Reimagining the State Licensing Process: A Perspective from a Preschool Owner

By: Garrett Wilhelm - Founder and CEO. @ Creative Gardens Early Education

Navigating the complexities of state licensing procedures is a reality every preschool owner must face. As someone who has weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic in the childcare sector, I want to shed light on the necessity of reimagining this process.

Preschools have grappled with extraordinary challenges during the pandemic. Yet, we've persevered, providing essential services for families amidst uncertainty, adapting to ever-changing health and safety regulations, and ensuring the emotional and academic wellbeing of our students. Our ability to survive and thrive in this context is a testament to our resilience and commitment.

However, post-pandemic, as we rebuild and seek to strengthen our services, it's become evident that the state licensing process needs a refresh. The current system, characterized by a myriad of regulations often open to varying interpretations by different inspectors, leaves directors and owners scrambling, regardless of our preparation levels.

We are not advocating for relaxing quality or safety standards; far from it. We understand the crucial role licensing plays in ensuring high standards of care and education. But the lack of consistency in interpretation and the punitive, rather than supportive, approach often taken by licensing authorities is counterproductive. It increases stress levels, diverts our focus from education, and leaves us constantly worried about our ability to meet an individual inspector's perspective on licensing code.

It's time to reimagine this process. Let's consider a licensing framework that is built around clarity, consistency, and collaboration.

Clarity:

Clear guidelines that leave no room for interpretation would be a game-changer. Precise, detailed regulations, backed up with examples and best practice models, could drastically reduce the time directors spend trying to interpret the code and adjust their practices according to different inspectors.

Consistency:

Consistent enforcement of regulations by all inspectors would ensure that preschools understand and can meet the expectations. This consistency would relieve much of the anxiety surrounding inspections.

Collaboration:

Rather than focusing on punitive measures, let's build a licensing process centered on collaboration. Regulatory bodies should view and present themselves as allies to educators, offering guidance and support. This shift would foster a positive and productive relationship between preschools and licensing bodies.

As we recover and evolve in the post-pandemic world, we should view this moment as an opportunity. It's a chance to reimagine not just our classrooms, but also the systems surrounding us - systems like the state licensing process. Let's seize this chance to create a licensing procedure that supports, rather than stifles, the extraordinary work of preschool educators and administrators.