Questions to ask when you are looking for a new Preschool or Daycare Center. By The Staff of the Johnson Preschool Performing Arts Academy Part of our mission is not only to draw students into our own program, but also to make sure that the children in the public at large are receiving a quality educational experience. As we have been developing our own program, we also try to observe the trends that are developing in our own field. One trend is the development of Preschool Curriculum or the use of the terminology in the advertisements from schools. Here are some questions to ask a preschool or daycare that is providing a Preschool Curriculum. 1. Does the curriculum coincide with the California Educational Standards? A reason to ask this is because with your child entering into a California School, which adheres to these standards, you can guarantee that your child has a good head start in school. 2. Is your child’s instructor a Credentialed Teacher? Credentialed Teachers have to earn a bachelor’s degree in a specific subject (which depending on the school is at least 200+ units of lower and upper division college courses). Credentialed teachers must also enroll in a rigorous program to receive their credential, which can include basic child psychology, lesson planning, etc. Finally credentialed teachers must complete a certain amount of hours of student teaching. This is in comparison to a certified childcare worker who must only earn 6 - 12 ECE units in childcare classes. 3. Is your child’s instructor at least Certified from a child development program? It is not to say that experience is not valuable, but many of the courses that are required by a child development program are invaluable in the field. 4. Ask for the qualifications of the staff? To alleviate your concerns of leaving your child with other people, find out if those people are qualified to care for your child. Not every staff member of a childcare facility is going to have the experience that you feel is necessary to care for your child, but at least make sure that there is a good qualified to unqualified ratio. 5. Ask to see copies of the employee’s certifications and degrees? Most people are proud of their degrees, and will prominently display them, if you don’t see them ask, it’s just an FYI for you. 6. Ask what is the ratio of staff to students, is there going to be adequate supervision for your child and the other children? Parents understand that one child is a handful, but when you take into account multiple children, there becomes a concern for safety. Ask what the student to staff ratio is, this usually is represented by a number like 6 to 1, so for every 6 children there is one adult. Also make sure to ask who they are counting in there ratios, some schools may count an office assistant or director in this ratio, that may never actually monitor the children. 7. Are there any assessments being done? Assessments are necessary to help show if a child is making definite improvements in specific areas or does work need to be completed in other areas. Not many schools will offer you this due to the cost and necessity of a trained person to conduct the assessments, but those schools providing assessments are doing you and your child a valuable service. 8. Ask to see a printed copy of the curriculum and examples of texts or worksheets that are being used in the classroom? You know your child, if the work is not entertaining or engaging to you, it’s probably not going to be entertaining or engaging to your child. 9. Ask to observe a lesson? If you are really interested in the educational program of a school, ask to observe a lesson, see how it is taught and if it is effective to the students that are present. 10. Ask if the program is willing and or qualified to enroll a student with specific concerns, modification, or needs? Children have special needs sometimes. Check how a facility handles these needs and if, in some cases, are qualified to handle the special needs. It’s best not to assume that a facility can handle the need, and also it’s best not to hide the need from the school. 11. Ask to check their schedule; what is the ratio of academics to playtime? A real Preschool is going to be focusing academics, while still trying to keep ratio with the socialization needs. Some schools may be teaching from a curriculum, but it may be overtaken by playtime. Ask yourself, what you are looking for a place for your child to play or a place for your child to learn, and then when viewing the schedule it will be clear whether or not that facility is for you. 12. Are they being taught social skills? Social Skills or Manners and Etiquette, whatever you call it are still a very important thing in this world. Building a foundation of these skills into your child’s average behavior can and will benefit them in the future. Things as simple as saying, “Please and Thank you.” Or using your napkin and not eating with your hands (when not appropriate) reflects well upon your child and also upon yourselves as good parents. 13. How much does the Preschool or Daycare center communicate with parents? Communication is important in these early years of development. As concerned parents, you need to know on a frequent basis what is going on with your child. Are there any adverse behaviors? Are the any red flag? Is your child a perfect angel? A good Preschool or Daycare center should be communicating on a frequent and consistent basis to every parent that is enrolled. Also, the Preschool or Daycare center should not be communicating with parents only when problems occur. This leads back to assessing children, with proper communication; parents can see where they can be a help to their child. The overall point we hope to make is that as concerned parents you needed to do your homework about where you put your child for the better part of the day. Ask questions about a facility and their staff, also try and shop around see what the options are, and who can provide the most for your child within a budget that you can allow. Finally, if you walk into a facility and it just doesn’t feel right to you, sometimes it’s best to go with your instinct, that’s why we have them. We hope that these questions will be useful in the future as you are trying to find that Preschool or Daycare situation for your child. Happy Shopping!!! – The Staff of the Johnson Preschool Performing Arts Academy

• Location: San Marcos
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