When you franchise with Kiddie Academy®, you become part of a community whose history is as rich as it is unique.
Kiddie Academy has been operating for more than 40 years. During that time, it has undergone a series of evolutions. All the while, the company has remained committed to the values put into place by George and Pauline Miller, its original founders. Follow along as we take a closer look at what sets Kiddie Academy apart, how it started, and where it’s going.
Family Owned for Four Decades
After George and Pauline founded Kiddie Academy in 1981, it didn’t take long before their son, Michael J. Miller, joined the company. In his role as Executive Chairman, Michael is involved in all aspects of Kiddie Academy – most importantly, connecting to families across the country who are looking for high-quality child care options. Later, in 2013, Michael’s son Casey got on board. Today, he serves as Executive Vice President. The family-owned aspect of Kiddie Academy puts the company in a unique position to lead with true integrity and stay close to the company’s foundational values.
Looking Back
As a mother and an educator, co-founder Pauline Miller’s original vision was to provide better child care options. She developed the first version of Kiddie Academy’s proprietary Life Essentials® curriculum with the opening of Kiddie Academy’s first location in Baltimore County. More than 40 years later, the Life Essentials curriculum remains core to the Kiddie Academy brand, always evolving to ensure the curriculum meets the criteria for optimized growth and development. Today, for example, the Life Essentials curriculum focuses on producing six key outcomes to prepare children for life: Character, Confidence, Curiosity, Connection, Critical Thinking, and Creative Expression.
A Promising Future
In 1992, the first Kiddie Academy franchise opened. Its intention was to meet the demand for educational child care that nurtures and inspires children intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Since then, Kiddie Academy has opened 342 Academies and counting across 40 states and the District of Columbia. 55 new franchise agreements have also been signed to date, and 175+ locations are in various stages of development. This steady expansion is what has earned Kiddie Academy spots on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2024 Franchise 100 list (#116), Franchise Direct’s 2024 Top 100 Franchises list (#32), and Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2024 Top Brands for Multi-Unit Owners list (#38).
Kiddie Academy’s consistent growth and family-owned environment will keep the momentum of the brand for years to come, creating a sense of stability for franchise owners. You can take the first step toward experiencing it for yourself by reaching out to us for more information or completing this confidential, no-obligation questionnaire.
