How to Build a Community Preschool
If you enjoy helping children grow and learn and have education or child care experience, then starting a community-based preschool is a rewarding endeavor. Starting a preschool, or day care, has many similarities with starting other kinds of business as well as aspects that are unique. Essentially, opening a preschool means you are going into the business of education. In this sense, planning and structure play a key role as do forging relationships with families and child care administrators in your community.
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Instructions
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Point your web browser to the Daycare.com website and then click your state on the interactive map to get a snapshot of your state's required worker qualifications, child-to-teacher ratio and contact information for the local governing child care agency. This information is necessary to ensure that your preschool meets legal obligations set by your state.
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Visit the relevant city and state agencies for your area to obtain the necessary forms, guidelines and licensing requirements for starting day care and preschool facilities. Each state and city has specific minimum requirements that you, the child care provider, your staff, facilities and programming that meet before you can open. Read the information provided by the agencies that regulate your area and complete the paperwork.
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Pick a location for your preschool. This can be a home or another facility as long as it meets the safety guidelines set forth by your state's child care department. Create a list of any necessary modifications to prepare your facility to meet state regulations and then get a quote from a licensed contractor. This is an expense of opening your preschool and must be added to your startup costs.
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Determine your preschool's operating hours. Build the initial hours of operation around the times you are physically available to run the school. Survey other child care providers in your area and offer times that match those -- or offer alternative hours to capture a different market. Create a survey on child care needs and distribute it to parents through PTA groups at local schools. Create a schedule based on all of these factors. Example hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Establish a pricing model. Create various payment models to accommodate different family schedules. Set prices for full-day and half-day attendance as well as fees for early drop-off and late pickup. Set your rates to be competitive while making sure you can cover operating expenses such as rent, materials, food and salaries.
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Develop your curriculum, education plan and activity schedule for children using your own child care experience and resources such as Perpetual Preschool and Everything Preschool.
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Publicize your preschool with parent coordinators at local schools, PTA groups and locally-based parenting blogs and networks. Create fliers and emails that contain information about your programs, educators, location and pricing.
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Tips & Warnings
States use varying names for their official child care licensing departments, such as Office of Children and Family Services, Office of Child Development, or Administration of Children Services.
References
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