How-To Guides

The monthly CACFP claim cycle, Tier 1 vs. Tier 2 rates, how to avoid disallowances, and what happens after you submit — a step-by-step walkthrough.

CACFP compliance for childcare centers: meal patterns, attendance documentation, claim submission, and how to pass a CACFP review without scrambling.

California CDSS Title 22 licensing: ratios, ECE unit requirements, Live Scan background checks, and the initial licensing process for childcare centers.

Financial reports, chart of accounts, cash vs. accrual, P&L line items, and when to hire a bookkeeper — for directors who did not study accounting.

Childcare center insurance guide: liability, abuse and molestation coverage, workers' comp, property, and vehicle — plus common gaps that leave centers exposed.

Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual operations checklist for childcare center directors — covering compliance, administration, and staff management.

What licensing requires for emergency plans, drill documentation, family communication, and reunification — and how to organize the binder inspectors check.

Essential clauses every childcare enrollment contract needs — tuition terms, late fees, health policies, termination provisions, and when to get legal review.

What counts as a reportable incident, what the report must contain, same-day timing rules, parent notification, and how inspectors use incident records.

The contract clauses that matter, what vendors will negotiate, when to negotiate, how to use competitor quotes, and multi-year vs. annual tradeoffs.

What data childcare software holds, FERPA applicability, state privacy laws, vendor security questions, and what happens to your data if you cancel.

Twenty specific questions to ask vendors during a childcare software demo, grouped by topic, with the reasoning behind each question.