Dear Virginia Department of Education Licensing Office,

I write to voice grave concerns about the financial impact of the new background check fee on early childhood programs. I urge the DOE to support a fast tracked repeal of this new fee requirement imposed on early childhood programs.

I am the Director of Woods Creek Montessori in Lexington, Virginia. We currently serve 52 children, ages one to eight years old, and we employ 16 staff members during the school year. We serve primarily a two working parent community offering an after school program and a summer camp program in an area in Virginia with few options for year round care. We are the only licensed day center provider offering care until 5:30 during the school year and 5:00 during the summer program.

The addition of mandatory background check fees is already having a negative financial impact on our school. Like many early childhood programs, our budget is very tight and the sudden large cost increase of $70 per applicant is not sustainable for our school. Passing the cost increase to parents (through even higher tuition increases) or to applicants are not viable options and would have consequences on our school program

Thank you for considering the negative impact of this new fee requirement on early childhood programs.

Sincerely,

Caroline Russell, Executive Director

Woods Creek Montessori, Lexington, VA 24450