Georgetown Law's Day Care

[Anonymous]

Any one used this day care center and have feedback? Any sense of how competitive it is for alum to get a spot in the 2.5-5 y/old classes?

[Anonymous]

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, I don't look at these forums much.

We have 2 kids who have attended/are attending here. IMO, it is fabulous! In fact, we started our youngest at another daycare which was very close to our home and about which we had heard a lot of positive things but which was terrible (IMO) compared to Gtown Law ELC, and we ended up moving the youngest to Gtown Law ELC as soon as he was old enough ( they don't take kids younger than 18 mos.)

Things I like about it -- teachers are excellent, loving, w/ low turnover rate. Director is very responsive to comments, very good about monitoring staff, developing staff, etc. I think GLELC does a really great job educating kids about their social behavior -- friendships, interaction (no hitting, using words, etc.), manners, kindness, hepfulness, etc. I also think the ctr does a good job academically -- the daily structure is very play oriented and the toys/materials are very educational. Some kids stay there until K (others leave to use free preK in DC schools...), and the teachers make a good effort with the older kids to introduce literacy and numeracy skills in a developmentally appropriate way. Yet, the ctr also runs close to a preK model in terms of structure, i.e. there is morning meeting, choice time, different activities. Our older child was very well prepared for the transition to elementary school.

Because the school is at the law center, there are many involved and well educated parents & the center is open for parents to drop by during the day. It is also racially/ethnically/nationally diverse, due to the diversity w/i the Gtown Law community. Also, there are many more resources for the center w/i the greater law school -- the kids have a lot of indoor space to use when the weather is too bad for the playground. They go on indoor walks, use the gym, etc. The kids are loved within the larger school as well -- seeing the kids on campus is a joyful break for students and profs alike. Some staff offer weekly lessons for the kids (incl in tuition), like the athletic center does movement/exercise w/ the kids. Recently, the teachers decided to have the kids investigate jobs on campus, and I was amazed at all the people who welcomed the kids into their office and did interesting things with them -- the cafeteria, the admissions office, the security, the maintenance staff, etc.

Logistically, one convenience is that it is open from 8 to 6:30 pm (later than most), and there is no need to commit to a particular time frame or number of hours w/i that. If you usually come at 8:30, but have an early meeting one day, or are preparing for a trial and staying later at work for several weeks, then you just come as you need, no need to notify staff. Of course, I don't like to leave my child there from 8 to 6:30pm every day all year, but even when I do, my child is happy.

I could go on and on. I think the chances of getting in for a Gtown alum are good, but you should definitely call the director and ask. She will be very honest with you about how many open slots are likely to be available and when. There is a fair amount of turnover among kids because many parents are students, some in 1 year master's programs who leave to return to their home country after the year is up. Every year there are several students who get in who seem to have no connection at all w/ the university (which is great, and imo no one makes any differences between those w/ some connection to the law school and those w/o. Anyway, I can only spot the kids whose parents are Gtown Law students, because they are the frazzled, worried looking ones at finals time.). Admit preference is to GLaw students first, GLaw Profs, GLaw Alum and then to the wider Gtown (main campus) community, then the general public (I think I got that order right).

Sum up -- I highly recommend it! My only complaint is that Gtown Law Ctr should expand the place to provide infant care slots as well.