Columbus Child Care Centers: How to Stay Fully Staffed Year-Round

Keeping classrooms open shouldn’t feel like a daily battle.
In Columbus, child care directors are rethinking their staffing models and finding flexible solutions that work.

At Tandem, our mission is simple: to help early education programs stay staffed, compliant, and focused on what matters most — the children. And the proof is in the numbers: more than 300 Columbus-based workers completed shifts through Tandem in 2024, up from just 35 in 2022. That’s nearly 9x growth in just two years, reflecting the rising demand for flexible staffing — and the strength of the worker pool we’ve built right here in your community.

Here’s how centers in Columbus are using Tandem to stay ahead:

✅ Fill Last-Minute Gaps With Fully Vetted, DCY-Qualified Workers

When a teacher calls out, your entire classroom flow can fall apart. Tandem provides access to a pool of credentialed, background-checked substitutes ready to step in — often same-day. Every worker on our platform meets the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) requirements for child care program personnel, including:

• Completion of required health and safety trainings

• Submission of a valid medical statement

• A cleared background check through state and federal systems

• Up-to-date documentation in accordance with DCY standards

You can also filter workers by qualifications like CDA and age group specialization — ensuring the right fit for your classroom.

✅ Avoid Enrollment Caps With Seamless Ratio Support

One missing staff member can mean turning families away — not to mention lost revenue and stressed-out teams. Tandem helps you maintain required ratios at all times by giving you visibility into available workers, making it easy to staff up by the hour, the day, or the week. You only pay when workers are active, so you can stay flexible and in control of your labor spend.

✅ Reclaim Hours of Admin Time With Built-In Compliance Tracking

Tired of chasing down paperwork and manually tracking expiration dates? Tandem’s platform includes digital compliance tools that automatically collect, store, and monitor staff credentials across your entire team — not just Tandem workers. We’ve built the system child care was missing, so you can stop wasting time on documentation and start focusing on quality care.

Whether you need daily subs, long-term support, or a reliable way to grow your internal team — Tandem is here to help.

💬 Need help building your sub pool? Let’s talk — we’re happy to help you get started

🧸 Crib Notes 

Like Cliff Notes, but for child care:

• Staffing gaps are solvable — Columbus centers are doing it every day with Tandem.
• Local worker growth (9x since 2022!) means centers now have real coverage options.
• On-demand support helps maintain ratios and avoid enrollment disruptions.
• Compliance tools simplify admin so directors can focus on leading, not chasing forms.