Hellobee Boards

If you are for sure planning to leave, I would go ahead and move on with those plans. Do your research though to make sure the other centers aren't raising their rates too. Maybe let them know after doing your exit paperwork that you felt the quality was declining and costs increasing (aka you never saw more for your money).

If you are unsure of if you will leave or not, maybe ask to have a meeting with the directory to first discuss your concerns you have seen over the years and towards the end just let her know that on top of the concerns, now rates are increasing. Does the director have plans to use the increase in funds to address any of your concerns?

We've been seeing huge increases every year (at least 10%) but we haven't left because the rates have stayed in-line with other centers in our area, the quality of care has been consistently high, and our center has improved and enhanced their curriculum over the years (for ex. last year, they introduced private music lessons for all kids over age 2).

Even with that, I complained about our latest tuition increase because it had been less than a year since the last increase and now that I have 2 kids in the center, it was going to be a huge increase for us. They ended up reducing the increase for parents with 2 kids by a small amount, so it was worth complaining (I think we will save 1% of our total tuition over the year, but it's better than nothing). So definitely say something if you feel it is excessive, but also do your research to see if they actually are in-line with other centers in the area.

This is in line with what our daycare does every year, so does not surprise me. It's like you expect it to get cheaper since your kids are getting older but then they raise the rates so its either more or just the same.

That being said I'd ask if they can offer you any additional discount in order to help you guys choose to stay and leave your younger daughter there for longer. Last time our rates went up a ridiculous amount we found out other families were getting more than the 10% sibling discount - my husband talked with the director and she ended up giving us 20% off both kids, which is a huge savings. They've honored that discount every year since, which has been huge in keeping us there. I agree its super frustrating that you pay SO MUCH and the teachers make so little, and in return the quality of the teachers isn't that great.

@Mrs D: What do you hope to accomplish in raising the issue? Genuine question; not being snarky.

@HappyBaker: I need to talk to our center about this too. Last year, they gave us 10% off of both children, but this year we are only getting 10% off our oldest AND rates have increased.

OP: I would ask about it. That is a significant price increase and while I know you have to pay for excellent care, prices jumping that much would give me pause.

I would probably just go with your plan to move them when you older LO goes to kindergarten. I mean you can ask, but you probably won't like the answer given what she said to the other parent.

We don't go to a super expensive daycare (but by no means cheap!) and for the past two years they've increased every classroom (infant/toddler/preschool/pre-k) by $8/week.

Our preschool would have gone up 8% this year if we stayed. The reason we were given was to keep up with the new minimum wage which is going up by a lot.eta, not that the teachers were making minimum wage but the support staff like janitors and I guess cafeteria workers (it was 2s-8th grade) so they would be giving raises to everyone.

We have had a $15/week increase every year since we started so this seems pretty par for the course to me. I have a feeling your increase has very little to do with increased costs and is mainly just a reaction to the market. I think the director is well within her right to say "We feel this is a fair price for our services in this market. If you feel you can get comparable care elsewhere for less money, you are free to do so". The only part of this that I would be unhappy about is if she lied to my face and told me increases were due to staff raises that didn't happen. However, I would keep in mind that just because one or two teachers told you they didn't get a raise, that doesn't mean no one got a raise. It sounds like you didn't have any real plans to move to a new center if you weren't planning on pulling either of your children until they reach Kindergarten. I would probably do some shopping around to see if the increase prices them above comparable centers before I got too up in arms.

I would ask and I don't think they should be put off by questions. That being said, our old daycare raised the price every year and I think our new one does too. I learned with the new one that they will negotiate price - we did this when we went with them and I hope they continue to be flexible when the rates go up.

@yoursilverlining: agree on the waitlist point. My daycare always has a crazy long waitlist. They have zero motivation to negotiate their fees at all and I wouldn't expect them to.