2. Is the National Law Enforcement Foundation a nonprofit?

Yes. The National Law Enforcement Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement families and strengthening the law enforcement workforce.

3. Why does law enforcement need a different childcare model?

The traditional childcare market was not built around the realities of a law enforcement career.

Unpredictable schedules, nontraditional hours, and heightened privacy and security considerations can make finding high-quality care especially difficult for law enforcement families.

Families should not have to choose between the demands of serving their communities and exceptional education and care for their children, but they do, and we are losing valuable officers. 

4. What makes an NLEF school different from traditional childcare?

Every aspect of an NLEF school is designed around the families it serves.

Hours of operation reflect law enforcement schedules. Teachers are compensated above traditional market rates, undergo appropriate background checks, and are provided opportunities for professional growth. Facilities incorporate enhanced security and privacy considerations, and curriculum and programming are selected to provide a high-quality educational experience. The result is more than extended childcare. It is a school designed specifically for law enforcement families. 

5. Who can attend an NLEF school?

Eligibility is determined locally by the advisory board established for each NLEF school, based on the agencies and workforce that school was created to serve.

6. Is NLEF only for commissioned law enforcement officers?

Not necessarily. Each school's advisory board determines eligibility based on the needs of that community. Professional staff is eligible alongside commissioned officers at select NLEF schools. 

7. Can NLEF serve more than one law enforcement agency in a region?

Yes. NLEF can establish a school for an individual department or develop a regional model serving multiple law enforcement agencies.

The approach depends on the size, geography, workforce, and needs of the community.

8. What ages do NLEF schools serve?

NLEF schools traditionally serve children from approximately 6 weeks old through kindergarten, with the ability to provide school-age care up to age 12 where needed. Specific ages served vary by location.

9. What are the hours of operation?

Hours are determined by the needs of the law enforcement families each school serves. Depending on the location, that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, extended hours, emergency care, or 24/7 access. There is no one-size-fits-all schedule.‍

10. How much does it cost families? 

Tuition varies by location, but NLEF schools are traditionally designed to offer tuition at approximately 50% of the local market rate.

Affordability is a core part of the model and is considered when developing the financing and operating plan for each school.

11. Why isn't traditional childcare assistance enough?

Traditional childcare funding has historically been designed to serve a different income bracket, so law enforcement families do not qualify for income-based childcare assistance. Nor do we believe this should simply be treated as another form of childcare assistance. For law enforcement, childcare is a workforce issue and should be implemented and evaluated as one, including its impact on recruitment, retention, family stability, and operational readiness.

12. Who operates an NLEF school?

NLEF directs the school model and utilizes a national education provider for day-to-day operations. Schools operate independently from the city, county, police department, sheriff's office, or federal agency they serve. Law enforcement agencies are important partners, but they do not operate the schools.

13. How does NLEF decide where to establish a school?

We go where law enforcement asks us to go. NLEF begins with an invitation from law enforcement leadership and then works directly with rank-and-file personnel through surveys and workforce analysis to establish the need and determine what model will best serve that community.

14. Does every NLEF school look the same?

No. The model is consistent, but how we deliver it is customized to the community. NLEF has developed models for individual departments, regional law enforcement communities, and federal law enforcement, with approaches tailored to geography, workforce needs, existing resources, and the families being served.

15. How are NLEF schools funded?

NLEF evaluates the capital and operating requirements of each project and develops a strategic financing plan to make the school possible.

Schools have been funded through private philanthropy as well as combinations of public and private funding. NLEF identifies the appropriate funding sources, brings the pieces together, and serves as the responsible conduit for establishing the school.

16. How does NLEF measure whether a school is working?

Measurement is central to the NLEF model. NLEF works with participating families and law enforcement partners to measure outcomes including recruitment, retention, family stability and wellness, operational readiness, and return on investment.

That data helps us demonstrate what works, strengthen long-term sustainability, and determine where and how the model should scale.

17. How can my department or agency work with NLEF?

Our mission is to help as many law enforcement families as possible. If your department, agency, or region is facing a childcare challenge, we are happy to begin with a conversation about your workforce's needs.

NLEF can then help assess rank-and-file demand, determine the appropriate model, develop a strategic financing plan, and evaluate what it will take to bring a school to your community.

Contact:
Detective Jim Mackay, Ret.
National Law Enforcement Foundation
Jmackay@NLEF.org