Mon – Fri: 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Child Development Center - (6 Wks - 5 Yrs)
As a parent, who you entrust with the care of your children is critical. Our McConnell Child Development Center’s (CDC) primary mission is to provide quality child care services to Team McConnell, which enables our Airmen to meet mission requirements worldwide with the knowledge that their children are in a safe, healthy environment that fosters individual development through independent and creative exploration of their world. The CDC is nationally accredited and staffed by well-trained professionals you can trust to care for your little ones ages six weeks to five years. Our center is truly developmental, with programs to enhance social skills, encourage children to think and reason, promote language and literacy, build physical development and skills, and much more! Please call us at 316.759.4223 for more information or go to www.militarychildcare.com to request care. Tuition is set annually by DoD and is based on each family’s total household income.
CDC Renovation Frequently Asked Questions
What will the total capacity be with the additional 6 classrooms? What age groups will be in the new facility?
The total child capacity with the additional six classrooms will be 268.
There will be three infant rooms (6 weeks – 1 year), two pre-toddler rooms (1 -2 years), and one toddler room (2-3 years), occupying the six additional rooms in building 338.
For double ratio classrooms, will parents and teachers have any input into the division into single ratio classrooms for the interim period within 338?
Currently the plan is to keep children separated based on their current separated groups by sign-in and sign-out boards in their respective classrooms. However, we will partner with families to take their insight into consideration regarding friendships and or the socioemotional aspect.
What does the current waitlist look like? Will the waitlist be affected or delayed during the renovation?
Currently, our waitlist has been sitting around 80 children needing immediate care (within 30 days), and 60 children on the projected waitlist, (longer than 30 days), for a total of 140 children on the waitlist.
The waitlist will not be affected or delayed by the renovation phases as we will continue to offer spaces as they become available throughout.
Will we see fee increases as we build a new facility?
No. Military childcare fees are not, nor will they ever be, used to pay for building renovations or infrastructure upgrades on a military installation. CDC fees are mandated and set forth by the Department of Defense.
Will preschool classrooms combine to go into one playground together while in 338?
No. Preschool classrooms will still follow the guidelines of going outside in groups compared to going outside altogether. Groups are staggered to ensure ratios and active supervision is maintained.
How will children’s allergies and food needs be accommodated during Phase 5 while the main kitchen is closed? How do is it ensured that there is not cross contamination in the transport process?
Children’s allergies and food needs will follow the same protocol. All food allergies, sensitivities, and accommodations (documented by a healthcare provider) will be posted in the kitchen, as well as in the classrooms, and at front desk areas in a binder. Any food allergies, sensitives, and accommodations are kept separate and labeled. We will continue to follow USDA and Public Health’s guidelines for the transport of all food to ensure there is no cross-contamination.
When entry points are closed in 337, how do we access classrooms during Phase 6?
During Phase 6, all infant through toddler classroom families will enter through the front door of building 338.
Toddler 2-3 and pre-toddler 3-4 will have classrooms in building 338. Infant families will use the connector to get to their classrooms, whereas toddler 1 and pre-toddler 1-2 will use the back door of building 338 to exit and go through the playground and back door to your respective classroom.
All Preschool families will enter through the preschool playground by way of the sidewalk between the preschool playground and the fenced-off parking lot to enter the back door of their respective classrooms.
When will you start hiring actions to ensure that the CDC is staffed to open the expanded 6 rooms? How many positions will you be hiring?
Hiring will begin in March 2025 with approximately 21 positions being filled.
Are there doors in both buildings that will be exit only during the renovation?
Throughout the six phases of the renovation, there will be different entrance and exit points. Please pay close attention to messages sent through CYPBMS, as well as the storyboard and phased fliers at the front desk and on the clipboards in every classroom. Managers and Operations Clerks can answer any questions you may have regarding this as well.
Will we need to re-register for access card entrance when moved to Building 338?
No, Building 338 will not have card access. Once the renovation is complete, we will return to a single entry point in Building 337, which you already have access to with your card. During the phases when entry to Building 338 is required, security will be ensured with a staff member present during all hours of operation.
How will accountability be completed during the phases?
Accountability will remain the same during the renovation phases. We will continue to do name-to-face hourly counts for every classroom.
With longer drop offs and pick-ups, will we be charged extra for late fees?
No
Is a playground renovation planned after the facilities are completed?
At this time there is no playground renovation planned.
Are the Sign-Up Genius volunteer requests currently filled? Currently, this weekend shows 50 slots available.
The volunteer request for Phase 2 is currently filled. However, please feel free to volunteer for a later phase weekend transfer. Click HERE to sign up.
Child Development Providers
A Great Start Goes a Long Way
McConnell AFB families are invited to visit the Department of Defense (DoD) website designed to simplify access to childcare. MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) will help families create a household profile, conduct childcare searches, submit requests for care, and manage their requests at any time and from any location. Through MilitaryChildCare.com, eligible families can search and request care for full-day and part-day options in facility-based and home-based programs for children from birth through age 12.
At the Child Development Center (CDC), we have a passionate staff, a 21st-century curriculum, top-notch classrooms for kids, and a commitment from our hardworking families. All together this helps your children reach their full potential.
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2024 Handbook
Hey parents! Here is your guide to McConnell’s Child Development Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request childcare?
MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) is a Department of Defense website for military families seeking child care. This site will allow families to search for and request care from a wide range of military operated and military subsidized child care options across all Services to include Child Development Centers, School Age Programs, and Family Child Care Homes. Additional benefits from Child and Youth Programs (CYP) are standardized procedures for effective waiting list management, expedited placement of children and youth into available programs, and enhanced daily operations for programs.
Why do parents have to pay for child care when their child is sick?
The program’s costs of operating the center do not decrease when one or more children are absent in a room. Unless at least half of the children are absent, the same number of staff must be present to ensure the health and safety of the children. The fees collected from parents are used to pay the care giving staff and those costs do not decrease because of the absence of a few children.
Why are the fees at off-base centers cheaper in some areas?
There are several reasons why the fees at some off-base centers may be lower than the Air Force child development or school age programs. Many off-base centers do not provide infant and toddler care or, if they do, provide only a few spaces for these age groups. These age groups are the most expensive to provide care because caregivers can care for fewer children. Most Air Force centers devote up to half (or more) of their spaces to infants and toddlers, therefore, the overall cost of operating is higher. Secondly, staff:child ratios (the number of children for whom one caregiver can provide care) are different. In many states, the number of children per caregiver is much higher than the Air Force considers necessary to provide good care for children. Finally, off-base centers may pay low wages and not be concerned about high staff turnover; some off-base centers pay minimum wage and have very high staff turnover. The Air Force believes it is important for children to be taken care of by the same caregiver from day-to-day. The caregiver gets to know the child, establishes an emotional bond, and is more aware when the child is coming down with a potentially life-threatening illness. Paying caregivers enough to minimize staff turnover reduces the amount the Air Force has to spend recruiting, screening, and training caregivers and saves parent’s money in the long run.
Why does child care cost so much?
Caring for children is an expensive service because it is labor intensive, especially, for infants and toddlers. Over 50% of the total cost of providing child care and 95% of the cost paid by parents is for caregivers. Child care fees include 10 meals and up to 10 snacks per week. The actual cost of the child care part of the fees (not counting the value of the meals and snacks) is less than $3.00 per hour for those in Category IX.
What happens if a family refuses to provide proof of income?
Families will be charged the highest weekly fee.
How is family income determined and what forms are required for verification?
The May 2014 Application for Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care Fees, DD Form 2652, or electronic equivalent will be used to verify total family income (TFI) as defined in Department of Defense Instructions (DoDIs) 6060.02. For the purposes of determining child care fees in the Department of Defense Child Development Programs, TFI is defined as all earned income including wages, salaries, tips, special duty pay (flight pay, active duty demo pay, sea pay), active duty save pay, long-term disability benefits, voluntary salary deferrals, retirement or other pension income including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) paid to the spouse/partner and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits paid to the surviving spouse before deductions for taxes using the individual’s most recent W-2 or Leave and Earning Statement. TFI calculations must also include quarters subsistence and other allowances appropriate for the rank and status of military or civilian personnel whether received in cash or in-kind. Programs should not include alimony, child support received by the custodial parent, SSI received on behalf of the dependent child, reimbursements for educational expenses or health and wellness benefits, cost of living (COLA) received in high cost areas, temporary duty allowances, or reenlistment bonuses. Do not include cash awards, bonuses, or overtime pay in TFI calculation. TFI includes the appropriate Non-Locality Basic Allowance for Housing with Dependents Rate (BAH Reserve Component/Transit (RC/T)) for all members, regardless of whether they live in government housing or off-installation. Programs will use the local BAH rate in locations where military members receive less than the BAH RC/T allowance. For dual-military living in government quarters, include BAH RC/T of the senior member only; for Defense civilian OCONUS, include either the housing allowance or the value of the in-kind housing provided. Note that the BAH RC/T rate is based on the calendar year. Programs will use the appropriate year’s rate when calculating fees.
Why are the fees based on total family income?
Rather than basing the fees on military rank, the fees are based on a family’s ability to pay. Total family income is a better yardstick since it takes into consideration all income available to pay the child care bill. Additionally one of the purposes of the military child care program is to improve the economic viability of military families. Those families with the lowest incomes are those most in need of assistance with their child care expenses.
What services do families receive for their fees?
Fees are based on a typical Monday–Friday operation which hours total 50 or more. SAC fees are adjusted based on the number of program hours provided. Meals (breakfast, lunch and a snack) are included.
How are fees determined?
The fees are set by DoD to pay approximately half of the total cost of providing the care. The Military Child Care Acts of 1989/1996 directed parents to pay approximately half of the cost of care. Fees are set high enough to only cover the costs not paid for by the taxpayers.
How do I enroll for Child Care, Before & After School Care, Camps, Etc.
Parents register their children through www.militarychildcare.com. Parents will create an account, then search for McConnell AFB and complete a request for care. Once they have submitted a request for care MCC.com will populate our waitlist with the child’s priority. If a spot is currently available then the parents will receive an offer of care from us, then they would simply accept the offer and complete the enrollment packet. If a space is not currently available then the child will remain on the list until either a space becomes available or until care needs identified by the parent are no longer current. One important note is that parents have only 48 hours to accept if an offer for care is presented. After 48 hours the offer for care expires, we with withdraw the offer and move to the next child on the waitlist.
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