Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  What will childcare look like in the fall when schools may not open

    Posted 05-15-2020 10:40 AM
    At this point, it is difficult to address what will happen in the fall with childcare centers that participate in afterschool programs.  Public schools are navigating all possible scenarios.   Will they open up, as usual, continue with distance learning, or maybe move to a hybrid solution that includes some distance learning and in-class learning.  In the meantime, childcare centers are waiting to hear so they can plan.  

    What are your contingency plans for the different scenarios and what does your center need?
    Do you have internet access so that school-agers can continue distance learning while at your center?
    Are your teachers able to tutor and assist in distance learning for students in kindergarten to fourth/fifth grade?
    Some parents may still be working from home, will you offer part-time alternatives for all age groups?

    What about the private half-day preschools?
    What are your thoughts on how your business plan needs to change to survive?
    How could your school offer distance learning or a hybrid solution for three and four year olds?
    Should you offer half-day school age programs to assist parents working from home time?

    What information and resources do you need from your local, state, and national governments? 

    So many questions about a time when situations are fluid and when we don't know what the future will look like.




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    Debora Johnson
    Lead Teacher
    Leesburg Open Arms
    Leesburg VA
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  • 2.  RE: What will childcare look like in the fall when schools may not open

    Posted 05-16-2020 06:35 AM

    Hi Debora
    So many great questions, and all of those have been swirling in my head that keep me awake at night. We are anticipating guidelines any day now hopefully. The uncertainties are endless. We are a private preschool serving age 1-5 and have about 240 students. My enrollment is full for the upcoming school year, so I also struggle with how will we determine "who gets to come and who has to wait" if we are required to re-open with a decreased capacity?  





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    Lisa Houghlin
    Director
    Sacred Heart Preschool
    Louisville KY
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  • 3.  RE: What will childcare look like in the fall when schools may not open

    Posted 05-16-2020 08:27 AM

    At this point, we are focusing on what to do with school age children during the summer. We wouldn't  be able to go on field trips, so we are left with full days to fill at the center. While we are closed, we are transforming part of the classroom into a computer lab and the other side into a STEM lab.  We have a great partnership with our school district and we are working on combined resources to allow the children to extend classroom learning throughout the summer. The children will be able to bring in their laptops and/or we will arrange to borrow some from the school district. We are hoping to use the same resources that the children currently use at the school district to further their education in a fun way. We are looking at ways to set the other side of the room up that will reflect their learning.

    We are fortunate that our school age teacher is a certified elementary education teacher and has experience teaching a few grades. I also have a degree in elementary education and together we will team up and work through the kinks. We hope that by starting early, we will be able to address any scenario that the school district will use.

    We will continue to offer before and after care, full day, part day and homework help to our families.



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    Judith Crowder
    Little JEMS Children's Center
    Croydon PA
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  • 4.  RE: What will childcare look like in the fall when schools may not open

    Posted 05-19-2020 05:13 PM
      |   view attached
    Hello all,

    I created a Resource Document for parents and educators to have access to some in-home activities, support groups and more. Please share and have a great day!

    Best Regards,
    --
    Carin M. Leiva, MA
    Family Engagement Specialist/ Education Department 
    4CS of Passaic County, Inc.
    2 Market Street, 3rd Floor
    Paterson, NJ 07501
    Ph: 973-684-1904 Ext 276
    www.4cspassaic.org
    " Optimism is the faith that leads achievement; Nothing can be done without hope."
    -------------------------------------------------------

    Our mission is to assist families in obtaining high quality child care that is available, accessible, and affordable. For more information on our programs and services: child-carereferrals, financial assistance with child care, vocational training, and more,  visit our website at https://www.4cspassaic.org/.




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