Why do daycares and preschools follow the school systems?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't make sense to me that daycares and preschools following the school systems in extreme cases like this. When everyone else is expected back at work, why wouldn't they open? It hasn't snowed in five days, folks are back at work and need child care. Why wouldn't they make the decision to open? A small daycare is very different from an entire school system.

I don't have a child in daycare (yet), I am just confused and wondering if I am missing something.

[Anonymous]

Because it's an easier way to make decisions than deciding themselves. Sets them up for fewer arguments with whiny parents who "can't understand."

[Anonymous]

Our daycare follows the federal government.

[Anonymous]

Well, for one, many staff have children who are in school. I work in a daycare and when the school systems are closed, many, many staff call out. It is difficult to get substitutes because their children are at home too.

My children are in an in-home day care, and that never closes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's an easier way to make decisions than deciding themselves. Sets them up for fewer arguments with whiny parents who "can't understand."

I can understand that. Just wondering why, under extreme circumstances like an historic snow storm, they would not make an exception and open after 6 days off. I'm not sure how they can justify remaining closed.

[Anonymous]

A good daycare will follow the government, not the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good daycare will follow the government, not the schools.

Huh? Maybe if it serves primarily Feds; otherwise, no.

[Anonymous]

Our preschool follows the school system, but in extreme situations like this will make an assessment of whether they can open. So even though the schools are closed today, our preschool is open because they felt their parking lot/property was cleared and safe enough, they don't have to worry about buses or walkers, and enough teachers reported that they could get to school staff it.

[Anonymous]

At the center where I work we follow the feds for the convenience of working families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's an easier way to make decisions than deciding themselves. Sets them up for fewer arguments with whiny parents who "can't understand."

+1. It's just an easier winter weather policy to have plus it's easy for parents to follow. Lots of places do this, not just daycare.

[Anonymous]

Mine doesn't. They were open every day with late open/early closed. They did ask parents to confirm attendance the evening before.

[Anonymous]

Several reasons.

1) Staffing: A large percentage of preschool and daycare teachers have kids relative to other professions, and daycare salaries don't allow for things like nannies or snow day camps, so absenteeism would be high. But daycare and preschools aren't businesses that can run on a barebones staff because of legal requirements about ratios.

2) Liability: If a school opens and a teacher or parent or child is injured en route there is some liability. Of they can demonstrate that they followed an "authority" it makes a difference

3) Costs: TV and radio stations charge for announcing. Plus even if you pay to announce it is easy for your announcement to get buried. Closing with a public district is an easy way to get the word out and it is free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several reasons.

1) Staffing: A large percentage of preschool and daycare teachers have kids relative to other professions, and daycare salaries don't allow for things like nannies or snow day camps, so absenteeism would be high. But daycare and preschools aren't businesses that can run on a barebones staff because of legal requirements about ratios.

2) Liability: If a school opens and a teacher or parent or child is injured en route there is some liability. Of they can demonstrate that they followed an "authority" it makes a difference

3) Costs: TV and radio stations charge for announcing. Plus even if you pay to announce it is easy for your announcement to get buried. Closing with a public district is an easy way to get the word out and it is free.

This. I would also add that a school district (or OPM) has more resources for evaluating whether or not to close. An individual daycare owner basically just has the weather report and what they know about their neighborhood conditions. In a sense, they are just piggybacking on the school system's resources.

Also, in addition to having kids who aren't in school, daycare/preschool teachers may live further out, where road conditions are worse, or may depend on public transportation that isn't running normally, and may not be able to make it into work.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I have had two daughters at two different daycare centers and each one followed the Fed. Govt. schedule. Neither was for Fed. workers. In fact, one was in Tysons and one is in Herndon. I thought most daycares followed the Fed. schedule, in fact.

It makes much more sense b/c they serve a population (the parents) whose jobs likely follow the Fed. Govt. schedule too. I do not work for the Feds but my office surely follows their schedule. Again, b/c it's easier.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a part time preschool. 75% of the staff have school aged children, so we would have to get a ton of subs.