Retooling What’s Broken
Two Early Childhood Programs. Two Tailored Solutions. One Steady Hand.
When two private Christian schools faced declining enrollment and inconsistent quality in their early childhood programs, each needed help to chart a new course—one through internal reinvention, the other through strategic partnership.
The Challenge
Both schools had afterschool and summer programs that were falling short—low enrollment, inconsistent experiences, and a steady stream of feedback from parents that things just weren’t working. Staff turnover and repeated attempts at improvement had left teams frustrated and unsure what to try next. It was time for bold decisions.
At One School:
Close It, Rethink It, Rebuild It
We helped the first school make a bold decision—to temporarily shut the doors on a struggling program and use the summer to regroup. With input from parents, educators, and early childhood experts, we built something new from the ground up:
A fresh “camp-style” program for out-of-school days
A right-sized budget that made sense long-term
A thoughtful hiring process to bring in energized staff
A clear marketing plan to relaunch with purpose
When it reopened, enrollment rebounded—and so did confidence.
At Another:
Partner Smart, Grow Strong
For the second school, the best solution wasn’t to go it alone. We facilitated a partnership with a nearby early childhood provider that needed room to expand—and shared the school’s mission and values.
It took time to align vision, adapt facilities, and ease into change, but the payoff was worth it. The program is now thriving, professionally run, and serving as a strong enrollment pipeline for the school’s elementary grades.
The Takeaway
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to struggling programs. But with the right guidance and a willingness to choose the path that fits best—whether internal innovation or external collaboration—schools can turn broken systems into lasting wins. My experti communities make confident, mission-aligned decisions that continue to bear fruit.