USDA Subsidies to Corporate Chain Daycare Centers and Forbidden Tuition Sharing?

[Anonymous]

So my daycare, Children of America, recently asked me to fill out a USDA form for eligibility for meal subsidies. It had my household income, SS#, etc. on it. The school stated that they will use the $$ to buy supplies, games, toys, etc. I was appalled that (1) a FOR-PROFIT daycare could even qualify for this, and (2) that instead of having teachers submit it voluntarily, they were tracking us down if we hadn't completed and submitted it because they NEEDED it for each child.

Has anyone else had to fill out this form? Do you know what this is all about? I refused because I don't want to share my income information with them, nor do I believe in requesting government subsidies for my children since they are not 'in need' - this $$ should go to kids who need it.

Call me cynical, but I also didn't want the directors seeing our income because I know we are on the high end for our area, and there is already a center policy for not sharing your tuition amounts with other parents. I have two young children, one of whom started at 3 months old, and over the past year and a half my tuition has not budged. When I've asked about it, I was told that I was still paying less than the 'new parent' rate.

I know this thread has two topics, but I am wondering if any of you have encountered this strange USDA form or tuition secrecy at your center. At my old center, rates were publicly known, and I got a discount every time my child moved to another class.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We fill out the form. And disclose income.
USDA only subsidizes for those children that fall below a certain income.
Our tuition is known.

[Anonymous]

That's not what the form is for. What the form IS for is to see if the center qualifies for the USDA meal program. If a certain percentage of enrolled families make under a certain dollar threshold the center qualifies.

All parents are asked to fill out the form so that the USDA can use the info to determine the center's eligibility. If the center is eligible they are required to provide the subsidized meals to all of the center's children regardless of their household income but the program is meant to serve the needs of the lower income families and the higher income families benefit in the process.


On the tuition issue I don't agree with that practice at all. You could be paying less than other families though so if you make a stink about it you may get screwed if they make the tuition the same across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We fill out the form. And disclose income.
USDA only subsidizes for those children that fall below a certain income.
Our tuition is known.

The USDA subsidizes the meals for the center if the center qualifies. They don't subsidize for some kids and not others. If you have a high income but enroll your kid in a USDA subsidized center your kid will still get the meals.

[Anonymous]

We didn't receive this form, but we did receive another one that asked us for information like household income. We were told this was needed so the school could apply for grants (it's a non-profit day care center with a primary school, although we don't know if the latter is for-profit). Although it was anonymous, we were still uncomfortable providing this information, so refused.

As for tuition, it is very difficult to even find out the rates for our center, let alone what other families pay! They send out a rate sheet yearly so current families know how much the various program options cost, but porential families need to take a tour in order to learn the rates. Families are not discouraged from talking tuition (rates can vary based on the number of children you have enrolled in their programs, or based on assistance you may qualify for), but no one does.

[Anonymous]

I am not a center, but an in home provider but in the past have used the USDA food program. Basically I feed the children based on the USDA guidelines and am reimbursed a SMALL amount for each meal and snack served to help offset the cost of food. The reason behind the income form is some families qualify for the higher amount of reimbursement (there is a Tier 1 and Tier 2) a provider can also qualify for reimbursement at the higher Tier 2 rate based on location (school info) and sometimes can have their own children enrolled in the program based on their income. The monies recieved from the food program must be claimed on taxes and meals are tax deductible at a rate that varies year to year. Hope this makes a little sense...........I do not participate anymore as the tiny amount of the checks did not offset the extra paperwork and time involved. I feed the children the same way regardless, it's how I fed my own lots of fresh food and veggies. It think basically it's designed to help ensure that daycare's are not serving junk 24 7.............only certain foods are allowable and you are visited (without notice) to ensure you are serving properly (they check portions, kitchen cleanliness and to see that the meals fit the criteria randomly throughout the year. I will say however, with my particular program I handed the forms to parents and they themselves mailed them into the program, I was never in possesion of the filled out forms. Harmless though, noone wants your income info for anything sinister. You caould actually google it and learn more about the program if you wanted. It's listed on the USDA site and I believe it's used in daycares as well as elderly care facilities, it's a program to ensure people are fed healthy food while in the care of licensed facilities........

[Anonymous]

Sorry, forgot to add - your daycare should have given you an informational sheet about the food program at enrollment, you should ask for one. I supply it with my paperwork packet and it's one of the pieces of paperwork required to be returned before care begins. Well, I did when I was on the program...in any case their participation should not have been a big surprise, we are given informational sheets to hand out to parents about it.