Our Services

There are many things to consider when evaluating child care options. Brightside Academy provides a safe, nurturing environment
that not only cares for children but also starts them on a path to life-long learning. Some of our benefits include:

 

Convenient Hours of Operation Each academy is open based on the needs of the families in the communities we serve. This varies by location. Some of our locations offer evening extended care. For a complete list of our locations visit Our Locations page. back to list   Early Education Program When enrolled at Brightside Academy, all children experience inclusive, high quality, early education and care that provides appropriate and meaningful activities and learning experiences; culturally, socially and emotionally responsive environments; and a teaching staff committed to providing programming and care that meets every child’s and family’s needs. Our goal is to instill a sense of emotional well-being, community belonging and responsibility, and life-long learning as well as success and mastery of state and nationally recognized learning expectations. Our program offers a comprehensive model of early childhood education and care. Active relationships among our program administration, teaching staff, families, children, corporate resources and community partners and stakeholders are highly regarded as avenues to understanding, educating and supporting each child to the best of our ability.   back to list    Degreed, Professional Teachers At Brightside Academy we employ professional teachers with degrees in early childhood education. In addition, we provide our staff with ongoing professional development opportunities so each can continually improve their skills and techniques to help children learn better.   back to list   Nutritious Meals and Snacks Good nutrition is extremely important to proper child development. Studies show that children who eat a balanced diet are less likely to develop certain diseases or conditions and will lessen their vulnerability to some diseases as an adult. Our program includes a comprehensive menu that meets the nutrition standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We partner with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to improve the diets of our children and to develop healthy eating habits by providing nutritious meals and nutrition education activities. Each day, depending on age, your child will receive: High-quality infant formula and baby food A nourishing hot lunch and/or dinner A healthy morning snack   back to list   Convenient Payment Options When payments are due, we offer the convenience for you to pay by credit card in addition to money orders, checks or cash at the location where your child(ren) is enrolled.   back to list    A Parent Partnership We provide support to families through the development of a strong partnership, a sense of community and mutual respect. We believe the best way to ensure a child’s future is by encouraging parents' active participation. Research shows that when parents are involved in their child’s education, students have: Higher grades, test scores and graduation rates Better school attendance Increased motivation and better self-esteem Lower suspension rates  Decreased drug and alcohol use  Fewer violent behavior instances  As a Brightside Academy parent you will receive a daily report to monitor your child's advancement. The report includes information on the child’s routine and care as well as developmental and academic experiences. You also have the opportunity to attend a family program conference three times per year to formally discuss your child’s progress. Should concerns arise regarding a child’s success, families are immediately notified and included in the planning and facilitation of strategies that work to support and guide a child within the classroom as well as at home. Our Home Connections program extends learning opportunities beyond our classroom linking curricular experiences to what children are doing away from the program. Home Connections activities are shared with families weekly and relate to classroom themes, discussions and learning. Parents are invited to share, participate and engage in developmentally appropriate and meaningful activities with their children at home in order to extend a child’s learning. Parents also are invited to share stories, songs, drawings and experiences of their language and culture as well as to serve as classroom volunteers. back to list

Before- and After-school Care Parents who work outside the home often are challenged to provide supervised care for their children before and after school. In fact, more than 70 percent of U.S. children have parents who work outside the home, leaving 15 million youth unsupervised by adults when the school day ends.   Brightside Academy offers school-age children a safe and secure environment. We combine educational support with engaging enrichment activities to help improve academic performance, self-confidence and social awareness.   Brightside Academy also provides safe and reliable transportation to and from select schools.   back to list Nearby Locations Brightside Academy operates in multiple cities and communities throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. To locate an academy near you, visit Our Locations.    back to list   Summer Camp While summer camp can help parents overcome the challenge of a gap in child care when the school year ends, it can also be part of a child's development into a healthy, productive adult. At camp, children learn new skills, release pent up energy, socialize, stay busy and have fun. Our exclusive Camp Discovery program is a proven model based on 21st Century Learning Standards and offers a full day, fun-based, educational program all summer long. We engage children with six unique curriculum themes within our summer camp program: Culture, diversity and geography Theater, dance and music Health, fitness and sports Art, architecture and sculptures Science, technology and environmental education Animals, garden and nature Camp Discovery also includes theme-based field trips to local areas of interest including museums and cultural venues, farms, and more. When your school-age child is enrolled at Brightside Academy, participation in Camp Discovery is free of charge. That includes meals as well as field trip admission fees and transportation.   back to list   Free Transportation  Brightside Academy provides safe and reliable transportation to and from select schools. We operate federally inspected and state certified school buses to transport over 1,800 children to over 170 schools throughout Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and New York City. We manage our busing operation with the children's safety as the top priority by providing onboard teachers who act as guardians, a detailed routing system, vehicle GPS tracking, dispatching and child check systems. All Brightside Academy drivers are trained and licensed to operate and transport children using federally-inspected, state-certified school buses.   back to list Subsidized Care Accepted We accept subsidized payments through a variety of programs. Click the appropriate link below to contact the agency in your area for more information and to determine eligibility requirements.  Pennsylvania All of Pennsylvania: Child Care Information Services Philadelphia: Child Care Information Services of Philadelphia Pittsburgh: Child Care Information Services of Allegheny County Ohio: Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Service New York: NYC Administration for Children Services back to list