I believe that we are caught in the proverbial "Catch 22" situation, but I agree that we need to collectively focus on the costs of continuing to provide a highly disjointed and inequitable system of early childhood education to our youngest learners. The mix of public/private, daycare/preschool/prekindergarten/Montessori/Reggio Emilio, etc. programs that abound in the U.S. makes it difficult to agree upon what constitutes "quality" child care. In addition, teacher training and certifications are disparate throughout each of those programs which contribute to varying degrees of quality. My thought is to create one umbrella under which all coexist with a unity of purpose and partnership in funding resources. There are no easy answers, but our sole objective should be the education of our children. Doing nothing and lamenting the cost should not be acceptable to any of us.
Having just completed NAEYC's Power to the Profession Decision Cycle 3, 4, 5, I am concerned that having three levels of teacher training will only exacerbate the issue of "quality"; however, I applaud the effort to at least attempt to provide cohesive teacher training guidelines.
I still believe that teaching is an art, grounded in high quality teacher education and honed through experience, but early childhood educators need the credentials and degrees that this society esteems in order to achieve professional status and to receive more adequate compensation.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where many do not understand or concede the importance of early childhood education, and its potential to impact the future of our existence. Together we can continue to raise social consciousness and to search for answers.
I appreciate the opportunity to join this important discussion.
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Pam Ebersole
Early Childhood Educator
Palm Bay, Florida
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2018 11:39 AM
From: Jill McFarren Aviles
Subject: How much does "Quality" Early Childhood care cost?
I think that we need to ask ourselves what is the long-term cost of low quality! There is ample research now on the importance of quality early childhood programs, beginning is Ypsilanti studies to James Heckman's work, and now to long term impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE. This evidence can be found at a US and Global level. The Lancet Series, a medical journal, dedicated a number of series to the importance of early childhood, including https://www.thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/stories/series/ecd/Lancet_ECD_Executive_Summary.pdf In addition to making sure that the true cost of quality, in whatever setting, is covered through a combination of public/private investment, we need to advocate for the long term cost of inaction!
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Jill McFarren Aviles
McFarren Aviles & Associates
Fairfax VA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2018 01:57 PM
From: Pamela Haines
Subject: How much does "Quality" Early Childhood care cost?
Here's another resource that might be useful: The US Office of Child Care provides a Cost of Quality calculator: https://www.ecequalitycalculator.com/Login.aspx
I think it's important for people to be talking about the gap between what it costs to run a high quality program, the amount of revenue that is available, and the impact of raising credential requirements on costs that a program incurs. It's easier for those in authority to raise credential requirements than to find the resources to pay for it!
If every director were able to speak in detail about the cost of quality and the gaps in funding they are experiencing, the issue would become more clear to stakeholders and policy-makers.
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Pamela Haines
DVAEYC
Philadelphia PA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2018 01:50 PM
From: Benjamin Planton
Subject: How much does "Quality" Early Childhood care cost?
This report came out in February and addresses some of your higher level questions around the need for funding to come from outside sources - particularly the government. It is a follow-up report to Transforming the Workforce. Of course, it does not help in the short term but it does give us a goal for moving forward.
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24984/transforming-the-financing-of-early-care-and-education
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Benjamin Planton
Infant Toddler Outcome Specialist - Partnerships for Early Learners
NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council
Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2018 12:13 PM
From: Tim Kaminski
Subject: How much does "Quality" Early Childhood care cost?
There has been so much discussion lately about the need to professionalize the ECE field and increase the pay and benefits for those teachers or individuals working in that field. There is also a push to require all individuals working in the ECE field to acquire a degree anywhere from the CDA all the way up to a Bachelors Degree or Certification in a specific area.
What is not being discussed is what this is going to cost the current providers and families of ECE programs both in the for profit and not-for-profit centers where the bulk of ECE programs are being provided.
With this in mind, I would like to hear from some of the "experts" on what they think is reasonable for a parent to have to pay on a weekly basis for a "Quality" early childhood education and do they have any idea how much it actually costs a business or school to provide "High Quality". In our area for instance, the cost of care for an infant, ages 8 weeks to 12 months, ranges from $95.00 to $240.00 per week. The local subsidy program will only reimburse the centers around 75% of the actual tuition charged and we are not allowed to collect the difference from the parents. The quality of the facilities and the services they provide get better as you move into the higher paid tuition categories.
Remember if full time ECE is pushed into the public school arena, local and state tax dollars will be paying for that, but only if they can find it within their budgets which are currently strapped and facing additional cuts in funding.
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Tim Kaminski
Director/Owner
Gingerbread Kids Academy
Richmond TX
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