Child Care Options
There are many types of early care and education and school-age child care programs that meet the diverse needs of parents, families and their children. They include:
Bright Beginnings is a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools-sponsored program that serves educationally at-risk four-year-old children in school settings and in area child care programs. This program enables four-year-olds who might otherwise have started their school years behind their peers to build the foundation they need to succeed when they enter kindergarten. Bright Beginnings has a child-centered curriculum with a strong language and early literacy focus. It features support services provided by child development, health and mental health, and literacy specialists, as well as active parent/family involvement. Bright Beginnings classrooms in area childcare programs are funded by More at Four and Smart Start of Mecklenburg County.
Center-Based Programs are independently operated or operate in schools, workplaces, individual homes (considered small centers), churches or synagogues. Most are open on a fixed schedule, eight or more hours per day, Monday through Friday. Children in centers are usually grouped by age. As they grow, children often move into the next playgroup with a different caregiver. All centers must meet state regulations for the legal operation of a child care facility.
Exceptional Children’s Programs are public pre-kindergarten programs that assure children with varying abilities have the opportunity to develop mentally, physically, and emotionally when provided with an appropriate individualized education in the least restrictive environment with their typically developing peers. The program serves children ages 3, 4, and those 5 year olds not age eligible for kindergarten. Parents have the opportunity to be actively involved in meaningful ways in their child’s education. (Based on IDEA – P.L. 94-142)
GS 110-106 (Religious-sponsored child care facilities) are child care facilities or summer day camps operated by a church, synagogue, or school of religious charter. While exempt from licensure, they must file a notice of intent to operate a child care facility with the state. A religious-sponsored child care facility may choose to seek licensure, but if it does not, it must still meet state licensing requirements with the following exceptions: staff qualifications, staff training, written activity plans and developmentally appropriate activity centers.
Head Start is a federally funded program for low income children and their families that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services.
Licensed Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) are operated by individuals who provide care in their homes for more than two children who are not related to them. These programs offer a home-like setting that provide the opportunity for siblings to stay together. A licensed FCCH may care for up to eight children, with no more than five preschool children in care at any given time. The caregiver’s own preschool-age children must be included in the number of preschoolers. However, their school-age children are not counted for licensing purposes. FCCHs must provide age-appropriate toys and activities, nutritious meals and snacks and meet basic health and safety standards. All FCCHs must meet star regulations for the legal operation of a child care facility.
Legally Exempt Family Child Care Homes are allowed to care for two non-related children in addition to their own without being licensed by the state.
Montessori Curriculum is an individualized program of education based on the philosophy that children learn through their own experiences in a carefully prepared, ordered, and responsive environment. Included in the environment are didactic and sequenced materials geared toward promoting children’s education in four areas: development of the senses, conceptual or academic development, competence in practical life activities, and character development.
More at Four is a state wide, voluntary program that prepares eligible four-year-old children for school success by providing them with high quality pre-kindergarten experiences. The curricula used are child-centered, have a literacy and language focus and include parent participation. More at Four classrooms operate in centers and school settings for six hours per day, follow the public school calendar and have no more than a one-to-nine staff-to-child ratio.
School-Age Child Care refers to programs for children before and/or after school hours and during school holidays and vacations. Family child care homes, child care centers and schools typically offer this type of care. Programs that operate for four hours or less per day are license-exempt, but may voluntarily seek state licensure or pursue national accreditation.
Part-Day Preschools operate for four hours or less per day serving children between the ages of 0-5 years. While license-exempt part-day preschoolers may voluntarily seek licensure and may pursue national accreditation. Typically, part-day programs operate on the same calendar year as the public school system, serving families where one parent is not employed full-time. Faith organizations and community-based not-for-profit organizations are the primary sponsors of part-day programs.
Public Pre-Kindergarten Programs include center-based classrooms for four-year olds that are fully or partially publicly funded and operate under the direction of state, local, and federal education and human service agencies.
Summer Day Camps are generally designed for school-age children and operate during the day for less than four months. They may be offered by child care centers, colleges, recreation sites, faith-based groups, or other sponsoring organizations. This type of program is exempt from state licensure.