Unlicensed preschools?

[Anonymous]

We are starting to look at preschools in the Del Ray / Alexandria area for our toddler. This is our first child so we don’t know much about the process.

I am just realizing that schools associated with religious institutions are perhaps exempt from VA licensing requirements. Is this a red flag? I don’t like the idea of no oversight, but have zero experience with this. Are there other requirements that we should be considering or looking into?

[Anonymous]

Church preschools do not have to be licensed, but many choose to be licensed. I personally would be wary of an unlicensed preschool unless I had personal experience with the specific church and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are starting to look at preschools in the Del Ray / Alexandria area for our toddler. This is our first child so we don’t know much about the process.

I am just realizing that schools associated with religious institutions are perhaps exempt from VA licensing requirements. Is this a red flag? I don’t like the idea of no oversight, but have zero experience with this. Are there other requirements that we should be considering or looking into?

Huh?? How do you draw that conclusion? Are you sure that isn't an outlier (and not the norm) in your preschool search/tour?

FWIW, a lot of preschools are licensed as daycares b/c it sets the bar high - background checked teachers, health codes/inspection, fire codes/inspection, etc.

Also, A LOT of preschools will use church space/rooms for preschool. There isn't any (or very much of) affiliation with the actual church or it's religion doctrine.

[Anonymous]

It’s VA law that they are exempt from licensing. Both the schools I am referring to (Beverley Hills Church Preschool and Emmanuel Preschool) are unlicensed as they are run by religious organizations.

We have also looked at preschools in churches that are not affiliated and just rent space as you noted. These are required to be licensed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Church preschools do not have to be licensed, but many choose to be licensed. I personally would be wary of an unlicensed preschool unless I had personal experience with the specific church and teachers.

You just spouted this off with such conviction when this absolutely not true at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church preschools do not have to be licensed, but many choose to be licensed. I personally would be wary of an unlicensed preschool unless I had personal experience with the specific church and teachers.

You just spouted this off with such conviction when this absolutely not true at all.

It is absolutely true they don’t need to be licensed. Not the point of this thread.

[Anonymous]

There is a religious exempt status however they can still be licensed just not the same as full day

I work at a preschool with that status and we are fully inspected yearly and teachers have background checks etc


I would not send my child to a preschool or daycare without background checks at a minimum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a religious exempt status however they can still be licensed just not the same as full day

I work at a preschool with that status and we are fully inspected yearly and teachers have background checks etc


I would not send my child to a preschool or daycare without background checks at a minimum

So if they are listed as “unlicensed” but still have past inspections on file, what does that mean?

[Anonymous]

I would not do unlicensed.

[Anonymous]

Our preK is in the unlicensed but regulated camp. Honestly they are amazing, all the teachers have tons of experience, degrees, and the director is a gem, ratios in the 3s class are 1:4. They have to do background checks, etc on all staff and I believe they are inspected every two years— they were inspected last year. I think it’s so dependent on the credentials of the staff and set up of the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preK is in the unlicensed but regulated camp. Honestly they are amazing, all the teachers have tons of experience, degrees, and the director is a gem, ratios in the 3s class are 1:4. They have to do background checks, etc on all staff and I believe they are inspected every two years— they were inspected last year. I think it’s so dependent on the credentials of the staff and set up of the center.

Thanks. Can you explain unlicensed but regulated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our preK is in the unlicensed but regulated camp. Honestly they are amazing, all the teachers have tons of experience, degrees, and the director is a gem, ratios in the 3s class are 1:4. They have to do background checks, etc on all staff and I believe they are inspected every two years— they were inspected last year. I think it’s so dependent on the credentials of the staff and set up of the center.

Thanks. Can you explain unlicensed but regulated?

See this link for explanations: https://doe.virginia.gov/cc/parents/index.html?pageID=2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church preschools do not have to be licensed, but many choose to be licensed. I personally would be wary of an unlicensed preschool unless I had personal experience with the specific church and teachers.

You just spouted this off with such conviction when this absolutely not true at all.

See the link I posted above. It absolutely is true.

To OP: if you are interested in licensed, church-based preschools in the area, look into Trinity (https://www.trinitypreschoolalexandria.com/), Westminster (https://wpc-alex.org/preschool/), Calvary (https://calvarymethodist.org/preschool/).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church preschools do not have to be licensed, but many choose to be licensed. I personally would be wary of an unlicensed preschool unless I had personal experience with the specific church and teachers.

You just spouted this off with such conviction when this absolutely not true at all.

See the link I posted above. It absolutely is true.

To OP: if you are interested in licensed, church-based preschools in the area, look into Trinity (https://www.trinitypreschoolalexandria.com/), Westminster (https://wpc-alex.org/preschool/), Calvary (https://calvarymethodist.org/preschool/).

This is extremely helpful. Thank you so much. It seems like the two I was referring to as "unlicensed" may be in the "exempt" category instead, which I need to sort out still, but this is super helpful information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not do unlicensed.

+1
As a parent, I would find it irresponsible to enroll my child into an unlicensed school.

I may consider it if a family member worked there.