U-GRO Parents’ Frequently Asked Questions

Finding the right childcare center for your family is an important step in parenthood. If this is your first time researching centers, you may have several important topics you want to explore. When parents tour one of our 13 U-GRO locations, they ask some important questions to ensure the care, safety and education of their children. Here, we have compiled a list of the questions that our center staff are asked most frequently from visitors and families to help you in your childcare selection.

What clearances do your teachers have?

Each teacher must complete a child abuse clearance, state police background check, a drug test, and FBI fingerprint background check prior to their first day of employment.

What are the qualifications for becoming a teacher at U-GRO?

At our centers, we seek to find the most caring individuals early education has to offer. The majority of our teachers hold either an Associates or a Bachelors degree in a child related field, be it early childhood education, elementary education, family studies, social work, child development or special education. We also make sure that our teachers’ values align with U-GRO’s values, which include Serve, Grow, and Be Positive.

What are the teacher to student ratios in each classroom?

• Infants – 1:4
• Young toddlers – 1:5
• Older toddlers – 1:6
• Preschool children – 1:10
• School-age children – 1:12

What is your child retention rate?

Most of the children who attend U-GRO start our program as infants and leave us when it is time to move on to kindergarten.

Are families invited and/or encouraged to participate in activities?

Absolutely. When we welcome a child into our center, we welcome the entire family and look forward to getting to know them! At U-GRO, we host several events throughout the year that families can attend, including our Thankful Feast, The Week of the Young Child, and Cookies Bring Carols Sing. We also invite parents to join us on our SummerSafari field trips.

Are we able to talk to teachers about our child’s progress?

Yes! We encourage an open-door policy at all of our centers. One way we seek to empower families is by partnering with parents to help set a strong foundation for their child. In order to be a team, we feel it’s paramount to have frequent communication. We openly communicate with our families twice a day at drop off and pick up. Parents also receive communication tools such as our daily chat sheets, Facebook posts, and conferences.

Evaluations based on the PA State Early Learning Standards are completed at least twice a year depending on the child’s age. These help reassure parents of their child’s success, as well as next steps in their child’s development. Throughout the year, teachers will also schedule conference times with parents to discuss their child’s progress.

What sets U-GRO apart from other childcare facilities in the industry?

All U-GRO centers use our Blended Model® Curriculum. This model emphasizes that each classroom combines teacher-directed activities with child-led discovery. We know children learn from play, but we also are getting them ready to succeed in a kindergarten atmosphere. Our Blended Model® allows us to have the best of both worlds and gives our students a 94% kindergarten readiness rate. We offer a Life Skills program that sets us apart from our competition.

Aside from our curriculum, all U-GRO centers embrace diversity. Each center welcomes different cultures and traditions. Pertaining to our teachers, we pride ourselves in the fact that we have a high percentage of teachers with college degrees. Our teachers also engage with U-GRO parents every day to foster strong parent-teacher relationships.

What is included in the price of tuition?

Tuition includes all of U-GRO’s programming, two snacks, and lunch each day (at most centers). The tuition also includes our Life Skills Program, comprised of fitness, music, Spanish, and PathFinder, a social emotional leadership program at the preschool level.

We’d love to answer any questions you may have about sending your child to a U-GRO learning center. If you are interested in touring one of our facilities, schedule a visit or request more information.