How Networks Can Help Family Childcare Businesses Succeed
Event Summary
On Wednesday, July 29, AEI’s Katharine Stevens hosted a web event on a new technology-based initiative for family childcare networks, recently launched by Wonderschool — named one of Fast Company’s 10 most innovative education companies of 2019.
Chris Bennett, CEO and cofounder of Wonderschool, described the company’s history and demonstrated how Wonderschool’s user-friendly platform works both to help people launch new home-based childcare businesses and to support family childcare providers once they are operating.
Tracey McEntyre, program director of Little Elm STE(A)M Academy in Texas, explained why she decided to start a family childcare business rather than work in a childcare center and the crucial role Wonderschool has played in providing ongoing mentorship and technical support for her business. Next, Mia Pritts, head of early care and education at Wonderschool, described how Wonderschool is working with childcare networks, which use the Wonderschool technology platform to help family childcare providers boost quality and improve business practices. Finally, Shannon Cotsoradis, CEO of the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, discussed how Wonderschool has helped her network strengthen family childcare businesses throughout the state.
Panelists agreed that greater use of technology to collect and share data and ongoing mentorship are both key to supporting home-based childcare businesses.
Event Description
Home-based family childcare is a valuable childcare option for the many working families who prefer a home — rather than institutional — setting for their young children, and it also provides an important opportunity for women’s entrepreneurship, especially in low-income communities. Yet since 2005, the number of licensed home-based childcare businesses has declined by almost 50 percent — more than 100,000 providers — even as capacity of childcare centers has grown.
An emerging strategy for boosting family childcare is establishing networks that connect multiple home-based childcare businesses in a local region, providing support for business operations and program quality.
Please join AEI for a web event on a new technology-based initiative for family childcare networks, recently launched by Wonderschool — named one of Fast Company’s 10 most innovative education companies of 2019.
Event Materials
Resources on Networks
Network Examples
AGENDA
2:00 PM
Welcome and introductions:
Katharine B. Stevens, Resident Scholar, AEI
2:05 PM
Presentation:
Chris Bennett, CEO and Cofounder, Wonderschool
2:20 PM
Comments:
Shannon Cotsoradis, Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative
Tracey McEntyre, Program Director, Little Elm STE(A)M Academy
Mia Pritts, Head of Early Care and Education, Wonderschool
2:35 PM
Panel discussion
Panelists:
Chris Bennett, CEO and Cofounder, Wonderschool
Shannon Cotsoradis, Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative
Tracey McEntyre, Program Director, Little Elm STE(A)M Academy
Mia Pritts, Head of Early Care and Education, Wonderschool
Moderator:
Katharine B. Stevens, Resident Scholar, AEI
3:00 PM
Q&A
3:15 PM
Adjournment
See Also
Op-Ed ~ June 16, 2020
Event ~ June 12, 2020
Op-Ed ~ June 10, 2016