Children Separated by Pay Type

[MamaMightSnap]

Well if what is being said here is true, it may not do any good. The director may be powerless over the situation. That would make me sad. Is it a corporate center? Some of those big corporate centers don't give the directors much power either.

It is not a corporate center. It's locally owned by a couple with 5 or 6 other centers. This one is unique in that it is in a church, with no affiliation to the church itself. I understand that the director may not have any control over this situation. I still feel like I need to address my concerns with her. Surely I'm not the only parent who feels this way. Even if nothing changes for my child, perhaps somewhere down the line, it can change for others.

[Thriftylady]

It is not a corporate center. It's locally owned by a couple with 5 or 6 other centers. This one is unique in that it is in a church, with no affiliation to the church itself. I understand that the director may not have any control over this situation. I still feel like I need to address my concerns with her. Surely I'm not the only parent who feels this way. Even if nothing changes for my child, perhaps somewhere down the line, it can change for others.

Yes still talk to her for sure. Perhaps since it isn't a big corporate place maybe she can do something. Let us know how it goes!

[Mad_Pistachio]

If the tables were turned and only the private pay children had access to the newest equipment while DHS children were grouped together in a separate room, this would be a HUGE issue.

I honestly don't know where you can go with that (there must be a place or a person for that), but if you ever do go somewhere to complain about this, use the quoted as one of your points. equality and all that. liberty and justice for all, right?
otherwise, sorry you have to go through that, especially since you don't seem to have any other option, and just pulling your child may do more harm than good.

[Blackcat31]

I honestly don't know where you can go with that (there must be a place or a person for that), but if you ever do go somewhere to complain about this, use the quoted as one of your points. equality and all that. liberty and justice for all, right?
otherwise, sorry you have to go through that, especially since you don't seem to have any other option, and just pulling your child may do more harm than good.

The media is always a good place to vent.

Whatever method of media a person chooses to use is up to them but providers in my state have had some great successes by "venting" and sharing feedback via our local and statewide media sources.

[daycarediva]

Mine as well. It is why I keep my rates low by applying for every grant possible without having to accept subsidy. My waiting list is at 4 years, now..

It is getting harder and harder to do. We are being forced out of business. Our ratios keep being lowered while our training, regulations and supply lists keep getting more and more expensive.

I hope you stick around the forum. You have more of an ability to make a difference than most providers with this issue. :hug:

I refuse to accept subsidy, and because of this I have an odd clientele that is all higher income but for whatever reason chose not to use a nanny (typically because they only have one child and want the socialization/school aspect) Dr's, dentists, local newswoman, etc.

The media is always a good place to vent.

Whatever method of media a person chooses to use is up to them but providers in my state have had some great successes by "venting" and sharing feedback via our local and statewide media sources.

I would comment or message a local news on facebook. That you have loved the care received, but are shocked with the regulations of segregation that the state has enforced.

Yes, please stick around! It's wonderful to have a parent perspective!

[MamaMightSnap]

Don't think I haven't thought about going to media with this issue! I want to talk to the director first, as she is a family member. Unfortunately she has been out sick. After she has had a chance to respond, I would like to talk to the owner because she is the facilitator of all this. She's very brash and I can see her telling me to take my child elsewhere if
I'm not happy. She will be the one to really fan the flames and send me straight to media outlets!

[Cat Herder]

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/03/universal-preschools-empty-promises

This might interest you, Mama. Notice how long this debate has been going...

Scroll down to the Oklahoma section..

[Heidi]

I'm still going to argue that those gains that children make, then lose, is because of our public schools, NOT because they didn't make them in the first place.

I was a family childcare provider for 14 years, and have been a HS Home Visitor for 6 months. I am appalled at the difference between the children I cared for then and the children I serve now. They are so behind, for the most part, it's sad. As frustrated as I sometimes got with daycare families that didn't seem to really care what was going on with their children during the day (how or what they learned), at least I had them 9 hours a day and they learned! The kiddos I serve now, I see 1 1/2 hours a week. I see progress; but 1 1/2 hours a week is a drop in the bucket.

We have to document every single visit to every single child, and track their development. We have to do quarterly reports to show their gains. I'm telling you, as frustrating as it is, the gains are there. Without HS, these kids would be way behind when they get to school.

As far as one classroom getting grant money and therefore being able to offer better materials or equipment for those kids, I wish it weren't the case. But, honestly, that's what the money is allotted for. We used to be able to get grants that benefited ALL the children in our group; those grants are gone. Years ago, having low-income children in your group did give you extra "points" in your grant application, but it wasn't as in-your-face as this program seems to be.

[Thriftylady]

I'm still going to argue that those gains that children make, then lose, is because of our public schools, NOT because they didn't make them in the first place.

I was a family childcare provider for 14 years, and have been a HS Home Visitor for 6 months. I am appalled at the difference between the children I cared for then and the children I serve now. They are so behind, for the most part, it's sad. As frustrated as I sometimes got with daycare families that didn't seem to really care what was going on with their children during the day (how or what they learned), at least I had them 9 hours a day and they learned! The kiddos I serve now, I see 1 1/2 hours a week. I see progress; but 1 1/2 hours a week is a drop in the bucket.

We have to document every single visit to every single child, and track their development. We have to do quarterly reports to show their gains. I'm telling you, as frustrating as it is, the gains are there. Without HS, these kids would be way behind when they get to school.

As far as one classroom getting grant money and therefore being able to offer better materials or equipment for those kids, I wish it weren't the case. But, honestly, that's what the money is allotted for. We used to be able to get grants that benefited ALL the children in our group; those grants are gone. Years ago, having low-income children in your group did give you extra "points" in your grant application, but it wasn't as in-your-face as this program seems to be.

Well I can only speak for my experience with HS. DD qualified when she was little, due to her assessment. She also qualified for pre K where she would have been bussed. I beleived that HS would be better so sent her there. She learned nothing that she wouldn't have learned at my home daycare, maybe less. When I asked them about it, the teacher told me (and I can quote I was so appalled I remember it to this day) "we don't teach in HS, this is more for socialization so they can learn to play". I was at least doing some teaching in my daycare. I really feel like I cheated her sending her to HS. She was not ready for kindy. Now to be fair, she has a July 23 birthday so part of not being ready MAY have been age, but the school wouldn't hold her back when we asked they wanted to put her in special ed with in the autistic room 4 hours a day for first grade. DD did not then and has never been diagnosed with any medical or mental issues to cause learning problems. They threatened to take us to court to put her in that classroom. We changed schools she had the same teacher first and second grades who worked her backside up to help DD catch up.

We moved to Ohio in the middle of second grade, the teacher told us there was no way DD would pass the test in third grade to move on and suggested we hold her back in second. It made a world of difference for her with NO special ed, and no autistic classroom.

So in my experience, HS is a complete and total waste of taxpayer dollars and gets us nowhere.

Which brings me to my next question. Now not only do we have HS but we have "no child left behind". How do we go from Head Start to left behind?

[KidGrind]

The grant is per room. The room is for subsidy aka "at risk" children.

The supplies are FOR those children specifically. With required supplies lists.

You will have to complain at a federal level for this. I know we have been.

You saved me a lot of typing.

[Heidi]

Well I can only speak for my experience with HS. DD qualified when she was little, due to her assessment. She also qualified for pre K where she would have been bussed. I beleived that HS would be better so sent her there. She learned nothing that she wouldn't have learned at my home daycare, maybe less. When I asked them about it, the teacher told me (and I can quote I was so appalled I remember it to this day) "we don't teach in HS, this is more for socialization so they can learn to play". I was at least doing some teaching in my daycare. I really feel like I cheated her sending her to HS. She was not ready for kindy. Now to be fair, she has a July 23 birthday so part of not being ready MAY have been age, but the school wouldn't hold her back when we asked they wanted to put her in special ed with in the autistic room 4 hours a day for first grade. DD did not then and has never been diagnosed with any medical or mental issues to cause learning problems. They threatened to take us to court to put her in that classroom. We changed schools she had the same teacher first and second grades who worked her backside up to help DD catch up.

We moved to Ohio in the middle of second grade, the teacher told us there was no way DD would pass the test in third grade to move on and suggested we hold her back in second. It made a world of difference for her with NO special ed, and no autistic classroom.

So in my experience, HS is a complete and total waste of taxpayer dollars and gets us nowhere.

Which brings me to my next question. Now not only do we have HS but we have "no child left behind". How do we go from Head Start to left behind?

I don't doubt this one bit! However, the children I work with are not IN daycare. They are at home, most of them in fairly disfunctional families. Most all the parents work, but they work part-time/split-shift/second shift low-income jobs. Our job as Home Visitors is to try to help the children develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively so that when they get to school, they are where most of their peers are. We do health screenings, make sure they get their checkups, immunizations, and dental exams.

As for our centers, yes, they are play based. They also do developmental and mental health assessments,provide healthy meals (food program), set goals for individual children, and plan activities based on those goals. The social aspect his HUGE, but as childcare providers, I'm pretty sure that's what we've been arguing all along. It's not about craming a whole lot of facts into their brains before they get to school; it's about them being ready to learn once they get to school. With HS, we just have to document everything. To death...

Children who live in poverty are less likely to have the experiences middle-income children do. There are no trips to the zoo, the children's museum, sometimes even the grocery store. They don't get read to, they don't go to the library. We've got families of 5 or 6 people who live in campers year round. Not exactly an ideal learning enviroment.

So, I agree that maybe it didn't help your DD any more than your daycare did. But, that's because you run a quality daycare program. Most of our kiddos would be at home, with the same 1 or 2 adults, until they reached Kindy if it weren't for HS. "Head Start" is really a kinder way to say "So they're not so far behind". If we sold it as "hey, we don't want your kid to be behind when they get to school because your poor and undereducated", most people would probably not say "yeah, sure, that's me".

I don't know if HS is the most efficient way to spend taxpayer money to make sure low-income children are ready for school. But, I will say that I do not beleive it's a waste of money.

[MamaMightSnap]

Update

I have met with the director at my center regarding the issues of segregation based on payment method and the quality of equipment and care provided in the "private pay room".

She was able to show me the plans in place for improving the room, which does not include furniture, equipment or toys at this time. It is strictly a wall being built which will allow the rooms to become more organized and "put together". (If you'll recall, the room is in a make-shift state right now.) She has lined up 2 additional teachers with early childhood education degrees for the room. However, DHS is backlogged for completing background and fingerprint checks (according to the director). In the meantime, the room has revolving teachers, which is taking a toll on the infants and toddlers that occupy it. They need stability, and that's not what they're getting right now.

I was not the first parent to come forth with concerns about the segregation. Many parents have expressed concern about their child being moved to this less than appealing room. One parent stated that he felt like he was "Throwing his hard earned money down the drain" each time he stepped into the room. Which I understand his frustration. He pays a large amount every month to one of the top-rated centers in our area and in return, his child is not afforded the same benefits and experiences as those who pay nothing each month.

I do feel a little better after having aired my concerns. But I know that there will not be a quick resolution. If I want to see progress I will have to stick around and wait it out.

[Blackcat31]

I have met with the director at my center regarding the issues of segregation based on payment method and the quality of equipment and care provided in the "private pay room".

She was able to show me the plans in place for improving the room, which does not include furniture, equipment or toys at this time. It is strictly a wall being built which will allow the rooms to become more organized and "put together". (If you'll recall, the room is in a make-shift state right now.) She has lined up 2 additional teachers with early childhood education degrees for the room. However, DHS is backlogged for completing background and fingerprint checks (according to the director). In the meantime, the room has revolving teachers, which is taking a toll on the infants and toddlers that occupy it. They need stability, and that's not what they're getting right now.

I was not the first parent to come forth with concerns about the segregation. Many parents have expressed concern about their child being moved to this less than appealing room. One parent stated that he felt like he was "Throwing his hard earned money down the drain" each time he stepped into the room. Which I understand his frustration. He pays a large amount every month to one of the top-rated centers in our area and in return, his child is not afforded the same benefits and experiences as those who pay nothing each month.

I do feel a little better after having aired my concerns. But I know that there will not be a quick resolution. If I want to see progress I will have to stick around and wait it out.

Sadly that statement (bolded above ^^) applies to ALOT of things in society now days. :confused:

[Cat Herder]

I do feel a little better after having aired my concerns. But I know that there will not be a quick resolution. If I want to see progress I will have to stick around and wait it out.

You could ask for reduced tuition to match your new reduced services.

You could start a PTA fundraiser for supplies.

You could find another center/provider.

Waiting for other people to meet my needs is not in my nature. :::::: I am glad you said something, though.

[MamaMightSnap]

You could ask for reduced tuition to match your new reduced services.

You could start a PTA fundraiser for supplies.

You could find another center/provider.

Waiting for other people to meet my needs is not in my nature. :::::: I am glad you said something, though.

Reduced rate, that's a great idea! As is a parent sponsored fundraiser. Rally all of the parents in the entire center to raise funds, then tell them "Sorry! Your child will only benefit from these funds if they are private pay!" ::

I've thought about finding a new provider, but it took me SO LONG to get into this center. I had to push back my start date with my employer because I didn't have child care. I figure by the time my name gets to the top of another center's waiting list, my baby will be in school and this won't be an issue any longer.

I'm definitely keeping an eye on this and will hold the director to her promises of improvements. I'm patient, I can sit back and let them try to keep me happy.