KinderCare Becomes First National Early Childcare Education Provider to Achieve WELL Health-Safety Rating

Distinction reaffirms KinderCare’s commitment to ensuring the highest possible health and safety standards in the sector

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KinderCare Learning Companies^®, one of the nation’s largest providers of early childhood and school-age education and child care, is proud to announce that it has earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management™ from the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™). KinderCare is the largest education provider and only national provider of early childhood education and care that has received this distinction. This third-party validation of KinderCare’s health and safety practices comes after a thorough evaluation of operational policies, maintenance protocols, communications practices and emergency plans.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating is designed to empower business owners and operators to take the necessary steps in order to prioritize the health and safety of their staff, visitors and customers for life after the COVID-19 pandemic, instilling confidence in those who come through the building as well as the broader community.

“Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our communities, and we know nothing is more important to our families than the health and safety of their children,” said Tom Wyatt, chairman and chief executive officer at KinderCare. “Just as we pursue national accreditation of the high quality of our curriculum and programs, the WELL Health-Safety Rating offers third-party validation of our industry-leading health and safety practices. We take pride in the fact that we’re the only national early childhood education provider today with this distinction. When families see the seal on their center’s door, we hope it reassures them that our centers are safe and healthy places for children to learn and grow.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating applies to KinderCare Learning Centers and KinderCare at Work centers, as well as to the company’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

“Our education facilities serve as learning environments for children, workplaces for teachers and staff and gathering spaces for families and communities,” said Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI president and CEO. “We applaud KinderCare for its leadership and commitment to science-backed and evidence-based strategies that can provide safer and healthier places for early childhood education. Achieving the WELL Health-Safety Rating sets a high bar for schools across the world to emulate.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a centralized source and governing body to validate efforts made by owners and operators. It leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Infections, in addition to guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centers and emergency management agencies, as well as recognized standard-making associations such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, and leading academic and research institutions, as well as core principles already established by IWBI’s WELL Building Standard, the premier framework for advancing health in buildings and spaces of all kinds.

About KinderCare Learning Companies^®

KinderCare Learning Companies is one of America’s largest providers of early childhood and school-age education and child care. KinderCare supports hardworking families with differentiated flexible child care solutions to meet today’s dynamic work environment in 40 states and the District of Columbia:

• In neighborhoods, with KinderCare^® Learning Centers that offer early childhood education and child care for children six weeks to 12 years old;
• At work, through KinderCare Education at Work™, providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and
• In local schools, with Champions^® before and after-school programs.

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,000 early learning centers and sites. In 2022, KinderCare earned its sixth Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award – one of only four companies worldwide to win this award for six consecutive years. To learn more, visit KC-Learning.com.