Why Early Childhood Education Is More Important Now Than Ever

By Dennis R. Maple

American economic prosperity and competitiveness are inextricably linked to the success of early childhood education providers.

High-quality childcare drives the U.S. economy by allowing more adults to enter and stay in the workforce, providing a critical boost to businesses. Access to high-quality childcare is vital to ensuring the continuity of a vibrant workforce. Nearly 27 million people—16% of the U.S. workforce—rely on childcare to do their jobs, according to the First Five Years Fund.

And the need for childcare in the U.S. has never been greater. The U.S. economy loses as much as $35 billion in income each year because parents need to leave the labor force or reduce their working hours to care for their children.

Beyond Babysitting

By opening more schools and crafting curriculums explicitly designed to help children develop holistically, the premium early childhood education sector is uniquely positioned to address both a significant societal and a business issue—an acute need for high-quality care and education—and the desire of parents to help their young children learn and grow.

Parents don’t merely want someone to look after their children. They aren’t seeking a babysitter. They want their children to receive a nurturing education that helps them grow socially, emotionally, and academically and that lays the foundation for their success in school and in life.

The most important factor in selecting a day care or preschool program, parents say, is the program’s focus on children’s social-emotional development, followed closely by safety and security and a focus on academic growth, according to a recent survey by The Goddard School. Parents said they worry more about their child’s social-emotional growth than about any other factor in their education.

Rewarding Business Opportunities

The Goddard School, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, cares for and educates nearly 100,000 children between six weeks and six years old in more than 615 schools, and it is quickly opening new schools to meet the ever-increasing needs of communities nationwide.

To deliver the experience parents seek for their young children, The Goddard School provides every child a warm, caring, safe environment that supports their individual social, emotional, and academic development and appreciates their unique talents and personalities. Our proprietary educational program—backed by expert knowledge, data-driven insights, and unwavering compassion for growing minds—encourages children to explore their curiosity and interests as they discover the wonder of learning.

The rapid growth of The Goddard School system is driven by attracting individuals looking for rewarding opportunities to nurture young children while supporting their working parents and the organizations that employ them.

Importantly, an education background isn’t a prerequisite to become a Goddard School franchisee. Our system is comprised of individuals with a wide range of backgrounds.

Many franchisees do have experience in education—some began their careers as teachers and directors before transitioning into ownership. But other franchise owners are parents who have experienced the impact of a Goddard education firsthand and believe strongly enough in the system’s approach to open a school. Some come from other fields, such as corporate executives seeking an entrepreneurial opportunity in their communities.

There’s no blueprint for a Goddard franchisee, beyond a passion for helping care for and educate young children, a commitment to community, and an interest in going into business for yourself—but not by yourself.

Building on a Strong Foundation

While the importance of childcare is greater than ever, the need isn’t new.

In the 1980s, as families increasingly had two working parents, Anthony A. Martino recognized a growing need for childcare. As one of the world’s leading franchising experts—he cofounded the AAMCO transmission repair franchise and the MAACO auto painting and repair franchise—Martino set out to create not just day care but a school where children would build an educational foundation for a successful life. He founded The Goddard School for Early Childhood Education in 1988.

The Goddard School quickly proved to be a rare endeavor that benefits all its stakeholders and constituents:

• Students receive an education focused on a flexible, play-based learning philosophy to build a lifelong love of learning.
• Families, especially those with two working parents, have dependable childcare to enable them to pursue their careers.
• Communities gain much-needed childcare options for their families and enriching careers for teachers and faculty.
• Franchisees get a unique opportunity to combine a rewarding entrepreneurial experience with the ability to make a true difference in their local communities.

My team and I focus on supporting our franchisees to enable them to provide the best care and education for the families they serve and to address the accelerating societal need for high-quality childcare and education. Through these efforts, we are upholding The Goddard School’s tradition of excellence and fulfilling our simple yet powerful mission: to make the world a better place through early childhood education.

Dennis R. Maple is chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, LLC, the manager of The Goddard School franchise system.

For more information about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com, and to learn about franchise opportunities, go to GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.