To manage the operations and accounting of a Montessori or preschool, the software should cover the following two aspects. Functions for handling most of your routine tasks should be pre-programmed. Also, the software should be utilized beyond accounting and office work; the software should extend to teachers and parents.

What you need

You need management software that will fit your needs in the areas of:

• Billing procedures
• Scheduling and planning
• Attendance and security needs
• Enrollment and waiting list process
• Classes, camps and special events
• Record keeping
• Communications with parents
• Integrated accounting
• Expandable database for children, contacts and staff
• Managerial checks
  

How iCare will help

Each of the iCare Management Software modules is richly developed to give you the flexibility and controls you need to properly manage your accounting and the daily operations of your Montessori or school.

Children, Family & Contacts Database: This module provides you with a great set of enrollment management tools and a clean database that simplifies accounting. You will have better control on the enrollment process while spending less time on the computer. Other useful features you will get are children’s activities notepad and management by sites (SQL version). Also, you can have the parent’s self-register the children by using iCareWeb.

Records Manager: With its standard – immunization, medical, permissions and family demographics – and user-definable features, the iCare records manager can completely eliminate your dependence on paperwork.  Furthermore, with the report-making features you will be able to manage these records in an excellent way.

Accounting: An accounting system integrated with the operations side will help you optimize your profitability. The system includes many automated posting procedures, single and batch posting processes, ledger management tools, parent-friendly statements and an integrated chart of account system.

Billing Processes: Many processes have been programmed in iCare to manage different billing rate charts. These processes are either run automatically in the day-ending process or are run through filters and billing grids. Some of the categories of billing procedures are contract billing management, tuition or non-tuition related recurring billing, batch billing process based on almost any report, and block hours and days billing.

School Admin: The School Admin modules includes a formal procedure for handling children’s enrollment, children's waiting list and staff employment enquiries. Also included is a complete system for managing classes, camps, field trips and special events.

Attendance and Scheduling: iCare includes the most extensively developed attendance and scheduling features in the market. And, these features are available in both time-based and type-based formats. You can maintain primary, temporary and future schedules for children and staff, so your data entry work will be done in a timely manner and true projections will be available. Several planning tools are provided, so you can achieve optimal scheduling and organize your staff in the most efficient way. Many methods for automated attendance entry are available – keypad, lobby interface for touch screen monitor, barcode scanner, PDA and signature capture tablet – which are supplemented with a rich set of features to suit your specific needs.

Communications: A wide range of available methods – messaging, email, mail merge, RSVP, and a teacher to parents web page – will help you keep in touch with parents and staff and finish your work in a timely manner.

Report Making: iCare provides you the most advanced report making tools in the industry – drill-down, ad hoc reports, exceptional tools for formatting, get all data, email link, Excel link and exporting. Both your users and managers will find marvelous tools in iCare for better control and functionality in less time.