After months of waiting, the US Congress is finally moving on additional pandemic relief for small businesses, including childcare. $10 billion in Child Care Development Block Grant Funds (CCDBG) has been approved to reduce family copays and tuition plus other childcare provider expenses related to COVID-19 restrictions.

There have always been workers whose schedules are not your typical 9 to 5. In fact, in 2017 it was reported that 43% of kids have a parent that works non-traditional hours. Often childcare for these parents rely on a non-working spouse, family, or neighbors to take care of the kiddos when daycare isn't open.

Amidst all the holiday art projects and class parties, you need to take some time to prepare your childcare center for the end of the year. As a business owner, you are responsible for more than your basic income tax preparation. Several areas are requiring your attention right about now.

Let's dive in.

Winter — the time for hot chocolate, cold weather, snow, and the holidays. Your kids are looking forward to it, but it's up to you to keep them safe while enjoying the season. 

The little ones need extra care because they can’t regulate their body temperatures as well as older kids and adults. Plus, everyone needs an annual reminder of how to dress and play in the winter. Parents need to know when to keep sick children home and how you will notify them in case your childcare facility must close.

While parents have always been partners in their children’s education, this year has required working together with educators more than ever before. Children who face online learning still need plenty of engagement from the adults around them to receive the full value of school lessons.

The EZChildTrack childcare management solution now gives you the ability to implement touchless QR code scanning from a parent's smartphone to manage attendance. Parents no longer need to use the district or school computer to check their children in. They can easily present the QR code on their smartphone for you to read with a wireless scanner.

Providing school services during the COVID-19 pandemic poses a variety of challenges. The CDC and American Association of Pediatrics have provided recommendations and guidelines for returning to school, including the need for flexibility and planning.

These are the current guidelines for going back to school with COVID-19.

Parents aren’t the only ones wondering what school will be like in the time of coronavirus. Teachers anxiously await news of whether or when school will open and what they need to know to keep themselves, their families, and their students safe.

How can you train your staff for going back to school with COVID-19?

Keeping everyone safe and healthy is the tag for the school year of 2020-2021. With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in the U.S., how can you, as educators, provide a healthy environment to welcome students back to school?

Consider that many of the recommendations made here have been made before for other reasons. Maybe now is a good time to implement some educational best practices while keeping students and teachers well.

According to the report Parents 2020: COVID-19 Closures — a Redefining Moment for Students, Parents, and Schools, children spend an average of 4.2 hours per day on remote learning. Parents spend about 2.5 hours per day to support their children’s education.

The move to virtual learning has opened the eyes of many parents about what their children need to learn and how well they learn it. However, 92% report their children are at or above grade level in reading and math, while the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows the real average to be closer to 37%.