Desert Star Preschool transformed from a struggling center into a thriving dual-campus operation with the help of Procare’s all-in-one child care management solution. Facing operational inefficiencies and an enrollment dip, the preschool worked hard to rebuild its reputation and improve families’ experiences.
After adopting Procare, Desert Star streamlined administrative tasks and improved their billing processes. These changes helped them reach full capacity at one center, open a second location and grow their role as a community leader in early childhood education!
| Child Care Center Desert Star Preschool |
| Location Fort Mohave, AZ |
| Website Home – Desert Star Preschool |
| Download Case Study PDF Here |
The Problem
Desert Star Preschool began as a small rural child care center with just ten students. Over the years, it evolved into a vital resource for families in its community, eventually expanding to include elementary and middle school programs.
But after leadership changes and operational challenges, the preschool was in a steep decline by 2021, said Alyssa McKown, who took over as director that year.
And the obstacles weren’t just logistical; they posed a direct threat to the school’s reputation and ability to grow.
Although licensed for 45 children, the preschool was at half its capacity. Tasks such as managing payments, keeping track of licensing requirements and generating state reports were time-consuming and prone to human error.
Without a user-friendly billing or communication system, parents had difficulty staying on top of their accounts.
Determined to turn things around, Alyssa sought a solution that could improve operations while prioritizing the experiences of children and families.
The Solution
Alyssa made the decision to implement Procare, which is designed for early childhood education programs.
Here’s how Procare addressed Desert Star’s challenges:
Modernized Payment Systems
Procare’s secure online payment platform allowed families to pay tuition conveniently and promptly, minimizing overdue balances. The system also reminded families of outstanding payments via automated alerts, reducing miscommunication and manual follow-up tasks.
Streamlined Administrative Tasks
With Procare’s comprehensive tools, Alyssa could easily manage billing, staff schedules and licensing documentation. Administrative burdens dropped significantly, enabling her to focus on growing the school rather than day-to-day operational firefighting.
Enhanced Parent Communication
The Procare child care mobile app created a direct line of communication between the preschool and families. Parents could access billing information, receive important updates and feel involved in their children’s daily activities.
Support for Growth
When Desert Star quickly hit capacity under Alyssa’s leadership, Procare provided the efficiency needed to open a second center, which Alyssa also could manage using Procare.
The Results
Desert Star’s transformation was nothing short of remarkable. Within a year of implementing Procare, the school experienced improvements that exceeded expectations!
Enrollment grew from around 20 children to hitting its full capacity of 45, and a waitlist soon developed.
Desert Star’s improved reputation led to daily inquiries from potential families. Bolstered by Procare, Alyssa successfully licensed and opened a second campus to meet rising demand while maintaining operational consistency.
During routine state inspections, Desert Star’s compliance improved so significantly that an auditor commented that he struggled to find any issues to document. “By the end of my first year, (the inspector) said, ‘I have to find something to write down!’ There was nothing to fix,” she said.
Procare solved problems I didn’t even know could be solved. It improved our operations, enhanced parent relationships and even made us better as a center. I can’t imagine running Lighthouse Baptist Daycare without it.
–ALYSSA MCKOWN, DIRECTOR OF DESERT STAR DAYCARE
How Procare Can Help Your ECE Program Grow!
The partnership between Desert Star Preschool and Procare highlights what’s possible when modern child care management aligns with visionary leadership.
Procare helped Desert Star recover financially and restore its reputation as a trusted leader in early education. And today, Desert Star continues to thrive across two campuses.
“Procare has been a huge blessing. It helped us grow and be better for our families,” Alyssa said.
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