It's something facing almost every family in
America – the need for childcare. For many, childcare is something
they cannot afford, or barely scrape by to pay for.
But in Broward County, for the past 30 years, Cooper City High School
has provided a service for District employees and community members who
work or live near the school. It's the Littlest Cowboys program, which
started its all day program 8 years ago. Monday through Friday, from
7 a.m.-4 p.m. these little cowfolk – ages 3-5 – are taken
care of by professional childcare workers, alongside Cooper City High
School students. The cost is only $85 per week, with a $50 initial registration
fee. There is a 25-child cap in the program, and it is usually booked
solid.
That's right, the high school students earn credit and learn the ins
and outs of childcare. In fact, it is part of a larger program where
students can actually earn their two-year, Child Development Associate's
Equivalency.
The high school students learn everything from running a day care center
to tax responsibilities for businesses to collecting fees from parents.
There are other Broward public schools that are looking into starting
similar programs, and some even have scaled down versions. However, Cooper
City High's is the only one that operates a full-time schedule – this
way, parents can drop off their little ones on the way to work and pick
them up on the way home.
An added benefit is that many District employees take advantage of the
program, and if they work nearby, have the ability to stop by and have
a snack with their little cowboy or cowgirl.
Cooper City High has partnerships with 21 day care centers, where the
students go for additional "On The Job" training. Senior Marisa
Celidonia said, " When I am finished with this program I plan to
teach Pre-school while attending college." Eighty-seven percent
of students in the program go on to a career in the early childhood field,
most becoming elementary school teachers.
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