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I'm tired of being a square peg being rammed into a round hole.
Background for members who don't know me....
Small, multi-age center, only 15 students.
My husband is my business partner and co-lead teacher, one other staffer as an assistant.
I have college degree (BA), NOT in ECE, husband has AA, also not in ECE.
We enroll 1 to 5 year olds.
We have a play based curriculum.
This is our fourth year in the program.
They only want to evaluate same-age "classrooms" now. Well, we don't do that.
The director has to have a BA or higher in ECE. That's me, sorry degree in Anthropology, but enough ECE courses to be granted a Directors Credential.
They want 75 percent of lead teachers to have a BA or higher in any field. Well, with only 2 lead teachers, we are either 0%, 50% or 100%, not mathematically possible to have 75% with a staff of 2.
They want written evidence of monthly lead teacher staff meetings. Its called our dinner table, we're married, why write down 12 fake staff meetings?
These evaluators always rave about our program, environment, curriculum, family involvement, etc. We would be 5 stars without all that administrative junk.
We are basically a large family daycare in principal. We are a center for licensing purposes because we don't live in the building. They concede this, but this year they insist on evaluating same-age classrooms. I asked to be evaluated as a family child care, but that was not possible. Rules, ya know.
Why settle for 3 stars, when you AND the powers that be KNOW your environment warrant 5 stars?
Consequences.....we can no longer accept subsidy.
We will not be eligible for certain grants.
We will no longer appear in their advertisements.
My translation....."we're gonna hit you in the pocketbook if ya don't cooperate".
My center is not what they are accustomed to dealing with. Multi age approach, however, is something all you ladies can relate too......include the younger ones in play, improved vocabulary and language acquisition, roles of leadership for the older ones, greater pro-social behavior, etc. Siblings together, home like atmosphere, personal attention, the list goes on and on......but you know that already.
So was I wrong to opt out? Am I being a cry baby? Should I have continued trying to fit the mold? What about the actual physical human children that qualify for subsidy but can not come here anymore? I only have one child on it now, an easy pie wonderful 4 year old girl that I am prepared to keep at her state rate anyways. The state paid about 50% of her tuition of $185 per week, so I'll take the hit to keep this awesome child. But no more in the future.
Background for members who don't know me....
Small, multi-age center, only 15 students.
My husband is my business partner and co-lead teacher, one other staffer as an assistant.
I have college degree (BA), NOT in ECE, husband has AA, also not in ECE.
We enroll 1 to 5 year olds.
We have a play based curriculum.
This is our fourth year in the program.
They only want to evaluate same-age "classrooms" now. Well, we don't do that.
The director has to have a BA or higher in ECE. That's me, sorry degree in Anthropology, but enough ECE courses to be granted a Directors Credential.
They want 75 percent of lead teachers to have a BA or higher in any field. Well, with only 2 lead teachers, we are either 0%, 50% or 100%, not mathematically possible to have 75% with a staff of 2.
They want written evidence of monthly lead teacher staff meetings. Its called our dinner table, we're married, why write down 12 fake staff meetings?
These evaluators always rave about our program, environment, curriculum, family involvement, etc. We would be 5 stars without all that administrative junk.
We are basically a large family daycare in principal. We are a center for licensing purposes because we don't live in the building. They concede this, but this year they insist on evaluating same-age classrooms. I asked to be evaluated as a family child care, but that was not possible. Rules, ya know.
Why settle for 3 stars, when you AND the powers that be KNOW your environment warrant 5 stars?
Consequences.....we can no longer accept subsidy.
We will not be eligible for certain grants.
We will no longer appear in their advertisements.
My translation....."we're gonna hit you in the pocketbook if ya don't cooperate".
My center is not what they are accustomed to dealing with. Multi age approach, however, is something all you ladies can relate too......include the younger ones in play, improved vocabulary and language acquisition, roles of leadership for the older ones, greater pro-social behavior, etc. Siblings together, home like atmosphere, personal attention, the list goes on and on......but you know that already.
So was I wrong to opt out? Am I being a cry baby? Should I have continued trying to fit the mold? What about the actual physical human children that qualify for subsidy but can not come here anymore? I only have one child on it now, an easy pie wonderful 4 year old girl that I am prepared to keep at her state rate anyways. The state paid about 50% of her tuition of $185 per week, so I'll take the hit to keep this awesome child. But no more in the future.
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And by "supported" I mean encouraged it. 
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