Too Few Children Have Access to High Quality Early Childhood Education Programs
PHILADELPHIA (February, 12th, 2013) – PCCY’s latest report “The Bottom Line is children: Early Care and Education in Montgomery County” finds that because of a lack of state investment, less than a third of low-and-moderate income children have access to high quality early learning programs. Nearly seven thousand additional seats are needed to fill the gap.
The report also points out:
- Of all licensed programs, only 20% are rated as high quality
- The number of high quality child care seats has doubled since 2008.
- These high quality programs can serve only 7% of all young children under five.
- Nearly 75% of all families with children have both parents in the labor force, while a third of hard working families are getting assistance to help pay for child care.
Research shows that low-income and middle class children who participate in high quality early childhood education programs are more likely to graduate from high school and obtain high paying jobs.
“High quality early learning programs ensure that children start school ready to learn. The good news in Montgomery County is that the number of high quality seats in private child care programs has doubled,” said Shawn Towey, Child Care Policy Coordinator for PCCY. “Even with that improvement, only seven percent of Montgomery County children under five would be able to enroll in a high quality private program.”
State budget cuts have made it difficult for a majority of low-and-moderate income families to enroll their children in high quality programs. PCCY’s report finds that due to state budget cuts since 2010, 253 fewer children from working families can be enrolled in subsidized child care. That’s a ten percent reduction in access. Today, only an estimated four in ten eligible families are receiving any financial assistance in meeting the high cost of child care.
“There are a large number of hard-working Montgomery County families who need help affording child care services for their children,” said Elizabeth Adeyi, Executive Director of Child Care Information Services of Montgomery County. “Unfortunately lack of adequate funding and stagnant reimbursement rate to providers means parents have to pick up more than their fair share of the tab for these programs.”
For Montgomery County families who are not eligible for child care subsidy, the costs associated with child care can make up a considerable amount of the family budget. The median cost of care for a typical family of four with two young children is $23,816. A high quality center can cost significantly more. The median cost of care is similar across southeastern Pennsylvania.
“In Pottstown we are seeing the gains from high quality early learning sustained through third grade. Our Pre-K Counts students enter kindergarten better prepared and sustain that advantage in the elementary years,” said Mary Rieck, coordinator for PEAK, Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness. “The investment in early learning makes a difference for children and families in the early years and also as the children progress through school.”
Public investments in infant care programs are extremely limited because Infant care is far more expensive than care for three-and-four year-olds. PCCY’s report points out that in Montgomery County, “The number of subsidized slots for infants in private care has declined by 15% since 2008, greater than the 1% decline for preschoolers.”
“Many working moms depend on these programs to help their kids learn and grow,” said Koyuki Yip, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Maternity Care Coalition. “What we need are stronger investments in high quality early learning programs so moms can know their child is safe and learning while they are at work.”
To improve early care and education for Montgomery County children, PCCY recommends County leaders:
- Support the Pre-K for PA campaign with the end goal of providing high quality preschool for every 3-and-4 year-old in Pennsylvania.
- Create a county-wide campaign to boost program quality that helps providers meet the one-time and long-term costs of quality improvements.
- Provide incentives to community colleges and other programs to boost offerings for adults working in child-serving fields to improve quality.
- Create a grant/loan pool from county economic development resources to assist child care facilities with capital expenses to help them improve the quality of services to children.
- Forge a partnership with other counties to advocate for the state to boost the child care subsidy for all eligible working families and reduce wait times to 30 days or less.
PCCY’s report, “The Bottom Line is Children: Early Care and Education in Montgomery County,” is the final report in a four-part series looking at issues affecting children in each of Philadelphia’s suburban counties. PCCY’s previous reports on education, family economic security, and child health can be viewed at www.childrenfirstpa.org/bottomlinecountyreports.