. The need for preschool opportunities in the Fortress neighborhood is great, but the resources are few. There are 30 kids on the waiting list to enroll, despite the fact that we have never advertised.

Code Compliance
To operate a full-time preschool, Fortress YDC would need to meet minimum standards to become licensed with the City of Fort Worth, but because of obstacles presented by our 108-year old building, bringing certain aspects of the facility is cost-prohibitive. Without licensing, we are only allowed to operate twelve hours per week. Fortress Early Learning Center operates on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30-2:00, or 9 hours per week. To increase our hours to full-time, we would need to become licensed. Two of our primary issues that keep us from being licensed in our current facility are a lack of sinks and toilets in the preschool area and a lack of code-compliant outdoor play equipment.

The Solution

In January 2013, Castleberry ISD offered to "sell" us two portable classrooms. The buildings themselves (valued at over $30,000 apiece) would only cost us $1,600, with an additional expense of $25,000 to have them moved, installed and permitted. Thanks to a gift from TCU's Nature of Giving Student Organization, the buildings were moved to our property in the fall of 2013. The addition of these two buildings will enable us to move our preschool, allowing us to obtain licensure and begin operating full-time. 

We have completed Phase One of the project, which included moving the buildings to our property and developing the plans for their intended use. The addition of these two buildings addresses the needs outlined above and will greatly impact the community we serve. The buildings have been designed with ADA requirements in mind and will easily meet all licensing requirements. Our goal is to complete Phases Two and Three, obtain licensure and expand to full-time preschool in the fall of 2016.