Freedom251 › Early Childhood Education Software
ChildWare
by ChildWare
What ChildWare is
ChildWare is a web-based quality management system for Pennsylvania early childhood education providers. Launched in 2010 by ChildWare in Philadelphia, it helps programs organize administration, licensing, accreditation, and state requirements. The system tracks Pennsylvania DHS requirements, Keystone STARS standards, and subsidy programs. Records cover children, families, contacts, enrollment, tuition, health and special needs, documents, and a parent portal. Staff records include credentials, certifications, training, clearances, health assessments, scheduling, and documents. Financial tools handle automated billing, batch charges and payments, CCIS reconciliation, tax summaries, and reports. Attendance features include parent and staff sign-in and sign-out, ratio management, CACFP reporting, and CCIS absence tracking. ChildWare also provides enrollment, family communication, billing, payments, and check-in functions. It is delivered as SaaS, with implementation planning, training, setup, and troubleshooting during business hours. Online manuals and guides provide additional support.
Who it suits
It suits Pennsylvania early childhood programs managing licensing requirements, records, attendance, meals, billing, and family communication.
What it does well
- Tracks Pennsylvania DHS requirements
- Includes child and family records
- Supports automated billing
- Handles attendance and meal reporting
- Provides implementation assistance
What to know first
- No free plan
- No mobile apps
- Capacity listed as 16 children
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ChildWare | 16–50 enrolled children | On request |
| ChildWare PLUS | 16–50 enrolled children | On request |
As childware.org lists them, read 24 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
ChildWare brings Pennsylvania-specific compliance, records, finance, and attendance work into one web service. Its lack of mobile apps and unpublished pricing are important considerations.
Facts from ChildWare's own pages
- Attendance and meals
- Attendance and meal features include parent and staff sign-in and sign-out, ratio management, CACFP reporting, and CCIS absence tracking. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Attendance and check-in
- Yes · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Billing
- Billing and financial features include automated billing, batch charges and payments, CCIS reconciliation, tax summaries, and financial reports. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Billing and payments
- Yes · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Child and family records
- Child and family data features include contacts, recruiting and enrollment, subsidies and tuition, health and special needs, document management, and a parent portal. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Child capacity
- 16 · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Data policy
- The policies page links to a ChildWare data retention and archive policy. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Enrollment management
- Yes · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Family communication
- Yes · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2010 · childware.org, 19 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · childware.org, 19 Oct 2026
- Launch
- ChildWare launched in 2010 as part of the Pennsylvania Shared Services Initiative. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- none · childware.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Product
- ChildWare is a quality management system for Pennsylvania early childhood education providers. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The system helps early childhood education programs manage administrative tasks and licensing and accreditation requirements. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- SaaS
- The product's user onboarding page describes its design as software as a service (SaaS). · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Security incident notice
- A site notice says PHMC's IT team responded to an attempted ransomware attack on May 8, 2023, and that user access and the help desk were restored by May 16, 2023. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Staff records
- Staff data features include credentials and certifications, training and professional development, clearances and health assessments, scheduling, and document management. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- State requirements
- ChildWare tracks Pennsylvania DHS requirements, Keystone STARS standards, and state subsidy programs. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Support resources
- Online support resources include a user manual, troubleshooting page, how-to guides, search, and PHL PreK user tips. · childware.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Technical assistance
- The ChildWare Team provides implementation planning, customized training, system setup, and troubleshooting during general business hours. · childware.wordpress.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where ChildWare stands on Freedom251
- Early Childhood Education Software#80 of 86