Sound Child Care Solutions A Consortium of Centers, Better Together

1. Sound Child Care Solutions A Consortium of Centers, Better Together

2. Questions We Ponder • Why are most kids in sub-standard care? • Why is there a gap between what parents can pay and what it costs? • Why does the average director burn-out and leave after 2 years? • Why do boards burn-out too? • Why do teachers have trouble gaining credentials? • How can directors be expected to simultaneously be great business people and visionary educational leaders?

3. What is SCCS, “the Consortium”? • Non-profit structure for high quality centers to join together • Share ‘back office’ functions to streamline & strengthen business practice; costs covered by savings from operating together (no fees) • Retain feeling of small (name, community & family identity) • Center directors get support to achieve their Educational Vision • Shared Leadership across centers • Anti-racism focus

4. Why Create a Consortium? • Better together • Economic strength from being a larger organization • Financial discounts from economies of scale = more $$ for education • Comprehensive approach to professional development • Technology tools streamline business; help teachers individualize teaching • Industry Trend towards consolidation; avoids “McDonalds” of child care • Avoids director and board burn-out • Teacher pathways to stay in education

5. Changing the Nature of Child Care • LESS CHAOS: Strong, stable administration is necessary for teachers to thrive in their passion • MORE VISION: Directors need support to achieve their educational vision • MORE MONEY FOR KIDS: Keep the ‘small’ that works, but increase size to free funds for classrooms

6. Who are we? • Diana Bender, Co-Executive Director • 10 yrs at City of Seattle (Early HS, Financing) • Master’s from Harvard • Significant Fundraising, Financial Analysis, Management experience • Laura McAlister, Co-Executive Director • 25 years with children, families & teachers as teacher, Center Director and College Professor • Master’s from Pacific Oaks • Significant Coaching and Teacher Training experience

7. Consortium Central Responsibilities • Financial (Payroll, Benefits, Billing) • Bulk purchasing goods & services • Professional Development system • Fundraising & Development • (Re) Accreditation support • Staff Recruitment • Substitute Pool • Technology • Helping infuse Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Practice

8. Directors Remain in Charge • Hire, fire and all supervision • Sign off timesheets and parent bills • Create and manage Center Budget • Make all decisions re education, curriculum & family participation • Share in decisions affecting more than one center (vendors, insurance, professional development system, SCCS-wide budget)

9. Professional Development • Integrated approach more effective, less expensive with better child outcomes • Teacher-as-researcher with Mentor Teacher • Professional Development plans lead to degrees necessary for accreditation • Teaching improves by sparking intellectual curiosity & building competence • Career pathways keep teachers teaching

10. Benefits to Centers Saves Money: At scale, central costs & PD covered. Savings of $20-40K annually as each new center joins. Financial Management: Directors do budgets (with support), Advisory Board approves, Financial Analysis Fundraising: Larger Impact, Access to more Grants Operations Support: Share Best Practices & Problem-solving, Support for Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Practice, Shared parent education curricula Professional Development Builds community

11. Most Cost-Efficient Way to Organize • Center staff become SCCS employees • Center Director becomes SCCS Corporate Officer • Center Board becomes Center Advisory Board • Center Director makes all Center management decisions (hiring, daily supervision, budget) • Decisions affecting more than one center made by Consortium Leadership Team (Center Directors, VP Finance, Laura & Diana)

12. Frequently Asked Questions • What about our assets? (They can be protected.) • Why should I ‘give’ my center to you? (We don’t want it!) • What’s the cost? (None; We’re raising start-up costs then it’s sustainable.) • Do I have to use all services? (No)

13. Where are we now? • Venture Grant from national experts on child care financing got us started. • Five centers fully integrated with basic shared services in place. • Sixth center set to open doors in Sept. 2011 • Seeking $380K for full-scale pilot: $290K secured & $90K to go!

14. What does Sound Child Care Solutions look for? • Strong Staff and Director • Source of Outside Funding • Shared Values: • Early childhood education quality • Access for low income children • Culturally Relevant, Anti-bias policy and practice • Willingness to engage with new technology • Commitment to professional development

15. Process & Next Steps Overall process Exploration Phase Discussion Phase Commitment Phase Possible Next Steps for Joining Get to know each other Explore Financial situation Explore Interim Support possibilities Refine & develop partnership (Q & A, define implementation issues)