Are you paying for early childhood development and getting babysitting instead?
Some facts you should know before choosing a childcare center!
FACT: New Jersey does not require most staff members to have educational degrees or training in early childhood development.
In centers serving up to 60 children, NJ only requires that the center have one head teacher. In centers serving between 60 and 120 children the state requires one head teacher and one group teacher. The instructional staff in a center licensed for 60 children is about 8. In a center licensed for 120 children the instructional staff is about 17. Would you want your child in a center where only one out of eight staff members has any formal training?
When considering a center for your child, do not rely on statements such as “we are a licensed center” or “we have a certified staff” because as you can see, it doesn’t take much to be licensed or certified. Be sure to ask for an overview of the educational credentials of each staff member.
What are the qualifications of the staff at Evergreen?
We feature a full time Director who has a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Development. An Assistant Director, who has a degree in Education, assists her. All of our head teachers have a college degree, and all of our remaining staff members have, at minimum, secured the professional designation of “Child Development Associate” or are currently working on this designation. (Click here to view our staff profiles). Our staff’s credentials were recently reviewed and approved by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Fact: Childcare centers in NJ are not required by the state to have a formal curriculum.
Since the state does not require a curriculum, many childcare centers in NJ do not have one in place, nor do they have a staff member capable of designing one.
Does Evergreen have a formal curriculum?
Yes, our curriculum is designed to stimulate your child and develop a life long love of learning. Our curriculum is designed around the Pre School Observation and Checklist Tool (POCET) (click here to see a sample). This curriculum will foster your child’s development in the following areas: language, literacy, creative arts, and approaches to learning, science, physical health and safety. We provide the parents of our students with a complete evaluation of their child’s progress three times each year using the POCET evaluation format.. Both our curriculum and parental reporting were recently reviewed and approved by NAEYC. (click here to see an overview of our curriculum).
Fact: Childcare centers in NJ are rarely, if ever, inspected by the state.
Parents who rely on oversight by the state of NJ should be shocked to know that, unless a complaint has been filed, there rarely, if ever, is a visit by state regulators. Visits are usually made only at the time of initial licensing and upon the renewal of a license three years later.
Who provides oversight at Evergreen?
We have voluntarily submitted to an inspection by NAEYC and are currently undergoing accreditation by this organization. Parent’s Magazine has called this accreditation the “Gold Standard of Approval”. NAEYC’s standards are the highest in the nation and they carefully evaluate schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class sizes and health and safety standards; only about 8 percent of the childcare centers in the United States are currently accredited by NAEYC. We have undergone our initial review, received favorable feedback and expect to receive accreditation in 2010. In New Jersey, unless a school is inspected by NAEYC or a similar independent organization, there is little if any outside oversight of the center. While the chains and franchises may tell you that they have periodic inspections, it is an employee of the chain or franchise, not an independent agency, who usually performs these inspections.
Fact: Higher standards do not necessarily mean a higher rate.
Quality childcare is by no means inexpensive. However, our rates are, in most instances, lower than the rates charged by the chains and franchises, sometimes by a significant margin. Also, as a locally owned and managed center, you can be sure that the owners of the center are actively involved in the daily management and upkeep of the center, working to keep cost under control and rates reasonable. We can make you this promise…. If we cannot beat the published price of a competing center in the Flemington area, with comparable facilities and staffing ratios, we will meet that price and give you free registration and 50% off your first month’s tuition.
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