Ole Miss students and faculty with young children say finding adequate child care in Oxford has become a struggle.
There are 12 day care facilities in the Oxford area who cater to children ranging from infancy to age 4, ABC Learning Center, Mother Goose and the Magnolia Montessori School among them. This does not include “Mother’s Morning Out” programs and private day care facilities operated out of homes.
While this may seem like a reasonable number to serve a small town like Oxford, there are a number of circumstances that prevent parents from child care.
Steep tuition prices, waiting lists and the fact that some facilities only accept students old enough for pre-kindergarten classes make finding a child care program a difficult task.
Marissa Malone, senior geological engineering major, said she has struggled with her search for a good-quality child care program in Oxford for her 7-month-old daughter.
“It’s very hard to find childcare,” Malone said. “I have been looking for around 11 months and nothing has opened up.”
Unable to find a practical option due to waiting lists, which can be booked up to a year in advance, Malone said she moved to New Albany in order to be closer to the nearest available day care center.
According to Malone, it is almost impossible to find an affordable child care option, especially for student mothers or young families.
“I’m not sure how student mothers that live in Oxford pay for child care,” Malone said. “Anything in Oxford is going to be 625 (dollars) or up. If they do wind up paying, then they end up having to choose a lower quality child care center.”
For Ole Miss parents who can afford to pay the $5,750 dollars each school year, the Willie Price Lab School, which is operated by the School of Education in Kinard Hall, is a prime pre-kindergarten option for children 3 to 4 years old.
Wille Price Lab School is operated by the School of Education in Kinard Hall, is a prime pre-kindergarten option for children 3 to 4 years old. Photo by Kayla Beatty
The school is a research-based facility with a capacity of 65 students.
Willie Price Lab School director Sarah Langley said the facility is dedicated to helping children receive the highest quality level of education.
“Our teachers are all licensed teachers who use their educational background and resources to stay in front of what research is telling us works in classroom instruction,” Langley said.
Langley said she acknowledges that high-quality education comes at a price and cost can affect families in various ways depending on their financial situation.
“It is a profound issue that affects families in our community and across our country,” Langley said. “I have found that families have to find creative ways to cover the cost of their child’s preschool education or childcare services. This is true for families with parents that are college students and for parents working full-time jobs.”
Assistant professor of secondary education Joel Amidon praised Willie Price, but said it is not a viable option for everyone, depending on family circumstances.
“Our daughter Annie was reading books before she left in 4-K,” Amidon said. “They do such a great job of making sure our kids are ready for kindergarten. Actually more than kindergarten, just beyond.”
