Recently named #1 Childcare Franchise in the United States, by Entrepreneur magazine, for the fifth consecutive year (January 2006) and one of the Top 50 Worldwide Up and Comers, by Franchise Times; Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is expanding The Goddard School® network throughout the United States. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, GSI currently licenses 200+ franchised schools in 32 states.
President and CEO, Philip Schumacher, has committed GSI to providing a level of quality that surpasses anything currently available in the industry. To that end, he has reinforced the already formidable corporate Quality Assurance requirements for Goddard franchisees.
Goddard Schools receive unannounced visits from GSI Quality Assurance representatives several times a year. The Goddard QA evaluation meticulously examines all aspects of health and safety as well as providing a detailed assessment of curriculum and programming. This absolute commitment to quality is strongly supported by franchisees as affirmed by an impressive 30% who have already purchased second franchises.
Goddard franchisees share a common entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to providing the highest quality childcare in their communities, as evidenced by each School’s on-site management. With a successful system in place and dedicated franchisees, GSI has achieved its initial goal as the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare. The company now has its sights on the next level - recognition as the premier childcare provider in the United States.
Kyle D. Pruett, M.D., an international authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years and is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center, is a member of the GSI advisory team. Dr. Pruett consults on curriculum and programming as well as providing guidance and resource information that is distributed to franchisees and parents. Dr. Pruett is the author of the award-winning Goddard Parenting Guide, Me, Myself and I, as well as the host of the Goddard Parenting Guides in DVD format which are available to Goddard families through their school.
GSI has developed Goddard Systems University (GSU). GSU is funded by the corporation and provides ongoing Director and teacher development. Classes are conducted on a regional basis every quarter. GSU is fully accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Directors and teachers who participate in GSU receive continuing education credit that is usually a state requirement. In addition, this module allows for productive sharing of ideas and information.
Each School’s Education Director and staff are selected through interviews by the franchisee in consultation with the GSI Operations Department. All Goddard Directors are required to attend a formal one-week training at GSI corporate headquarters. The training includes topics such as: Goddard Quality Assurance standards, curriculum and program, health and safety, teacher development and training, hiring procedures, community relations, and payroll control.
Goddard School buildings are custom designed and planned to provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for children from six weeks to six-years-old. Two separate playgrounds are designed to challenge and delight each age group.
Every Goddard School:
- Is a fully licensed childcare facility
- Has highly qualified staff trained in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
- Provides children with carefully planned educational programs that meet the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs of each child.
- Maintains a small group atmosphere to provide individual attention.
- Offers open and honest communication with parents in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.