Early Education Initiative: New America Foundation
Topic: Quality in Childcare Settings by Grace Reef
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Podcast: Quality in Childcare Settings
Early Edwatch Podcast
The podcast I listened to discussed what quality care is, how the U.S. is doing to improve childcare across the country, and why childcare quality is poor in the U.S.
The interesting thing I learned in this podcast is the statement by Grace Reef on why early childhood providers have such a low average salary, $18,000. Grace mentioned that because there are no education requirements across the country. She stated if there were then providers could ask for higher compensation. In the area I am from teaching positions even in early childhood are very hard to come by, and we are required to hold an early childhood bachelors degree or an elementary teaching certificate with an early childhood endorsement. And we are compensated comparably to public school teachers.
The podcast also discussed the need for accross the board standards that call for accountability of all early childhood programs. This would lead to better funding of quality programs, because money wouldn't be wasted in subpar programs. This makes sense to me, as long as early childhood professionals are in charge of determining what quality programs are. Too often when the government gets involved best practices seem to go out the window.
I did contact Grace Reef, and got a short email back saying she looked forward to communicating with me, but was away for the week. I look forward to hearing from her next week.
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I completely agree with you,that when the government gets invlolved best practices go out the window. I was speaking to a counterpart this week and she discussed with me the changes that her ner principal has adopted. One of the things that she implimented was that the pre-k and kinder students be moved and alternated rooms with the 2nd and 3rd greders. Now the prek and kinder students have to walk to the restroom down the hallway from there clas. I seem to think that this is a little unlogical. developmental appropriate I would hae left things as they were so children could have com;lete access to the restroom.
ReplyDeleteAmber,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations of making contact with Grace - I'm sure that will prove to be a very enlightening resource.
I wish I could say the same regarding compensation for my center. Since we are house within a high school we are paid classified staff salaries which may be a much as 1/2 of that of a regular certified teacher - even though I do have a degree. It is very frustrating to know that we are still required to continue our education in order to maintain our licensure yet we are not valued enough by those who sign our paychecks to be properly compensated for the work we do or the hoops we have to jump through! One Day, though... right?
The county that I am in requires teachers to hold a bachelors as well and in our Title I schools, we must be highly qualified (have to pass the Praxis Test) in order to teach. We have a certain window of timee to get a Master's degree or the equivalence of a Master's. I agree that there needs to be across the board standards that call for accountability of all early childhood programs.
ReplyDeleteI understand our Local Head Start programs as of September 30, 2013, a
ReplyDeleteTeacher must possess a Bachelors Degree or advance degree in Early Childhood Education. In fact, to Substitute in Horry County Schools, a person must possess a Bachelors Degree.
In a Child Care Center, if one is under government assistance programs which helps parents with assistance with child care, the Centers require the Lead Teachers to have at least ECD 101 or higher. These Centers usually score higher on a rating scale because these Teachers have the Education they have.