Cadence Academy Preschool

★★★★★Claire Nonnemann

The teachers are wonderful, patient, and kind. My kid looks forward to seeing his teachers and going to school everyday.

★Janice Smith

The following statement reflects my family’s personal experience and opinions based on our child’s enrollment at Cadence Academy on Kays from early 2023 through December 2025. It is not intended as a statement of fact about all families’ experiences, but rather an account of what we observed and encountered during that time. Based on our experience alone, I do not recommend this daycare organization to other families. Over the two years my child attended, tuition varied by age, with our final rate being ~$350 per week paid out of pocket. The quality of care, communication, and facility maintenance did not reflect that cost. During the final year especially, the building was poorly maintained, and the overall environment felt inconsistent with what families should expect from a preschool charging this level of tuition. Although our child was enrolled at the Kays location, issues at the Main Street Cadence Academy directly affected our experience. In late July 2025, the Main Street location experienced building issues and was forced to close. Families and staff from that location were relocated to the Kays building, which resulted in a noticeably more chaotic and stressful environment for an extended period. The closure lasted significantly longer than families were initially told. During this time, my child was scheduled to transition into the preschool classroom. We were clearly informed that this transition would take place on Monday, August 25, and we prepared them accordingly. However, when we arrived on Monday, August 18, we were told, without prior notice, that they would be moving to the new classroom that day due to last-minute decisions related to the increased enrollment. The transition was rushed and poorly managed, and it had a clear negative impact on my child. In November 2025, families were informed that the Kays location would be returning to its original owner, Rogy’s New Generation, effective December 31, 2025. We were told this would be a smooth transition and that staff would remain in place. Communication after this announcement was minimal. Then, on December 10, 2025, families were informed that the school would instead be closing entirely on December 31 and that Rogy’s would no longer be taking over the building. This decision left many families suddenly without childcare and staff without jobs during the holiday season. From our perspective, the Kays location appeared to receive little support or transparency during its final year of operation. As a family paying between $330 and $375 per week over two years, this was unacceptable. I also want to address screen time. One of the reasons we chose Cadence Academy was because we were told children would not have screen time. Despite this, I routinely picked up my child around 4:00 p.m. to find them and their classmates watching videos or movies on an iPad. When we asked for clarification, we were told children were not supposed to have screen time, yet this continued and no clear explanation was provided. Since the closure, we have moved our child to another daycare, and the difference in organization, communication, and overall quality has been substantial. There are significantly better childcare options available in the Bloomington-Normal community. Taken together, these issues point to systemic failures at the organizational level rather than isolated problems at a single building. Cadence Academy and Cadence Education had full operational control, shared regional leadership, and responsibility for communication, staffing, enrollment decisions, and family support across locations. In our experience, they failed to manage growth, closures, transitions, and basic quality standards in a way that prioritized children’s well-being or families’ needs. Based on what we experienced, I strongly discourage parents from enrolling their children at any Cadence Academy location in this region, as the problems we encountered reflect broader organizational practices rather than a one-time or site-specific lapse.

★Erin Stroh

I am writing this review so other families—especially those who rely on childcare and childcare assistance—can understand what we have gone through with this daycare organization. The way this situation was handled has caused unnecessary stress, confusion, and instability for dozens of families like mine. Our center serves majority of childcare-aid families. I will be honest, as I expect those in power positions to be honest as well. I am one of them. I’m a full-time college student working toward my bachelor’s degree in nursing, and reliable childcare is what makes it possible for me to attend school at all. Many parents here work essential or multiple jobs or go to school and depend on this center to keep their families supported. From July through September, the company’s sister school (the one that is staying open and primarily serves private-pay families) moved many of their families and staff into our building and occupied our classrooms due to a mold issue in their center. During that period, many families experienced rude or inconsiderate interactions with their staff, which added a lot of unnecessary stress at a time when we already felt displaced in our own childcare center. In mid-November, we were told that another daycare was going to purchase our center. Families finally felt relieved and believed that everything would continue normally. There was barely any communication suggesting that closure was still a possibility. Then, on the evening of December 10, we received a sudden email stating that the buyer had backed out and that the center will officially close on December 31. This was the first time families were told that closure was even on the table. With less than 20 days’ notice—and during the holiday season—families were thrown into crisis trying to secure new childcare, which is nearly impossible for those using childcare assistance due to approval processes, paperwork, and waitlists. This decision didn’t just impact families. The staff were also informed that they were losing their jobs with only 20 days’ notice, right before the holidays. These are the same caregivers who supported our children every single day, and seeing them treated so abruptly was heartbreaking. What makes this even harder to accept is that the company’s other location—serving predominantly private-pay families who are majority Caucasian—is staying open without disruption. The contrast is impossible to ignore, and many of us felt that low-income families and the staff who support them were treated as far less of a priority, because the financial outcome of the center was not enough for the regional director. From my experience, the regional leadership showed very little consideration for how their decisions affected real human beings. The lack of transparency, the delayed communication, and the abrupt notification made it feel like our children, our families, and the staff were viewed more as line items on a spreadsheet than people whose lives were being seriously impacted. And personally, I do not want my child growing up thinking that families—no matter their circumstances—deserve to be treated as disposable or secondary. I want my child to learn that all people deserve fairness, respect, and honesty. Unfortunately, this situation demonstrated the opposite. In the world we live in today we have to find kindness in our heart to help each other, and to be the change. If the system keeps continuing like this, this community and our world will only continue to become a negative and cruel place for our children. This closure has caused immense emotional, financial, and logistical strain on both families and staff. I hope that by sharing this experience, other parents can make an informed decision before trusting this organization with their children’s care. Families and caregivers deserve leadership that understands the real-life consequences of their actions.

★★★★★Staci Coussens

My son is 8 years old and he has been attending Rogy's since he was 2. There was no doubt where we would put our daughter when she came along 2 years ago. We have had wonderful experiences with both of our children growing up here. I love that fact that some of the teachers that had my son in their classes are still there and now teaching my daughter. When I toured the facility before putting my son there, I felt immediately welcomed and trusted that the staff at Rogy's knew what they were doing and that my child would be well-cared for!

★★★★★Karla Carney-Hall

My son attended Rogy's for 3 years and it was wonderful. They teachers are great. The administrative staff are responsive, proactive and thoughtful about the curriculum. The hours are great. My son had wonderful friends in a safe, positive environment. We started kindergarten this fall and he was very ready -- behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally. Communication with parents was outstanding and supportive. As the parent of an only child, the teachers and staff helped me navigate the many life stages. All was great!