In turn, this funding is not “research”. It was intended to increase the state’s early childhood education infrastructure. Goddard School in a national franchised chain. A for-profit pure and simple. We simply question the public policy that put taxpayer dollars in the hands of for-profit business people. In every other business environment - there are outcries when taxpayer dollars are diverted to the pockets of large corporations.

This is our opinion and we welcome everyone’s opinion. We have yet to hear an explanation as to how this use of tax payer dollars will benefit the tax payers. We subsidize farmers to keep food prices low because it benefits everyone. We subsidize the oil industry to keep oil prices low which benefits everyone. Who benefits from this subsidy of Goddard School? Given the intended use of this money - only the Goddard School benefits because they taut that they already exceed state requirements. You can’t have it both ways. If a given institutions infrastructure already exceed the state’s current and future requirements, how is it a good use of taxpayer funds to give these institutions taxpayer dollars. Wouldn’t it be of greater benefits to provide the funds to those institutions that need to invest in their infrastructure to keep up with the changing standards? By using these funds to benefit an institution, in this chance a for-profit franchise, that has other sources of funds, in effect denies those funds to other institutions that genuinely need it.

Thank you for reigniting this issue. We will investigate further.

How about actually calling the Goddard owners and asking what they are doing with the money? I suspect that they might be paying teachers more money, complying with new laws or offering scholarships. But I don’t know what they are really doing until I ask.

And why are you shaming them for participating in a program set up for to improve thier schools. According to your research, this program is “open to all comers” and the legislature knew it was open to the “for profits”. Shouldn’t you considering taking to task any school or daycare program that didn’t care enough about their kids to figure out how they could improve and then ask for money to do so? Maybe that’s in the next blog.

I’m not from Massachusetts or the Goddard Schools. Just someone who believes that an honest attempt to research is a prerequisite before attacking someone’s character. You didn’t do that.

A needs test would still allow the EEC to help out preschools (regarless of if the are for-profit or not) but insure that we get maximum return on our tax dollars by keeping profiteers and companies like Goddard School’s from taking advantage of us.

I don’t even think they need legislative approval to institute a needs test. The EEC could just do it.

Don’t forget that the local Goddard School’s are all franchises. This means that many of the owners don’t know or care a bit about quality early childhood education. Any Joe Blow that wants to make a buck can open a Goddard School and if you read through their franchising marketing material, making money is the only thing they are interested in. They use their “commitment” to early childhood education as marketing fodder to enhance money making. Goddard School tell two different stories: one about quality childcare to parents and a second make big money fast story to potential franchisees.

These particular franchisees have just figured out how to make even more money then Goddard School hands them. We shouldn’t be shocked. We should expect it. They are in it for the money and people like that will do anything for more money.

I agree that the state should help improve preschool quality in Massachusetts - but its crazy that big companies like Goddard School are getting my tax dollars. I noticed that their are other for-profits schools on the list but most of them are small local businesses.

I noticed that the other national chains like Next Generation haven’t asked for a grant (or at least they weren’t approved). Maybe they recognize how sleazy this is and Goddard School doesn’t care.

The Boston Globe did a story on bus service for private schools - they need to do a story on this.

How much are they cheating us for anyway? How much is the grant?

I believe there are dire consequenses for substituting video games and organized sports and lessons for unstructured play in early childhood.

They don’t need expensive toys. Baby dolls, blocks, the simpler the better.

Please let us know if you have any recommendations that we can follow up on.