Children’s Hut Child Care Center is a child development center founded by Ernest McClellan in 1990. Mr. McClellan, who passed away in February, was an African American leader and educator dedicated to serving children from low-income families. He was later joined by his grandson, Mr. Johnson, to help serve and educate the children and families in their center. They are located in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 4, which Mr. McClellan chose for its accessibility to families via transportation and because there were no child care centers or family home care facilities in the area at that time. He was passionate about providing high-quality child care and education to young children, and his legacy continues today.
The difficulties they now face are different from those when Mr. McClellan first opened the center. There are more child care centers and family child care homes in the area, making it hard to reach full capacity, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Public schools and charter schools in D.C. now enroll 3- and 4-year-olds, children who were previously in child care centers or family care. This shift has negatively affected their Pre-K Enhancement Program enrollment. Capacity has been reduced by more than 50% since the pandemic began; however, thanks to funding from Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) via LIIF’s Back-to-Work grant, they have been able to market the center and are now at 70% capacity. Children’s Hut survived by merging and consolidating children from three locations into one. More than 90% of the children enrolled in their program receive subsidies.
All Children’s Hut teachers have a minimum Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and three are enrolled in an associate’s degree program in early childhood education. Others hold bachelor’s degrees. Recently, they achieved a High-Quality rating, which qualifies them for higher subsidy payments. They are also using Brightwheel child care management software, which all Back 2 Work participants were required to adopt. Brightwheel allows them to track students’ developmental progress, attendance, billing, staff timekeeping, and more. It has been beneficial in automating their business practices.
The grant helped them achieve the High-Quality designation in the Capital Quality rating. With the funds, they were able to purchase new toys, supplies and materials for the classrooms and center. They are working toward full capacity and have been able to retain their valued staff with the help of the grant.
Left to right: LIIF Senior Vice President, National ECE Angie Garling with Children’s Hut CEO Philip Johnson and Accountant Sharon Mozo.
Mr. McClellan, who passed away in February, was an African American leader and educator dedicated to serving children from low-income families.