LEADING THE WAY
in ECE business training & technology automation
HEADQUARTERED IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Early Education Business Program
A solution for communities!
What The Program Is All About:
Similar to a “mini-MBA program,” this program focuses on early education childcare owners/directors and gives them the knowledge, understanding, and tools necessary to operate a sustainable and profitable small business.
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This program, which your community will implement, teaches and discusses business management topics including:
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Strategic business planning
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Best marketing techniques for early education
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Accounting basics
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Financial management
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Leadership
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Human resource management
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Automation
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Why It Was Created:
This program was created in response to a community-wide need in coastal Virginia: child care centers and preschools that were skilled in educating children but needed support on the business model to run a successful operation.
Based on the success of this initial program, led by Early Education Business Consultants founder Lauren Small and developed in close partnership with the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, a new product was born. The Early Education Business Program can now be successfully implemented in other communities throughout the United States.
How It Works:
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A consultant from our team, led by Certified Business Analyst Lauren M. Small, MBA, will come to your community for a visit.
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The consultant meets with key stakeholders—usually early childhood advocacy organizations, business partnerships and/or government entities—to discuss your unique needs.
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You will be offered a customized package based on your budget and desired outcomes. The package can include events like a lunch & learn series for ECE directors and board leadership trainings, but more often is focused on "train the trainer" workshops so that your community can implement its own business models.
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Your package will include resources, curriculum materials and everything else you will need to develop and manage business training for your community's ECE leaders.
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Who Funds It:
In most cases, local government and business organizations provide grants to cover this investment in your community's children. Our consultant can advise you on the technicalities.​
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Package Components & Curriculum
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1. A series of eight group classes, which cover a variety of business classes specific to the early childhood industry. All classes are combined with a speaking segment, group interaction, great networking and connections to community resources.
2. Individual mentoring and one-on-ones with the business counselor.
This is where you work to help the centers implement positive change. The mentor is there to help participants develop their individual goals and to provide support in achieving those goals. You will learn to use the Program Administration Scale to help you identify areas in the individual schools that could use some attention.
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3: Program participants will also be eligible for support to either:
1) Improve or develop a website
2) Improve or develop a logo
3) Training, improving or implementing Childcare Management Software
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