Beaver Beginnings Child Care Closure Family FAQ
We understand that this news may feel unexpected and concerning. The Family Resource Center's goal is to provide clear, transparent information and to support your family through this transition. We will continue to update this website as we learn more and determinations are made. Please continue to check back for more information.
What happened?
KinderCare informed OSU on March 20, 2026, of their decision to terminate a long-standing, 35+ year, early care and education contract with OSU. It is our understanding that this decision was financially driven, and that the center had been operating at a loss in recent years.
Early Care and Education (ECE)/child care operations are inherently financially challenging in that it is difficult to balance the costs of providing ECE with affordability with parents.
When will the center close?
The Beaver Beginnings center will close on June 26, 2026.
Does OSU currently subsidize campus Early Care and Education (ECE)?
Yes, all of OSU's current operations through the Family Resource Center (FRC) on the Corvallis and Bend campuses are underwritten by a combination of funding types. In Corvallis, funding is a combination of student fee, general fund, federal and state dollars. In Bend, funding is a combination of general fund, federal, state, and county dollars. The actual costs associated with the provision of high-quality care and early learning require some form of financial subsidy.
How did OSU contribute to KinderCare’s operations?
Under the current contract, OSU covered the costs of the facility, building and equipment reserves, maintenance, utilities, grounds, custodial work, contract management, assessments, and overhead, and KinderCare agreed to maintain a community market rate tuition scale and a lower than community market rate for infant/toddler tuition for student parents.
Teachers may decide to leave knowing that the center is closing. Then what?
KinderCare has extended severance packages to be paid out on June 26th to the remaining staff, to aid in their retention. According to KinderCare, under these circumstances, they have successfully retained their staff.
What is OSU's plan for the Beaver Beginnings location?
The Family Resource Center has received a supplemental one-time bridge funding commitment that will allow us to initiate an OSU-operated early care and education (ECE) center following KinderCare's departure. This bridge funding will provide us with some of the initial financial resources needed to develop a comprehensive, integrated, and financially sustainable set of ECE programs for OSU Corvallis families.
When is the OSU-operated ECE center expected to open?
We hope to open September 8, 2026. Starting a state-licensed ECE program requires a minimum 45-day timeline. Through the licensing process, we will also be hiring teachers, furnishing and refreshing the facility, navigating Workday deadlines and cutover windows, and replacing the roof.
Is it possible to transition a licensed center from one provider to another provider?
No. Licensed child care centers cannot be "transferred" or transitioned from one provider to another. Each provider is required to apply for and obtain their own child care license through the state's established licensing process.
This means that any new operator must complete all required steps, including submitting an application, meeting licensing standards, and receiving approval before operating as a certified child care center. OSU will continue to follow all required state licensing procedures as we move forward.
Will current families be guaranteed slots at the new OSU-operated center?
If you have found care for this summer but would like to transition to the new center once it is open, please complete the enrollment interest form emailed to you on April 28. The interest form needs to be completed by end of day Friday, May 15, to be considered for priority enrollment (available to current Beaver Beginning families, based on the ability to staff program rooms).
Why is tuition rising, even though you are reducing hours and not providing lunch?
Tuition rates are consistent across all licensed FRC ECE centers and represent the current market rate. The revenue we bring in from family tuition covers approximately 50% of the operational costs to run high-quality early care and education, with OSU subsidizing the remaining 50%. Over 90% of our ECE budgets are salary and benefit/tax costs for our ECE professionals.
Why is there no lunch provided?
The tuition revenue does not cover the cost of expenses. Providing lunch would require additional financial resources we do not have and raising tuition to cover these added expenses (salary, benefit/tax costs, and food) would put tuition costs beyond the means of many families, including student parents, on this campus.
Why are the center hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.?
Hours align with FRC’s other licensed ECE hours and will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The shift to a 42.5 hours/week of care is driven by the financial realities and the current early care and education (ECE) workforce crisis. The mental health and well-being of our ECE center employee team is an ongoing priority and underpins staff’s ongoing ability to provide your children with quality care and early learning experiences. Working full time in group care with infants through preschool aged children, and doing it well, is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding work. Retention of high-quality staff is the foundation of high-quality ECE care. When we can guarantee a fair, 40-hour work week for our ECE teams, we see increased retention and well-being of our employees.
Most people’s work days don’t end before 5 p.m. Was this taken into consideration?
Yes, and we know that for some families this will not work. Yet, from our experience in offering the same hours at the Azalea ECE Center, many families are able to make this work. They talk with their supervisors, make alternate arrangements for pick-up, and ultimately find solutions that match the 8.5 hours/day of care available. Of note, the costs associated with lengthening the day of care beyond 8.5 hours require additional staff and is cost prohibitive. OSU is already subsiding 50% of the costs of ECE and does not have the means to increase that subsidy.
Will OSU be retaining the current KinderCare staff?
We have active recruitments open and have encouraged KinderCare employees to apply. New hire start dates will be July 20.
Does OSU/FRC compensate their ECE employees similarly to KinderCare employees?
OSU provides significantly increased compensation and full OSU benefits for all ECE full-time related positions, as compared to the current center. Typically, the level of OSU ECE compensation and benefits is only available in the publicly funded sector, for example at a Head Start or Early Head Start center.
What are my child care options after June 26?
We understand that securing child care is a priority, and we are working to support families in identifying options:
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Our Little Village (OLV): Short-term child care is available. Current Beaver Beginnings families will receive priority registration, for the summer programming, through May 1, 2026.
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Azalea Early Care and Education Center: Families may join the waitlist and will receive priority consideration as openings become available.
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Care.com: OSU provides subsidized access to this platform for connecting with caregivers and arranging private care.
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Child Care Resource & Referral: We encourage families to connect with local referral agencies for additional community-based options.
How will I receive updates?
We are committed to ongoing communications as more information becomes available. Updates will be shared through email and this Family Resource Center website.
Family Communications:
KinderCare Employee Communications:
last updated 5/6/26