If your daycare or childcare provider closed due to coronavirus, are they still requiring you to pay

[Anonymous]

We attend an in-home daycare, they haven't been open for three weeks and billed everyone for full April tuition. We won't use them even if/when they do re-open -- planned on pulling child for summer programs/summer nanny anyhow, we paid April, but how much longer should be continue paying for childcare we don't plan on using again?

Additionally, to all providers -- here's how I personally would handle this -- how about telling families you intend to make it up to them in the future, provide date-night care or offer care on days you traditionally wouldn't be open?

I am pretty taken aback by getting messages saying they expect families to continue paying because you are getting paid, aren't you? -- my job is expecting more work, not less and definitely not none. I understand this wasn't their choice, but most people are not getting paid for jobs they're not doing here -- so find a way to make it up to your customers. And be appreciative.

[Anonymous]

My daycare suspended tuition. Another parent organized a fundraising page for the teachers and we've raised a decent amount.

[Anonymous]

I see some hardship tuition adjustment . What that means

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they? Teachers need to be paid and you need a spot. Don’t be frugal and think it’s ok. You won’t have a spot when you need it. If I was a preschool I would keep track and not reenroll any parents that didn’t support.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did keep the track of the parents who withdrew their kids. However, it would be nice for daycares to be appreciative of the parents who do pay any part of the tuition. A little thank you goes a long ways, especially when we're talking about thousands of dollars.

So basically you’re advocating preschools keep track of which families are wealthy enough to continue paying and shunning families financially affected by the pandemic who cannot pay? Wow.

I'm not the previous poster but I don't think anyone is saying that families who can't pay should be penalized. I think the problem is that, as many of the postings on this board indicate, there is an attitude among some who can afford to pay that they should not have to pay because they are not getting child care services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they? Teachers need to be paid and you need a spot. Don’t be frugal and think it’s ok. You won’t have a spot when you need it. If I was a preschool I would keep track and not reenroll any parents that didn’t support.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did keep the track of the parents who withdrew their kids. However, it would be nice for daycares to be appreciative of the parents who do pay any part of the tuition. A little thank you goes a long ways, especially when we're talking about thousands of dollars.

So basically you’re advocating preschools keep track of which families are wealthy enough to continue paying and shunning families financially affected by the pandemic who cannot pay? Wow.

I'm not the previous poster but I don't think anyone is saying that families who can't pay should be penalized. I think the problem is that, as many of the postings on this board indicate, there is an attitude among some who can afford to pay that they should not have to pay because they are not getting child care services.

The nerve of someone to not want to pay upwards of $2,000/month for something they aren't getting any benefit from ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect you will lose your slot when they reopen.

This.

[Anonymous]

If my child were not going to return at any point I would withdraw and stop payment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

They do get free childcare, at least in MD. It's paid for by the government straight to the provider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

They do get free childcare, at least in MD. It's paid for by the government straight to the provider.

Thanks for clarifying. But that still means the provider would be getting paid twice, once by the government, and once by the original families who had to leave to make room for the kids of essential care workers. That’s shady. PP needs to call them out on this. Now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

They do get free childcare, at least in MD. It's paid for by the government straight to the provider.

Thanks for clarifying. But that still means the provider would be getting paid twice, once by the government, and once by the original families who had to leave to make room for the kids of essential care workers. That’s shady. PP needs to call them out on this. Now.

Absolutely they need to be called out.

MD is looking into this practice, as they said it's likely not legal for closed preschools to be charging tuition at all. We'll see what happens.

[Anonymous]

I can provide my providers name I know they are doing this shady practice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can provide my providers name I know they are doing this shady practice

Then please share their name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

They do get free childcare, at least in MD. It's paid for by the government straight to the provider.

Thanks for clarifying. But that still means the provider would be getting paid twice, once by the government, and once by the original families who had to leave to make room for the kids of essential care workers. That’s shady. PP needs to call them out on this. Now.

Absolutely they need to be called out.

MD is looking into this practice, as they said it's likely not legal for closed preschools to be charging tuition at all. We'll see what happens.

Where did you see this? My provider is requiring that we pay in full to keep our slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is open for kids of essential workers, but most of us are home for at least a month. Our director has emailed us as a group and asked us if we can keep paying so that she doesn't need to layoff the teacher, but families are allowed to "opt in" to a level they feel comfortable with -- 100%, 75% , 50% or nothing. We have a very mixed income daycare, and some parents have lost their jobs. I would pay MORE than 100% if we could keep our community the same (families, teachers, everyone) after this crisis has died down. Our state IS giving aid to daycare providers, so it's possible that we will get refunds later (although I kind of doubt it) but in the meanwhile, she needs to make cashflow. I have not had any income consequences as a result of this and will absolutely support our daycare and their staff as long as we can do so.

I’m confused. Don’t essential care workers need to pay tuition at providers who are remaining open for them? I don’t think they just get free daycare. If they’re paying tuition at your center, why is the director asking original families to pay as well? That sounds like double dipping to me.

They do get free childcare, at least in MD. It's paid for by the government straight to the provider.

Thanks for clarifying. But that still means the provider would be getting paid twice, once by the government, and once by the original families who had to leave to make room for the kids of essential care workers. That’s shady. PP needs to call them out on this. Now.

Absolutely they need to be called out.

MD is looking into this practice, as they said it's likely not legal for closed preschools to be charging tuition at all. We'll see what happens.

Where did you see this? My provider is requiring that we pay in full to keep our slots.

I posted the link in another thread, but here it is: https://twitter.com/katadhall/status/1244745509262131200

Kata Hall is Hogan's deputy communications director.