![]() ![]() Perry moved from Oklahoma City to Tulsa about five months ago and said finding Stewart’s facility was a blessing. “(If the zoning requirements aren’t changed), it'd definitely be an injustice to a lot of families who definitely need the care.” Conflicting Community Concerns Jeryaun Perry, 38, places his daughter, Lynnox, in his car for the drive home from Jasmine Stewart’s in-home childcare Jus Kid’N Learning Academy in Tulsa on March 13, 2023. “It was kind of a blessing that we were able to find (Stewart) at the time we were able to find her,” Perry said. He said he was immediately impressed with her care and flexibility, and her business allows him and his wife to work from home, making it worth the 10-minute commute. Perry, 38, moved from Oklahoma City to Tulsa about five months ago and started searching for childcare for his year-old daughter, Lynnox, before finding Stewart’s facility. ![]() And if Perry is unsuccessful, it would mean a disruption in his family’s routine as they return to the frustrating search for childcare. ![]() If Stewart decides to downsize, it would leave Jeryaun Perry and other parents vying for one of three fewer spots. She said many parents aren’t able to work if they don’t have someone to care for their children, and some families prefer the flexible hours and tight-knit environments of in-home childcare. Tammy Maus, the president of the Licensed Childcare Association of Oklahoma, said while the restrictions’ impacts on childcare owners might be the most obvious, effects on parents can also be significant. For Stewart, who’s always had the goal of growing her facility, it would feel like a return to square one. The alternative - downsizing to seven kids to avoid the hassle - would mean breaking up friendships and letting go of two assistants who handle most teaching responsibilities and serve meals. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Requesting the exemption would also mean paying a $500 fee that equates to about two weeks of tuition for one student, and several hours away from work on a weekday. ![]() Final recommendations haven’t been made, meaning that Stewart is still preparing to have to appear in front of the city’s Board of Adjustment, which would expect her to prove that her business is in line with “the spirit and intent” of the zoning code and won’t be “injurious to the neighborhood or public welfare.” In November, the Tulsa City Council started its reconsideration process. Last fall, the state Department of Human Services cited the group’s national study, which applied a childcare desert label to communities with fewer spots in licensed daycares than children who need them.Īn Oklahoma Watch analysis of Department of Human Services data shows the majority of Tulsa’s in-home childcare is concentrated in the city’s north and west neighborhoods. Efforts to Decrease Regulations in TulsaĪlmost half of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, including Tulsa, are defined as childcare deserts, according to the Center for American Progress, which studies social issues including childcare. Meanwhile, the Tulsa City Council is considering removing some local regulations, including one prohibiting daycares with more than seven children from operating in neighborhoods without a city board exemption.Īt issue is whether municipalities can strike a balance that maintains the character of neighborhoods while increasing the availability of affordable, quality childcare close to home. To address the problem, a first-term state legislator from Tulsa has authored a bill that would prevent local governments from limiting childcare capacities. City Rules Could Make It Harder to Find - Oklahoma Watch Close These Oklahoma Communities Need Childcare. ![]()
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