OP,

You might be in a lower economic category, but you are not lower class.

It is very clear you are trying to do the best you can for your DC - and that is high class behavior.

Anonymous wrote:The website says they are licensed. Can you pull their violations for the last 4-5 years?

Minor administrative/paperwork violations are common in VA. So I suggest a focus on whether there are any *safety-related* violations.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure of the regs in CA, but in Virginia, church-based preschools do not need to be licensed. That cuts down on a lot of costs as far as teacher credentials (salaries) and ratios go.

Church-run preschools can be great or awful/unsafe. In my experience in VA, the better quality church preschools do get the state license, which means they get safety inspections. I view safety as the top priority for my DC. Other folks' priorities might vary.

The website says they are licensed. Can you pull their violations for the last 4-5 years?

My children go to a church based preschool in the DC area. It is cheap also, at 620 a month each. We are NOT a religious family. However, I am happy and open to the children praying before meals, learning about God, etc. They have never invited us to their church. We like the price but we also like the closeness of the center. It’s smaller, so less kids. The teachers are like family! Educationally, they have excelled in learning. They taught both of our preschoolers to read, write and know math before we even knew they could. The only downside is that the church isn’t in the best location. It is what others would call the “hood,” but we have zero complaints other than the houses surrounding it do not look the nicest.

Not sure of the regs in CA, but in Virginia, church-based preschools do not need to be licensed. That cuts down on a lot of costs as far as teacher credentials (salaries) and ratios go.

Hi OP, this link is for Maryland, but it does have a list of things you should do and questions to ask when you are evaluating child care that may be helpful.
https://www.marylandfamilynetwork.org/for-parents/tips-for-choosing-child-care
My guess is that part of the reason the cost is lower is that the daycare is paying less in rent - I am guessing it's on church property and is part of the mission of the church. You may get invited to church a lot, but I don't think it's a safety issue as long as it's a well run daycare.

I am a single parent to a 4 and 2 year old. I have always brought them to work with me as a nanny but I am getting burnt out and want a full time job in my degree field. I found a church daycare/preschool that is only $675 per month for full day full time care! They have a spot for both children. I am not in DC, I am near sacramento, where schools like the Goddard school go for 1.7k per month or so, probably a little less than DC? This seems too good to be true, even though I know it won't be as nice of course. Is a cheap preschool better than nothing, or do you guys think I could be putting them at risk? I am touring tonight and meeting the director. What are some questions I should ask in this case to be sure they will get good care?
Here is the website
http://www.ascensionpreschool.org/home.html

I understand the fact that it is a non profit means they get grants, and it's also a church. But am I being cheap? I do not go to church by the way. My daughter does qualify for free state preschool at the elementary school, I am Lower middle class/lower class. But they don't cover summers/holidays and my son isn't old enough.