Across the country, families are seeking high-quality early education options at unprecedented levels. Few brands have risen to meet that need as effectively as The Learning Experience® (TLE), a national leader in childcare and early childhood education. But for TLE, one challenge has become clear: while demand keeps climbing, available real estate has not kept pace.
Despite opening one to two centers every week, the Florida-based company still has more than 100 franchisees ready to launch who are waiting for the right sites to become available. With another 250 centers in active development, the company is urgently calling on build-to-suit developers across the U.S. to help meet demand and expand its real estate footprint.
The search for dirt
Ask TLE’s Chief Development Officer, David Slavny, what keeps him up at night, and his answer is simple: “Dirt.”
The company is growing in more than 30 states, with especially high demand in fast-growth markets like Texas and Florida. In many of these areas, suburban corridors are expanding rapidly while metro areas remain underserved, creating the ideal conditions for TLE centers.
“Our near-term focus is on fulfilling franchisee commitments in those markets,” Slavny explains. “We look for high-growth suburban corridors and underserved metro areas where quality early education options are in short supply.”
Site selection is strategic, based on visibility, accessibility and proximity to families with children. Requirements typically include one-to-two acres for a 10,000-square-foot freestanding building with an approximately 5,000-square-foot playground. Ideally, the site is within one to three miles of a high-density residential area with a concentration of dual-income households, families with children, close to commuter corridors, schools, or retail hubs.
“When the right site is identified, it creates a win-win: franchisees can launch successfully, developers see consistent returns, and the surrounding community benefits from both high-quality early education and the economic lift that comes with it,” Slavny says. “Our centers consistently help activate nearby retail and service businesses by driving twice-daily traffic from families.”
A booming brand
Since its founding in 2001, TLE has become one of the nation’s most successful early education brands, with 450+ centers open across the United States and the United Kingdom. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida, the company serves children from six weeks to six years old with a proprietary, research-driven curriculum designed to create an environment where children are happy to learn, play and grow.
What makes the growth story remarkable is its consistency. Over the next five years, the company aims to open 90 to 100 centers a year, continuing its record-breaking streak in franchise sales, center openings and enrollment.
Just as importantly, TLE is recognized as one of the most innovative childcare brands in the country. Through investments in technology, digital content and its proprietary characters, the company extends learning beyond the four walls of its centers, building strong brand equity and long-term engagement with families. For developers, that innovation translates into sustained demand, ensuring TLE centers remain relevant and resilient across changing markets.
“This consistent, predictable growth makes TLE a powerful partner for developers,” Slavny says. “We combine demographic intelligence, site performance analytics and long-term market viability to ensure each center succeeds.”
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Developers who have partnered with TLE often cite the company’s focus on growth and strong support as reasons for continuing to build together.
Michaelann Murphy, Senior Vice President of Development and Principal at Ohio-based STNL Development, has worked with TLE for years.
“TLE has always been a really important part of our strategy because they’re so focused on expansion,” Murphy says. “There hasn’t been a market yet where I’ve found sites for them and they couldn’t take on more.”
Support from the ground up
Beyond its ambitious growth, what makes TLE appealing to developers is its hands-on support throughout the entire build process.
With experience developing more than 3 million square feet of childcare space, pre-construction and construction teams from TLE are involved early, often starting at site feasibility, or, as TLE’s Vice President of Pre-Construction Michael Sanchirico puts it, “when dirt comes in the door.”
“Bringing a childcare center to life involves navigating a host of site-specific, jurisdictional, state and other licensing and regulatory challenges,” says Sanchirico. “Engaging early helps avoid costly redesigns, accelerates entitlement approvals, and ensures better coordination with civil engineers, surveyors and architects from day one.”
TLE helps address zoning regulations and offers approved architectural firms that are familiar with local codes. Once a build begins, TLE’s construction managers conduct at least six site visits and meet weekly to maintain quality.
A network of preferred vendors provides consistency and streamlines procurement on everything from millwork to playground equipment. Standardized construction documents and prototype designs guarantee that every center delivers the same experience.
“They’ve just been such a great partner through the challenges of 2022 and 2023,” says STNL’s Murphy. “If our retail partner hadn’t been strong, those projects could have cost us millions of dollars and jeopardized our overall plan. But TLE got right into the trenches with us. Their approach was: ‘You want this, we want this—so how do we figure this out together?’ That mindset is invaluable.”
Building the future
For developers, TLE represents a partner that can deliver consistent growth, repeat projects and the assurance of a nationally trusted brand. But just as importantly, it represents a chance to build something that has an impact on communities across the country.
What makes TLE especially appealing is the strength of its brand beyond bricks and mortar. As one of the most innovative childcare and early education providers in the industry, TLE has invested heavily in technology, proprietary curriculum and intellectual property that extend learning well beyond the classroom. This kind of multi-channel engagement strengthens enrollment, boosts retention and ensures that demand for new centers remains steady for years to come.
“As we scale, we’re not just expanding our business,” Slavny says. “We’re helping shape the future of early childhood education, one center at a time. And we’re looking for developers who want to be part of that journey.”
With demand outpacing supply, TLE is seeking developers who can deliver projects on a 9-to-10-month timeline and who want to grow alongside a brand with proven staying power.
For those ready to explore opportunities, TLE is opening the door. Developers interested in partnering with The Learning Experience can learn more at TLE’s website.