HOW in the WORLD???

[Cat Herder]

Why 12K in debt??

I had to turn my home into a daycare center. A complete classroom. The list of required supplies was incredible.

*3 inch mats, because they mash down to the minimum 2 inches when laid upon. *Evacuation cribs. *Individual linens, washed daily on site. *Must supply formula/baby food. *Must have a breast feeding area. *Must have a toy/curriculum lending library. *Must have a parent education library. *Must have pamphlets for each possible thing that could happen to a family on hand at all times. *Must have a complete first aid kit inside and outside, clearly posted sign. *No art supply can say "keep out of reach" so they have to be "crunchy" products. *Must have posters of all current kids and their families posted within child eye level. *Must have current growth charts of the current kids within child eye level. *Must have three current art project, from each child, up on walls at all times. Must be 3-d, multi-faceted, open ended and using several types of material. *All toy bins must have a photo of what is in them, with both an image and written description, even if all toy bins are clear. *All rugs must be taped. *Commercial curriculum only and must be on the approved li$t. *Must have commercial changing table, with strap, lip 8 inches. *Must have sand and water play daily. *Must have an outdoor art center. Etc.

Oh, and the college tuition, mileage, supplies and textbooks.

[Blackcat31]

I have not seen a huge benefit here either. I'm on the board of directors for our family childcare association and a rep from First 5, the agency implementing QRIS, has been coming to the meetings. The feedback that I have heard consistently is that first 5 sets these quality goals but doesn't give providers any useful information on how to achieve them. For those providers that do achieve a tier 5, there is a big grant and then nothing else. A tier 1 receives the same advertising materials that a tier 5 does. It's disappointing at best.

Here if you are trying for 1, 2 or 3 stars you get $500-$1000 for your efforts.

Many (too many) providers figured out that if you continue "trying" (and failing) to reach 4 stars, the state will continue to give you the bonus that is suppose to be an incentive to go farther....not tread water at one level and just keep collecting the money.

When the program first rolled out, I submitted my info as I currently ran my program. As is. I wanted to see where I fell "naturally" verses pretending to need the help and assistance to reach 4 stars just for the money. I made 4 stars without issues...was told "Ok, cool! Good for you!"

Then nothing.

Now, I didn't do it for the money and would happily do it again IF it wasn't for the perks I am finding that come TO families.... For example, I have one family right now on state assistance. They pay roughly 30% of their total child care costs of $1850 per month. Their children attend 4 days per week as they are given 40 hours per week to use. Parents only work about 36 hrs M-Th. Fridays off.

The FIRST thing that happened when I became a star rated program was their weekly hours increased to 50. (the thought behind that was the kids needed MORE access to quality early childhood programs verses being at home with their parents :confused Then a scholarship program became available ONLY to those families that choose to use a star rated program.

The amount of money each family as awarded is based on the number of stars the program has that they choose to use. As a 4 star program, the family was awarded $8000 PER child PER year to use for anything the state didn't already cover via the child care assistance program.

So basically this family no longer has to pay ANY of their child care costs and they get to use MORE hours. I do not get paid any more money for the additional work because I already bill them a weekly rate as they attend 4 days a week.

So I work MORE hours for them for NO additional money and the family is now in the position to buy a new van (TOP of the line) and mom had some plastic surgery done. She blatantly said that not having to pay any of her child care costs has allowed her to do those things.

Now I am not begrudging the family for ANY of their spending choices...to each their own but I am the one that did the work...I am the one that has to record, log and document a ton of stuff for the program and I am the one that ends up caring for their children the most waking hours but the parents (not even the kids in any way) benefit. :confused:

There is a lot more but I won't get that deep.....but I do feel the program has the right intentions but it seems to be benefiting the wrong people and in my opinion in the wrong ways.

I also participate in our round table meetings, am finding other ways to be a part of the program and get the voices of providers heard. I am sincerely hoping that they really learn from these first few years of implementing this program and change a few things. I can see the possible benefits..... but we shall see.

[daycare]

i am 100% private pay and there is ZERO benefit for me to be in this program. I do get free services kike health exams, program comes to my house and they conduct on site, but 99.9 % of my parents do not want to participate in them. they all have insurance and if they are required to get a yearly physical, all of that is conducted at that time anyways so why over do it?

UGH.... i wish I would wake up and this would just be all a bad dream....

[Blackcat31]

i am 100% private pay and there is ZERO benefit for me to be in this program. I do get free services kike health exams, program comes to my house and they conduct on site, but 99.9 % of my parents do not want to participate in them. they all have insurance and if they are required to get a yearly physical, all of that is conducted at that time anyways so why over do it?

UGH.... i wish I would wake up and this would just be all a bad dream....

In a way, we are REQUIRED to serve families on state assistance. It's a big part of the QRIS program in a lot of ways.

I currently keep only one family on state assistance. We get points (so on the opposite side, we lose points) if we have families on state assistance.

[Cat Herder]

i am 100% private pay and there is ZERO benefit for me to be in this program. I do get free services kike health exams, program comes to my house and they conduct on site, but 99.9 % of my parents do not want to participate in them. they all have insurance and if they are required to get a yearly physical, all of that is conducted at that time anyways so why over do it?

UGH.... i wish I would wake up and this would just be all a bad dream....

I am private pay, too.

The education part was awesome, though. Paying for it, not so much, but I wish I had had that before I had my kids. The first year of it is taught in high schools, now. Free.

I fully support provider taking these classes. They don't just teach childcare. They teach HUMAN development (through death) all life stages and the issues that accompany that. There was so much more to it. I loved my classes, still take a couple online a week since I paid for the "unlimited" plan. I am taking every single one they offer. For once, I am the client "getting my money worth" of services. ::::

[sharlan]

I had to turn my home into a daycare center. A complete classroom. The list of required supplies was incredible.

*3 inch mats, because they mash down to the minimum 2 inches when laid upon. (OK)
*Evacuation cribs. (I don't take infants.)
*Individual linens, washed daily on site. (I wash weekly.)
*Must supply formula/baby food. (I already do.)
*Must have a breast feeding area. (My living room, no privacy.)
*Must have a toy/curriculum lending library. (NOT HAPPENING.)
*Must have a parent education library. (Again, not happening.)
*Must have pamphlets for each possible thing that could happen to a family on hand at all times. (Again, nope.)
*Must have a complete first aid kit inside and outside, clearly posted sign. (I have one in the playroom and one in my car.)
*No art supply can say "keep out of reach" so they have to be "crunchy" products. (Everything says keep out of reach of children.)
*Must have posters of all current kids and their families posted within child eye level. (NOPE)
*Must have current growth charts of the current kids within child eye level. (Parents can do that at home.)
*Must have three current art project, from each child, up on walls at all times.
Must be 3-d, multi-faceted, open ended and using several types of material. (I send them home the day they're made. Parents can display them.)
*All toy bins must have a photo of what is in them, with both an image and written description, even if all toy bins are clear. (I don't label bins, they're either open or see through.)
*All rugs must be taped. (No rugs.)
*Commercial curriculum only and must be on the approved li$t. (Various curriculums, but not using any. All of my parents are erratic right now.) *Must have commercial changing table, with strap, lip 8 inches. (Floor works just fine for me.)
*Must have sand and water play daily. (Ok)
*Must have an outdoor art center. Etc. (Chalk and paint brushes for the water tables work?)

Oh, and the college tuition, mileage, supplies and textbooks.

(I am 61 and I AM NOT going back to school. I want to spend my money on my hobbies not something I'm not planning on using.)


As I have repeatedly said, I will shut my doors if this ever takes place in my area. I am a "HOME DAYCARE". I am not a head start program, I am not a preschool. I do not advertise as either.

[Annalee]

The union in WI has fought the QRIS tooth-and-nail. Unsuccessfully, though. They've also fought a bunch of other things, somewhat successfully.

For what it is worth and coming from the Pilot state for QRIS, QRIS is bigger than any organization....it is in law here and I look for it to be that way everywhere at some point. Providers here have fought and even met with legislators/law makers, QRIS is NOT going away! I am having my 14th assessment/report card next spring...and yes, already dreading it....BUT have give up fighting the system...IT IS A NO WIN BATTLE!!!!!

[Blackcat31]

(I am 61 and I AM NOT going back to school. I want to spend my money on my hobbies not something I'm not planning on using.)


As I have repeatedly said, I will shut my doors if this ever takes place in my area. I am a "HOME DAYCARE". I am not a head start program, I am not a preschool. I do not advertise as either.

What kills me is that the entire QRIS platform was based on Head Start as "the model" of early childhood education.

But according to the federal government (who funds BOTH programs) Head Start is an 8 billion $ failure with NO proven benefits to anyone other than those families/children that need to or needed to "catch up" to their peers.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Cat Herder]

What kills me I that the entire QRIS platform was based on Head Start as "the model" of early childhood education.

But according to the federal government (who funds BOTH programs) Head Start is an 8 billion $ failure with NO proven benefits to anyone other than those families/children that need to or needed to "catch up" to their peers.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Yep.

Up next: "The Growth Mindset". (as opposed to the fixed mindset in education)

You heard it here first, folks. Tip your waiter. :hug:

[daycare]

In a way, we are REQUIRED to serve families on state assistance. It's a big part of the QRIS program in a lot of ways.

I currently keep only one family on state assistance. We get points (so on the opposite side, we lose points) if we have families on state assistance.

in the 7 years that I have been in business up here since moving, I have yet to have 1 person call me to ask if I take assistance.

so I don't know how I would even find one. here the average income is well over $165k a year.

[daycare]

What kills me is that the entire QRIS platform was based on Head Start as "the model" of early childhood education.

But according to the federal government (who funds BOTH programs) Head Start is an 8 billion $ failure with NO proven benefits to anyone other than those families/children that need to or needed to "catch up" to their peers.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

round of applause please....OMG....I asked this question during the orientation and they came to me and said you can come talk to me privately after.

[Blackcat31]

in the 7 years that I have been in business up here since moving, I have yet to have 1 person call me to ask if I take assistance.

so I don't know how I would even find one. here the average income is well over $165k a year.

They offer incentives for parents to find a provider/program that participates in QRIS so trust me if that part becomes part of your area QRIS, they WILL find you. LOL!!

Even if that means having to travel out of their way. The scholarships my family(ies) get covers any expenses they incur in order to access high quality programs.

My wait list has quadrupled since I became a star rated provider and 75% of those that are new to my wait list are families waiting to get into a participating program because of the benefits to them.

[Baby lady]

If it ever hits SoCal, I'm done. There is no way that I am willing to put that much time and effort into it when I plan on quitting in less than 5 years.

Me too! 30 years in LA County

[daycare]

They offer incentives for parents to find a provider/program that participates in QRIS so trust me if that part becomes part of your area QRIS, they WILL find you. LOL!!

Even if that means having to travel out of their way. The scholarships my family(ies) get covers any expenses they incur in order to access high quality programs.

My wait list has quadrupled since I became a star rated provider and 75% of those that are new to my wait list are families waiting to get into a participating program because of the benefits to them.

not to sound sassy, but people are below the income level, just can't afford to live here. the housing prices have run those people pretty much out of town. there are a few free head starts here and they are not even full