Hilltop Child Development Center at the University of Kansas is set to close at the end of October.
Hilltop board President Chari J. Young wrote in an email to staff Tuesday evening that the center’s board of directors “approved a plan to conclude operations” at the center.
If the center can continue meeting safety, staffing and licensing requirements, it will continue providing care through Oct. 30 for infant, toddler and preschool classrooms, and through Oct. 23 for after-school care classrooms, according to Young’s email.
“This is difficult news. Hilltop’s educators and staff have cared for generations of children and built a community that means a great deal to families, colleagues, and KU,” Young’s email to staff continued. “The board’s decision is not a reflection of the value of your work, your professionalism, or the importance of Hilltop’s legacy. Your contributions and care have been the foundation of what makes Hilltop special.”
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The closure comes after more than a year of turmoil at the center, which previously had yearslong waitlists.
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In August 2025, numerous Hilltop parents and staff members voiced a litany of concerns to this publication, calling it “a systemic failure.”
There had been reports of physical and verbal abuse, which many sources felt were the results of bigger issues with conditions at Hilltop. Administrators had ousted some beloved longtime staff members. New policies had made working conditions — including things as simple as using the restroom — intolerable for many staff members. The center also announced in September 2025 that it was closing most of its classrooms at Hilltop West, the brand new building meant to expand the center’s capacity.
Additional changes, staff departures and terminations over the past year have continued to raise concerns among Hilltop families.
After a change to the center’s bylaws, the board of directors, which previously had 17 voting members including many parents, now includes only KU administrators, one parent who is president of the Hilltop Family Association, and Hilltop Executive Director Cori Berg as a nonvoting member.
Parents at a rally last month said those changes have made them feel further removed from the decision-making process, even as their children experience frequent changes in classrooms and caregivers.
The state has also documented further concerns and compliance issues, including another report of abuse, lack of supervision during outside time, playground equipment that is not in good repair and more.
In response to emailed questions last month, Joe Monaco, a spokesperson for the university, said that “we are assessing Hilltop’s facilities infrastructure and significant financial challenges facing the center.”
Young wrote that staff members will receive information about pay, benefits and additional compensation for those who work through the closure.
“The decision followed a comprehensive review that considered the financial resources required for Hilltop to maintain high-quality care; regulatory and child-safety responsibilities; sustainable qualified staffing, reliable leadership coverage, and consistent classroom teams; enrollment growth; and facilities investment – all of which are critical for a durable future,” Young’s email continued.
See further coverage of Hilltop in the articles linked below.
More coverage of Hilltop Child Development Center:
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
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