Helpful Childcare Definitions:

What is Backup care?
Backup childcare programs provide solutions for families when their normal childcare arrangements break down. Childcare arrangements can break down for many reasons: babysitter gets sick, family childcare provider takes a vacation, childcare program closes for teacher training days, school closures when the company is open for business. Employees "pre-register" for back up childcare with the designated provider(s), and can make an advance reservation from six months to 24 hours in advance. Children usually attend backup childcare from 1-5 days.

What is Priority Enrollment?
When corporations partner with childcare providers to fund quality improvements or program expansion, the provider may grant employees of these corporations priority enrollment into their programs over members of the general community. Children interested in using programs offering priority enrollment will gain entrance to these programs before other community children, provided there is a space in the right developmental age group.

What is NAEYC Accreditation?
NAEYC accreditation means that: an early childhood program--childcare center, preschool, kindergarten, or before- and/or after-school program--voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The program then engaged in an extensive self-study based on the Academy's Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Program. The accuracy of the program's self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained volunteer validators. The validated self-study, including the program director's responses to the validation visit, was reviewed by a 3-member national commission composed of recognized experts in childcare and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial compliance with the Academy's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a three-year period. The early childhood program agreed to act upon the commission's suggestions regarding areas needing improvement and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance.

For more information about our providers and how to enroll in their programs, please visit About the Program.