Schools in State College, PA

“We starting sending our two youngest children to KinderCare in January 2021 when our previous center was still unable to stay open as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our son has special needs and they helped accommodate all his services and aides until we were able to place him in a more appropriate setting. Our daughter also struggled with some behavioral issues and staff brought in professionals through the PA Keystone Stars program to do blind observations of the classroom. This was really helpful to her, us, the staff, and all her classmates.We were also licensed foster parents at the time we sent our children to KinderCare. Staff were supportive of their varying needs, visitations, and paperwork for ERLC and CYS payments.We decided to leave KinderCare only because there are some major changes to our son's school schedule and we were able to find an option closer to home. My job is becoming more demanding and the shorter trips to pick up my daughter will be a relief.We are forever grateful to the KinderCare staff and would highly recommend this center to anyone who is in search of caregivers that will truly love and care for your children.”

“Our 2.5-year-old child was asked to leave the class due to being labeled as "too naughty." We're quite displeased with this situation and plan to provide further details at a later time.Except this issue, I'd like to rate the Goddard School of State College 4 out of 5 stars.We initially enrolled our child at the age of 1.5 years, and the teachers were incredibly supportive in helping them overcome separation anxiety. Over the course of the year, our child had a generally positive experience at the school. After transitioning to a different school, we encountered no significant issues, and we believe that Goddard played a crucial role in instilling the idea that school can be a fun place for kids.I want to highlight the exceptional kindness of some of the teachers. In the Jellyfish room, Teacher S stood out as someone who truly understands children. During drop-off and pick-up times, we frequently witnessed her skillfully redirecting children from undesirable activities. Even when we arrived late and only a few kids were left, we would often find that Teacher S had already assisted in packing our child's belongings.Another remarkable teacher, Teacher S in the minnow's room, who now works in the infant room, always shared detailed insights about our child's activities during pick-up. This included information about fun moments and language development, which we greatly appreciated.However, we do have some concerns regarding the teachers in the Starfish room. Upon transferring to this room, we immediately noticed a difference in the teachers' approach. During drop-off, their enthusiasm in welcoming the children seemed to diminish, possibly because the older kids may not require the same level of reassurance. Furthermore, the teachers in this room appeared less engaged, as we observed instances where children engaged in inappropriate activities, and the teachers simply observed. For example, on one occasion, three children were playing around the sink, one applying hand soap alloever to their face, another repeatedly turning the tap on and off, another keeps getting water from the tap and spill everywhere. I even offered to dry the floor. We also had a therapist visit the school to assist our child in trying new foods, and they shared their concerns about the Starfish room being quite chaotic, at least during the lunchtime visit.On a positive note, the facility itself is clean and well-organized, but it's worth noting that space is somewhat limited.The daily activities are thoughtfully scheduled and generally followed. They often send home art projects created by the children, which we found to be a lovely touch. The daily reports are comprehensive, including details about activities and educational goals.In terms of communication, the use of the preschool2me app for real-time updates on diaper changes, meals, and naps is quite convenient. However, we noticed that they typically provide only one picture per day, and if the teachers manage to capture more, they combine them into a single image using photo editing. Additionally, they frequently send home printed pictures, which we appreciated.”

“Our child attends has attended Step By Step since she was 6 month old - soon to be transitioning to Kindergarten. As an education professional myself, I have to say their educational programs and teachers are excellent and our daughter is developing intellectually and emotionally quite well thanks to their influence. If you are a parent looking for quality daycare in this area and you want something more than a glorified baby sitter, but rather a real school focused on developing your child, Step By Step is a great option!”