Childcare tracking systems and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward systems and methods of tracking pick-ups, drop-offs, and changes of responsibility for children entering or exiting from a school. The systems and methods incorporate an automated process in which an acknowledgement is created upon entry of a biometric. The acknowledgment must be delivered to the teacher before responsibility for the child is accepted or relinquished.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for tracking a change of custody of a child attending a school having a sign-in location and a secured location remote from the sign-in location for holding or receiving the child, comprising:
 an input device positioned at the sign-in location and configured to accept an identifier of a guardian;   a processor coupled to the input device and configured to:
 associate the child and the guardian based on the identifier of the guardian, and 
 generate an acknowledgement of entry upon association of the child and the guardian; 
   a first printer positioned at the sign-in location and configured to print the acknowledgement of entry;   a second printer positioned at the secured location and configured to print an acknowledgement of exit; and   a reader device positioned at the secured location and configured to detect the acknowledgement of entry and to control access to the secured location based on the acknowledgement of entry, such that the change of custody of the child takes place only after the acknowledgement of entry is accepted by the reader device at the secured location.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a biometric and the processor is configured to generate an attendance record including an electronic copy of the biometric. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store the attendance record. 
     
     
         4 . A system for tracking a change of custody of a child attending a school having a sign-in location and a secured location remote from the sign-in location for holding or receiving the child, comprising:
 an input device positioned at the sign-in location and configured to accept an identifier of a guardian;   a processor coupled to the input device and configured to:
 associate the child and the guardian based on the identifier of the guardian, and 
 generate an acknowledgement of entry upon association of the child and the guardian; 
   a first printer positioned at the sign-in location and configured to print the acknowledgement of entry; and   a reader device positioned at the secured location and configured to detect the acknowledgement of entry and to control access to the secured location based on the acknowledgement of entry, such that the change of custody of the child takes place only after the acknowledgement of entry is accepted by the reader device at the secured location.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate an emergency text message to the guardian. 
     
     
         6 . A system for tracking a change of custody of a child attending a school having a sign-in location and a secured location remote from the sign-in location for holding or receiving the child, comprising:
 an input device positioned at the sign-in location and configured to accept an identifier of a guardian;   a processor coupled to the input device and configured to:
 associate the child and the guardian based on the identifier of the guardian, 
 generate an acknowledgement of entry upon association of the child and the guardian, and 
 generate an emergency electronic message upon entry of the message by an administrator of the school; and 
   a first printer positioned at the sign-in location and configured to print the acknowledgement of entry; and   a reader device positioned at the secured location and configured to detect the acknowledgement of entry and to control access to the secured location based on the acknowledgement of entry, such that the change of custody of the child takes place only after the acknowledgement of entry is accepted by the reader device at the secured location.   
     
     
         7 . A system for tracking a change of custody of a child attending a school having a sign-in location and a secured location remote from the sign-in location for holding or receiving the child, comprising:
 an input device positioned at the sign-in location and configured to accept an identifier of a guardian;   a processor coupled to the input device and configured to:
 associate the child and the guardian based on the identifier of the guardian, and 
 generate an acknowledgement of entry upon association of the child and the guardian; 
   a first printer positioned at the sign-in location and configured to print the acknowledgement of entry; and   a reader device positioned at the secured location and configured to:
 detect the acknowledgement of entry, 
 control access to the secured location based on the acknowledgement of entry, such that the change of custody of the child takes place only after the acknowledgement of entry is accepted by the reader device at the secured location, and 
   transmit an electronic message to the guardian indicating acceptance of the acknowledgement of entry.