Here’s news of progress toward developing consistent standards and oversight mechanisms for childcare nationally. These funds wouldn’t add slots (though other programs may do that down the line), but they would pave the way to improving the quality of what care is available — an important factor per se and for making child care an option for many parents who need it but don’t employ it because they can’t find good, affordable care.

Initiative Focuses on Early Learning Programs
By Sam Dillon
New York Times
Sept. 19, 2009

Tucked away in an $87 billion higher education bill that passed the House last week was a broad new federal initiative aimed not at benefiting college students, but at raising quality in the early learning and care programs that serve children from birth through age 5.

The initiative, the Early Learning Challenge Fund, would channel $8 billion over eight years to states with plans to improve standards, training and oversight of programs serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

The Senate is expected to pass similar legislation this fall, giving President Obama, who proposed the Challenge Fund during the presidential campaign, a bill to sign in December.

Experts describe the current array of programs serving young children and their families nationwide as a hodgepodge of efforts with little coordination or coherence. Financing comes from a shifting mix of private, local, state and federal money. Programs are run out of storefronts and churches, homes and Head Start centers, public schools and other facilities. Quality is uneven, with some offering stimulating activities, play and instruction but others providing little more than a room and a television.
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2 thoughts on “Childcare Progress

  • September 24, 2009 at 6:12 pm
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    Obama and co, it would seem. Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7]

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