FDA WOW parents: Please post an update from today's parent meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top 3 issues that were identified, IMO were: quality of staff, quality of curriculum and quality assurance (several parents expressed concerns about allergies), including issues with quality assurance due to frequent staff changes in rooms. Maybe others can weigh in with their rankings.

I would address the question about holding a spot with the corporate folks who were brought in.

I would agree that quality of the teaching staff is the #1 issue. Quality assurance is also an issue, but I believe that this can be resolved with more attention being paid to it (and my child does have a food allergy). The teacher quality can't be fixed with simply a few new rules put in place and more training.

I also think that the jury is out on the curriculum. CCLC didn't start yesterday. It is well-established across the country, and has thrived, so they must be doing something right (and the WOW Board thought so, too). I know several colleagues whose children attend other CCLC centers, and they are all very happy. Obviously, something went wrong at WOW, but my impression is that the communication about the curriculum is the problem, not the curriculum itself. My child is doing what the curriculum says they will be doing this month in their class.

OP, CCLC also said at the meeting that they would soon be holding a Back To School night specifically to go over the curriculum for parents.

I want WOW to succeed. They met with us, heard us out, resolved to meet with us again, and seem to be putting measures in place to improve the center. For those like me, who want this to work out, let's give them a chance, and contribute towards making that happen. If the goal is to just bash and bash away, there are plenty more centers where one can send their child.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for letting me know about the back to school night. We'll definitely go as we'll be in the FDA and hopefully WOW system by then. I really want WOW to succeed too, I'm just really hesitant with so many issues still outstanding. Like PP said, the quality of teaching will take time to improve. Thanks to all who are voicing their concerns to make it a better environment.

[Anonymous]

How much of this do you think is corporate lip service? Sounds like they have a great corporate management team who manages parents' worries with a lot of great words...

[Anonymous]

I was at another CCLC center, and had similar experiences to what is being described here. In my case, I found CCLC to be very superficailly responsive, and excellent at corporate lip-service.

let's face it - in DC, it's there is so much demand for child care that if you pull your child, there are 50 more waiting for the spot.

[Anonymous]

I am a CCLC parent and committed to making this center work too. I am aware of the issues and I have seen changes.

PP, if you were at another CCLC location and had a bad experience, did you choose this center because of other amenities? What made you invest the time in this center? The board seems very responsive and that is who CCLC holds the contract with. I think with FDA involved, the board and CCLC management, this center will succeed.