TLC Early Learning Center (TLC-ELC) is the only NAEYC nationally accredited private non-profit Christian childcare program in Bloomington. We are also the longest continually operating NAEYC accredited program in Bloomington. We are a ministry of Transfiguration Lutheran Church. This relationship allows us to maintain lower staff: child ratios and smaller group sizes than are seen in most Minnesota programs. The longevity of our staff is one that is often unheard of in this industry.

NAEYC National Accreditation standards exceed the state’s requirements for licensed centers. Accreditation involves an extensive process of assessment and validation, establishes expectations regarding the relationship between teachers and children, curriculum development, teaching methods, and processes for on-going program assessment. Accreditation also sets expectations regarding health practices, teacher qualifications and training, the physical environment, and program leadership and general management.

TLC-ELC’s average tenure for full time staff is 18 years. The director has been with TLC-ELC since 1989. All teachers have college training in Early Childhood Education All staff are trained in CPR and First Aid, and receive ongoing education. The director of TLC-ELC has degrees in special education and pre-school education with post-graduate work and a license in early childhood education. She also has been active with NAEYC’s Accreditation process since 1986.

Prayer Christian stories and music Devotions Bi-monthly worship Regular interaction with TLC church staff

We work to keep our tuition within the range of other centers. Staff and facilities are the largest expenses of operating a child care center. As a ministry of Transfiguration Lutheran Church, TLC ELC can allocate more resources to offer lower staff ratios, maintain smaller group sizes, and maintain teacher stability. Research has shown that fewer children per caregiver as well as smaller group sizes contribute to the health, safety and development of children, as well as lower stress levels in staff. The children receive more stimulating and responsive care and engage in more verbal interactions with their caregivers. This fosters the secure attachments that are critical for their socioemotional well-being and lays the foundation for their ability to build healthy relationships in the future. Lower child-to-staff ratios and smaller group sizes have also been associated higher social competence, communication and language skills and cognitive development.

Some of the ELC classrooms are used by TLC for Sunday School but are used exclusively by TLC-ELC during normal center operating hours. The east side of the Fellowship Hall is set aside primarily for TLC-ELC and we have access to use the full Fellowship Hall space as available. The outside playground is used only by TLC-ELC during operation.

We survey other centers annually to make sure we are consistent with tuition at other Bloomington area centers, even though we offer lower ratios, smaller group sizes, numerous field trips, on-site meals, and a Nationally Accredited program.

After a full year a family is entitled to two weeks of absence without paying tuition. TLC-ELC is flexible in working this out with each family.

TLC-ELC offers healthful breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. We employ a full time cook who prepares all meals (meals are not prepared off-site and brought in and heated up). The menu has a regular rotation with different foods periodically being introduced. In addition to general nutritional awareness, we incorporate some lower sugar and organic foods.

All rooms except the youngest group (the Turtles) take regular field trips. Most rooms take weekly field trips during the school year with bi- weekly field trips in the summer. Besides going on many different trips in the community, in-house field trips are offered to the children. During the summer most rooms take weekly trips, with more offered in the summer. The school age group (TAC) go on between 2-3 field trips every week of the summer and often on the non-school days during the year.

We own two 20-passenger buses. Our bus drivers have the appropriate driver's licenses to drive these buses and our staff have been trained to properly install and operate car seats, when needed.

TLC-ELC always sends at least one additional staff person and often two along on field trips. Parents are always invited to participate as well but are not expected to be responsible for more than their child. There can also be more staff, for example when the school agers go swimming in the summer they send about 7-8 staff with 35-40 children. The safety is of primary importance on our trips.

They are not. We recover the cost of the field trip including any cost of entry, mileage, and extra staff. The amount is divided among the children in the room.