HANOVER — Over 300 Dartmouth College community members have signed a petition against transferring the college’s child care center to a for-profit operator. The petition was submitted to President Sian Leah Beilock last week, urging her administration to reject the involvement of corporate chains in managing the center.
This petition arises from the work of a campus committee assigned to improve child care access for faculty, staff, and graduate students. When it was revealed that proposals from for-profit providers were being considered, concerns emerged about potential increases in tuition, reduced quality of care, and worsened working conditions for center staff.
The petition, submitted on August 26, expresses concern over the idea of “corporatizing” the Dartmouth College Child Care Center (DCCCC). “We understand there is a shortage in child care, but corporatizing DCCCC is not the solution,” the petition reads.
In response, the administration assured petitioners on August 28 that no decisions have been finalized. Senior Vice President for Capital Planning and Campus Operations Josh Keniston stated that the college is exploring various options to enhance child care services and that final decisions will be made only after consulting the Dartmouth community this fall.
Currently, the Dartmouth College Child Care Center caters to 87 children from infancy to age five, with a sliding tuition scale between $650 and $2,400 per month, based on family income. The center operates weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but more than 120 families are on a waiting list, according to media relations director Jana Barnello.
President Beilock, in her inaugural address last September, highlighted expanding access to quality child care as a key priority. She stated that her administration will collaborate with Dartmouth Health and other local organizations to improve child care options.
One company under scrutiny is Boston-based Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Faculty and staff have expressed concerns after a business proposal from Bright Horizons circulated outside administrative circles. Bright Horizons, which operates over a thousand child care centers globally, reported a net income of $74 million in 2023, up 9% from the previous year.
Faculty members are worried about the impact of for-profit management. “For-profit centers often target wealthier areas and charge high tuition while offering lower teacher salaries,” said Casey Stockstill, an assistant professor of sociology. Stockstill, who studies segregation and inequality in preschools, noted that for-profit centers generally maintain minimum legal staffing ratios, which can lead to higher staff turnover.
Bright Horizons is known for its “plug and play” curriculum, designed to accommodate frequent staff changes. A recent study by the National Women’s Law Center and the Open Markets Institute found that for-profit centers have a turnover rate of 47%, compared to 26% at nonprofit centers.
Marcela DiBlasi, an assistant professor of Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies, whose children attend the Dartmouth center, praised the current program for its flexibility and the dedication of its staff. She criticized the idea of imposing a standardized curriculum from for-profit operators, arguing that it undermines the quality of education.
Bright Horizons has also expressed concerns about potential government-funded child care programs that could affect their business. Their annual report warns that such programs could reduce demand for their services and put downward pressure on tuition fees.
Locally, Bright Horizons has managed the child care center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center since 2015. This center, which serves 110 children, employs Bright Horizons staff and adheres to state regulations.
Bright Horizons did not respond to requests for comment by the deadline. Dartmouth Health is also working with the Carter Community Building Association (CCBA) to open a new 40-seat child care center exclusively for health system employees, scheduled to open in early 2025. The new center will be managed by Bright Horizons and serve children from 18 months to six years old.