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What is Your Return Rate?
January 12, 2009
A good name will shine forever.
-Proverb
-Proverb
"Financiers measure the success of their investments by their return rates — the percent of profit an investment returns. Centers can measure their success by another form of return rate — the rate at which families return to the center.
"For directors who have been in charge for less than ten years, there is only one return rate that applies — the frequency with which families return to the center to enroll their subsequent children. If families routinely enroll additional children in a center, this is a probable sign that the center is doing something right. I emphasize the qualifier probable because for parents the convenience of having children in one location may weigh heavily in enrollment decisions.
"For directors who have been on the job for 12 or more years, a second return rate comes into play — people who graduated from a center returning to work as teachers. If a teenager who spent a significant portion of his early years at your center applies for a job, this is a strong indication that your center provided a positive experience for that child. No qualifiers here — this is 100% good news.
"Now, for the veterans in our profession, directors who have been on the job for more than 20 years, there is a third return rate — people who graduated from a center returning to enroll their own children. Once again, this return rate is a solid indicator that the children in your center are having a memorable and positive experience. What more perfect testimonial could there be than to have attendees of your program wanting to share this experience with their own children?"
The article "Out of the Box Ideas for Director Evaluation," is included in the new Exchange CD Book, Taking Stock: Tools and Strategies for Evaluating Programs, Directors, Teachers, and Children. This is one of three CD Books recently introduced by Exchange. You can now buy all three new CD Books for a special package price of $60 (a 20% discount!). These CD Books address the following topics with more than 160 Exchange articles:
Developing Capable, Creative Teachers
- Staff Development Basics
- Staff Development Strategies and Solutions
- Team Building Strategies and Solutions
Leading People in Early Childhood Settings
- Leadership Basics
- Leadership Challenges
- Supervisory Basics
- Meeting Staff Needs
- Motivating Staff
- Managing Difficult People
- Managing Difficult Issues
Taking Stock: Tools and Strategies for Evaluating Programs, Directors, Teachers, and Children
- Organizational Evaluation
- Director Evaluation
- Staff Appraisal
- Program Evaluation
- Environmental Evaluation
- Child Assessment
- Child Observation
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ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
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In the classroom, or on the playground, it’s portable, self contained, and very affordable. Plumbing is NOT required. Have hot & cold running water when you need it where you need it. Ideal for hand washing with young children.
In the classroom, or on the playground, it’s portable, self contained, and very affordable. Plumbing is NOT required. Have hot & cold running water when you need it where you need it. Ideal for hand washing with young children.
Comments (3)
Displaying All 3 CommentsPaul K. Kennedy Child Care Center
North Chicago, IL, United States
This article "hit home" as I read it, and thought, there is one area you forgot...How about someone who worked for you from their high school and college training. Went to work, married, had a child, and returned not only to enroll her child, but to become my successor! I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a year transitioning her into my position, mentoring her on NAEYC re-accreditation, grant applications, and daily supervisory techniques. Last January, I turned over the reins, and am happy to report the center is doing well. Re-accreditation was accomplished, re licenssing took place, and the staff continues to perform their duties. There has been little turnover, on the contrary, three former employees who had gone elsewhere have happily returned to work there! I continue to drop by from time to time to visit, but my new activities and ongoing adult education classes keep me very busy and happy to be retired!!
Charlene Ackerman, M.Ed
Retired Executive Director
Paul K. Kennedy Child Care Center
North Chicago, IL
Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-age Summer Camp
Denver, Colorado, United States
I read with interest your article on measuring success by the rate at which families return to a center. I am the owner of Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-age Summer Camp, a privately owned early learning center licensed for over 200 children that has served SE Denver since 1963!
When we celebrated 45 years of service in October...I was proud to give tribute to an incredible staff...both present and past...and to the professional and dedicated directors who have provided extraordinary leadership to our center!
Our first director is thriving in an assisted home for seniors. She is 93 years young and still manages to drive across town to celebrate Kindergarten Graduation. As she boosts, "I would not miss the children walking down the ramp of the world's only classroom in a real DC7 airplane! By the way, I was here when the owners brought it in!" (You can trace the history of the DC7 kindergarten classroom by visiting our site at www.iliffpreschool.com.)
Our second director retired in 1996 and after 30 years of service was replaced by her assistant, Miss Carol, who will soon celebrate her 35th anniversary with us. (Miss Carol's mother is now retired, but also proud to have been a member of our staff. In addition, Miss Carol's daughter has celebrated over 15 years with us and upon many occasions is a substitute in the office for her mother. We take great pride in our first family of 3rd generation staff members! Our second family of 3rd generation staff members involves Miss Terri who has been a staff member over 30 years. Her daughter has been a member of our staff since 2002 and she now has a grandson attending our preschool program.
We also have had many parents who attended our programs whose children have graduated from our center. Our first 2nd generation student graduated from our kindergarten program the same year that we celebrated our 25th anniversary. Since then, we have had many; many children attend our center as 2nd generation students and are on notification that we will soon be honored with a 3rd generation student!
In conclusion, it is not unusual to have up to 7 staff members employed at one time who can claim they are alums! Each year we dedicate a wall in our front hall to staff members as testimonial that not only do the children in our center have a memorable and positive experience, but so do our beloved staff!
Cortland Child Development Program
Cortland, NY, United States
Having worked at the same facility as Director for 30 years I heartily agree with your article and would add one more measure...when graduates return to serve on your Board of Directors! Talk about a vested interest in keeping quality alive and well.
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