CQEL

Gov. Newsom proposes stable California school funding in 2025-26 with an ominous warning

The article was updated on Jan, 10 to include more reactions to the budget proposal and note that Newsom did not include funding for ethnic studies. California school districts would receive $2.

How A Building Code Update Disrupted Child Care Centers In California

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Child Care Is More Than Just Watching Children

I came to the United States from Mexico, like many others, in pursuit of a better future. Before immigrating, I earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and worked as a high school Spanish teacher. I also held roles at prestigious companies, including leading a public relations department.

Parents Are Minimizing Work Relationships to Make Time for Childcare

Jenna is stressed. She has to perform some research for a client report, write up part of the report, and leave the office by 5 PM so she can pick up her son from after-school care.

States help child care centers expand in bid to create more slots, lower prices

Reporting for this article was supported by New America’s Better Life Lab. Parking spots. Sprinkler systems. Earthquake building codes.

How Companies Can Partner With Child Care Providers To Support Working Parents

Joshua Frick, President of Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care. The U.S. Surgeon General’s recent advisory states that 41% of parents are so overwhelmed by stress that it impacts their ability to function.

Benefits of Having a Childcare Leaders' Support Group: Shared Resources and Experiences

Discover how to form a regional childcare leaders' support group. Share resources, experiences, and strategies. Ready to enhance your childcare network?

The Role of Mobile Apps in Enhancing Parent-Teacher Communication

Discover how mobile apps transform parent-teacher communication. Can these tools enhance your child's care experience? Explore the benefits and possibilities today.

Building a Supportive Work Culture to Improve Mental Health

Discover how fostering a supportive work culture can enhance childcare staff's mental health. Learn practical tips and overcome common obstacles for a healthier workplace.

Common Mistakes in Grant Writing and How to Avoid Them

Discover common grant writing mistakes and learn actionable strategies to avoid them. Want to boost your success rate? Dive into our expert tips now.

Navigating Crisis Situations: Key Strategies for Child Care Leaders

Discover essential strategies for childcare leaders to effectively manage crises. How can you ensure the safety and well-being of children and staff?

Utilizing Part-Time and Temporary Staff Effectively

Discover how to leverage part-time and temporary staff to meet seasonal demands. Are you ready to optimize your workforce and boost productivity year-round?

Rebuilding Financial Stability in Child Care: Lessons Learned from COVID-19

Discover effective financial strategies for child care centers post-COVID. How can you ensure sustainable recovery and growth in your business? Find out here.

Essential End-of-Year Childcare Checklist: Navigating Key Tasks for California Providers

Navigate California childcare's year-end tasks with ease. Are you ready to streamline finances, ensure compliance, and plan strategically for a successful new year?

Comprehensive Guide to 2025 Employment Law Changes for California Childcare Providers

As we approach 2025, new employment laws will bring significant changes for childcare providers. Stay informed about updates on minimum wage increases, paid sick leave, bereavement leave mandates, anti-discrimination protections, and more.

Comprehensive Guide to 2025 Employment Law Changes for California Childcare Providers - [With Action Steps]

As we approach 2025, new employment laws will bring significant changes for childcare providers. Stay informed about updates on minimum wage increases, paid sick leave, bereavement leave mandates, anti-discrimination protections, and more for members.

Complying with California's Child Care Staff-to-Child Ratios

Discover how to efficiently meet California's childcare staff-to-child ratios. Are you ready to ensure compliance while maintaining quality care? Learn more now.

Unlock Christmas Cheer: Tax-Deductible Gifts and Party Ideas for Directors

Discover tax-deductible Christmas gifts for your staff and explore creative party ideas. How can you make this holiday season memorable and financially savvy?

California Bill Would Protect Schools, Child Care Centers From Immigration Raids

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Post-Emergency Recovery: Supporting Children and Staff

Discover effective emotional recovery strategies for children and staff post-emergency. How can a solid plan aid in healing and resilience building?

Streamlining Billing and Payments with Online Solutions

Discover how digital billing systems can simplify payments and enhance financial management for childcare centers. Ready to streamline your processes?

Implementing Cybersecurity Measures to Protect Child Data

Discover how to safeguard child data with effective cybersecurity measures. Why is digital safety crucial in childcare centers? Learn steps to enhance protection.

The Importance of a Structured Waiting List Process for Childcare Centers

Discover how a well-managed waiting list can boost trust and efficiency in childcare. Ready to streamline your process with tech and tools?

Virtual Tour: Attracting New Families to Your Child Care Center Through Your Website

Discover how virtual tour technology can transform your child care center's marketing. Ready to attract new families by showcasing your facilities online?

Language Immersion Programs: Bilingual Education in Child Care

Explore the benefits and challenges of language immersion in child care. How can bilingual education shape young minds and enhance early learning experiences?

Building a Supportive Work Culture to Improve Mental Health

Discover how fostering a supportive work culture can enhance mental health for childcare staff. Ready to transform your workplace into a nurturing environment?

East Palo Alto mom launches daycare with hopes of putting dent into childcare crisis

As the crisis of not enough childcare resources continues in California, one Bay Area mom is hoping to bridge that gap with a daycare out of her home. "We have a curriculum for infants for toddlers and for preschoolers.

To expand appeal, California apprenticeships in construction trades offer child care support

After bouncing around in several job paths, including retail sales, office receptionist and warehouse worker, Cindy Crisanto has begun a potentially lucrative career as a welder and ironworker — a field with very few women.

Potty-training and school

The backstory: The California Department of Education requires districts to admit all eligible students, regardless if they’re potty-trained or not, but leaves it up to districts on how to best address the needs of those students.

Childcare vs. Child Care: The Key to Consistent Branding and Center Success in California

Discover the impact of "childcare" vs. "child care" on branding. Learn how consistent terminology can boost your center's success in California. Curious how? Read on.

The Impact of California's Licensing Laws on Child Care Center Operations

Explore how California's licensing laws shape child care centers' operations. Are these regulations helping or hindering their daily management and efficiency?

Incorporating Multicultural Holiday Celebrations into Early Education: A Guide for Teachers

Discover how to enrich your curriculum with diverse cultural elements this holiday season. Ready to foster inclusivity and global awareness in your classroom?

Integrating Digital Literacy into Early Childhood Education

Explore how digital tools in early education can enhance learning and prepare children for a digital future. Learn how to get started today.

Overcoming Hiring Hurdles in Childcare: Solutions for Attracting and Retaining Quality Teachers

Struggling to hire quality childcare teachers? Discover effective strategies to attract and retain top talent in your center. Ready to transform your hiring process?

The Role of Staff Training in Meeting California Child Care Licensing Standards

Discover how staff training is crucial for meeting California's childcare licensing standards. Are your team members equipped to ensure compliance and quality care?

Effective Solutions for Boosting Child Care Enrollment: Leveraging Technology and Innovative Practices

Are you struggling to increase childcare enrollment? Uncover powerful, tech-driven strategies and creative practices that will elevate engagement and set your center on the path to success!

Preparing for a California Child Care Licensing Inspection: What to Expect

Are you ready for a California child care licensing inspection? Discover essential tips to ensure your facility meets standards and passes with confidence.

Stress Management and Self-Care for Child Care Staff

Discover effective stress management and self-care strategies for child care staff. How can directors support their team to prevent burnout and enhance well-being?

Sustainable Meal Planning for Child Care Centers

Learn how to create sustainable menus for childcare centers. Support local farmers, minimize waste, and offer nutritious meals. Are you ready to make a positive change?

The Differences Between Licensing and Accreditation in California Child Care

Discover the key differences between licensing and accreditation in California child care. How can you get support for your center?

Leveraging AI in Childcare: Create Efficient, Personalized, and Cost-Effective Environments

Explore how AI enhances childcare, making it efficient, personalized, and affordable. Are you ready to improve automation, communication, and resource management?

Understanding California's Child Care Licensing Regulations and Compliance

Navigate California's child care regulations with confidence. Are you compliant with state standards? Discover essential guidelines for the success of your facility.

How Mattel's child care center has supported working parents for 30 years

Developing on-site child care centers is no easy task, and it doesn't come cheap, between building the center itself, employing providers and complying with state regulations. But after three decades, Mattel can confidently say their Child Development Center has been worth it.

The California Legislature set a record for women in office and could see historic gender parity

California’s Senate will reach gender parity, but depending on the outcome of some close contests, that could extend to the whole Legislature.

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California’s Current Child Care Landscape

California’s child care market is at a critical juncture: the pandemic led to significant loss of child care spaces, but recovery is underway and key policy shifts are on the horizon.

Time for a Fresh Approach to Childcare

President-elect Donald Trump has signaled an appetite for change with his new Department of Government Efficiency and various cabinet picks. While many federal programs and regulations need an overhaul, childcare policy is an overlooked area that is ripe for a new approach.

Local Measures in California to Fund Child Care Programs on Verge of Victory

In the recent elections, voters in Sonoma County, Santa Cruz, and Pomona approved measures to boost funding for children’s programs significantly.

How would a Trump presidency affect early childhood care in Southern California?

The economy was front and center for many Americans who went to the polls last week, but President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign had very few specifics about proposals on childcare. California families spent an average of nearly $20,000 on infant care in 2021.

A global childcare crisis

From my home country of Nigeria to the United States—where I lived and worked for 20 years—caregivers, particularly working mothers, are experiencing a crisis.

How to Support Children After the Election: Guidance for Parents and Educators

As election season comes to a close, the aftermath can leave many adults and children grappling with a range of emotions—from relief to disappointment and even uncertainty about the future. Here are ten recommendations to help children feel safe and supported.

What the presidential candidates have done − and where they stand − on education

When it comes to education policy, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris not only have mostly distinct visions but also distinct track records. Harris is calling for a wider role for the federal government and larger investment to improve educational opportunities.

Why bringing children to the voting booth matters

Children are not merely passive recipients of voting outcomes; they are capable participants in building a future shaped by informed civic values and active community involvement. We must foster responsible use of their civic knowledge and power for a better future.

2024 California statewide ballot measures

Did LAist help you vote? Member support made these voter guides possible. Before you do anything else, we want to ask for your help and take a moment to tell you about our mission.

Free child care? Yes, but only on election day

Parents in Los Angeles don’t need to let child care costs prevent them from voting in person Tuesday — especially with the future of child care funding at stake.

From paint color to air quality, designing better learning environments for Detroit kids

Celina Byrd’s favorite color is pink. So, when she owned a childcare center in 2010, she naturally decided to paint the walls pink, not realizing the bright color could be distracting for the children.

New school year, new laws

Topline: California students, including those in elementary school, will have better access to mental health care, free menstrual products and information about climate change this school year.

Three Golden Rules for Improving Early Childhood Systems

Golden Rule #3: Invest Time and Resources in Building Trust Between Siloed Institutions. Successful collaboration in early learning reform must be inclusive and have clear structures for envisioning successes, sharing resources, and overcoming division.

Building a Culture of Improvement: Effective Staff Performance Evaluations

Discover effective strategies for evaluating staff performance. How can constructive feedback drive development and enhance your team's potential?

The Role of Leadership in Fostering an Inclusive Child Care Center

Discover how effective leadership can transform child care centers into inclusive environments. What role do leaders play in fostering diversity among students and staff?

Promoting Anti-Bias Education in Child Care

Discover effective strategies to implement anti-bias education in child care. How can you create an inclusive environment that nurtures diversity and equity?

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Over 1 Million Parents Lose Work Hours Due To Insufficient Child Care, Report Shows

If you're a working parent, you've no doubt felt the burden of managing child care with your job one way or another. A new index report from KPMG, a Big Four accounting firm, shows the reality of the U.S. child care crisis. The report estimates that 1.2 to 1.

How Kindergarten ‘Redshirting’ Is Changing

Kindergarten “redshirting”—when a parent decides to delay the start of their child’s academic career by a year—was once largely a choice made by higher-income parents of white boys.

Video New study on the rise of child care cost

Bankrate estimates that the typical American household averages $14,000 per year for one child.

Increasing child care teacher pay doesn’t have to mean charging parents more

Day care workers earn less than dog walkers. States are finally realizing that’s got to change. Jacqueline Strickland was tired, but hopeful.

Good for All Kids, Pre-K Programs Are Especially Beneficial for English Learners

For all the campaign arguments about immigration and the United States border, you’d think that we were embarking upon a new situation, something coming, an arriving novelty barely visible over the horizon. And yet, as far as schools are concerned, this is a past tense debate. The U.S.

These Federal Policies Support Spanish-Language Child Care

However, MIECHV regulations for supporting English learners and their families are not as specific as other federal programs. Funding has also stagnated since 2013, and experts estimate that only 140,000 families, about 3 to 5 percent of those eligible, are actually receiving services.

Q&A: Why the U.S. Is ‘Catastrophically Wrong’ to Separate Early Child Care from Education

In Dan Wuori’s upcoming book he argues that America’s early childhood policy has been premised on a harmful myth: “This is the myth of daycare,” he writes, “which — in reality — simply doesn’t exist.

White House Convening on Child Care

Every morning, FFYF reports on the latest child care & early learning news from across the country. Subscribe and take 5 minutes to know what's happening in early childhood education.

How child care costs became the 'kitchen table issue' for parents this election season

Christina Parker should be able to live comfortably in Mill Valley, California, a leafy suburb north of San Francisco on her six-figure salary working for a real estate developer. Instead she watches her checking account slowly empty all month long until there’s nearly nothing left.

Biden’s push for child care failed. What lessons are there for Kamala Harris?

The “care economy” agenda collapsed despite a Democratic trifecta. A divided government is more likely next time. Caregiving policies are having a moment in the 2024 election.

Democrats and Republicans Agree on Child Care! (Or Do They, Really?)

Unlike the contentious debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in September, the debate between their two running mates on Tuesday was relatively mild-mannered, with occasional areas of polite agreement.

Here’s what Harris. Trump propose to make child care more affordable

Advocates say the child care crisis is getting more attention in the presidential race, but there are unanswered questions about proposals from both sides.

Ensuring Child Safety During Emergencies: Key Preparedness Strategies for Child Care Centers

Discover best practices for preschool emergency preparedness. Are your plans ensuring the safety of children and staff? Learn how to create effective procedures today.

How to Choose the Perfect Name for Your Early Childcare Center: Inspiring Examples and Expert Tips

Discover how to choose the perfect name for your daycare or preschool. Get inspired by creative examples and expert tips to make your childcare business stand out.

Creating a Sustainable Outdoor Play Area

Design eco-friendly play areas that inspire kids to care for nature. Want to create a sustainable space that nurtures young environmental stewards? Discover how.

Time Management Tips for Busy Child Care Leaders

Master time management in child care leadership. Discover practical tips to balance responsibilities efficiently. Ready to transform your daily routine?

These federal policies support Spanish-language child care

A quarter of the children in the U.S. are Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census, yet 60 percent of Hispanic families live in child care deserts, areas with an undersupply of child care.

Walz and Vance address child care concerns and costs

During Tuesday's VP debate, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan asked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance about how their administrations would approach child care issues, the paid family leave model and more.

Economy, Childcare, Energy: What the 2024 Vice Presidential Debate Said About Business

The nominees for vice president have opposing visions of what the American Dream should look like for business owners. Ohio’s junior Republican Senator JD Vance did indeed make it off the couch on Oct.

New Report on Pandemic-Era Funding Shows 'Childcare Crisis Is a Policy Choice'

With the last of the federal childcare funding included in coronavirus pandemic relief set to expire at the end of September, two civil society groups on Thursday released an analysis of the "significant benefits" the funding included for families and early childhood educators across the U.S.

The untapped strategy that can radically improve student outcomes

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Andrea Berry, superintendent of schools in York City, Pennsylvania, refers to the city’s children as “Bearcats from Birth.” Her catchphrase is far more than a nod to York’s mascot.

Exclusive: Ro Khanna’s Bold Proposal to Cap Childcare at $10 a Day for Most Families

As parents across the U.S. juggle work commitments and soaring childcare costs, a California Democrat wants Congress to offer a lifeline to struggling families, and sees a way in which it might actually happen. On Friday, Rep.

Mastering Child Care Branding: Essential Strategies for Trust and Recognition

Discover how to establish a strong brand identity for your child care center. Build trust and loyalty in your community by starting to develop your brand today.

Governor Newsom vetoes training for preschool teachers on dual-language learners

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required more training for preschool teachers on educating children who speak languages other than English at home.

Child Care on College Campuses: What to Know

Campus child care is set up with traditional hours or flexible drop-in services. Sometimes it's subsidized.

2024 Forbes Future of Work Summit | The ROI Of Child Care: Investing In The Future Of Front Line Workers' Families

With pandemic-era child care funding expiring last September - and workforce shortages persisting across the child care industry - the needs of working parents have never been greater, especially for those on tight budgets.

My kids go to a preschool we can't afford. We chose to sacrifice our budget for their early education.

It's no secret that day care in the US is expensive. Being a working parent in today's economy is impossible — we debated one of us staying at home with the kids because of how expensive childcare can be. Basically, we cannot afford it, but we pay for it anyway.

Government shutdown threatens extra funding for childcare and early learning

WASHINGTON — There is talk about a potential U.S. government shutdown as the funding battle inches closer to September 30th. That’s when Congress must agree on a spending bill for the 2025 fiscal year.

Helping Kids Have Kind Conversations During Election Season

As November approaches and election conversations surround us, conversations about politics can be intense. Children are not immune. Kids sometimes write to Highlights to ask for advice about navigating political disagreements with their friends.

Making Your Back-to-School Night a Success: Stress-Free Tips for Childcare Providers

Uncover effortless methods to manage a fruitful Back-to-School Night for those in the childcare sector. Get insights on cultivating robust bonds with parents, conveying messages effectively, and setting a positive vibe for the forthcoming academic year.

Enhancing Childcare Quality Through Scheduled Reflective Practice Time

Discover practical steps to integrate reflection into daily routines. Learn how scheduled reflective practice time can enhance childcare providers' teaching effectiveness, improve student outcomes, and promote professional growth in early childhood education settings.

Building a Strong Brand Identity for Your Child Care Center: A Guide

Learn how to build a strong brand identity for your child care center. This guide covers key branding elements—from defining your mission to crafting a consistent visual and verbal identity—to help attract and retain families. Perfect for California childcare providers.

Gentle Parenting: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Educators

Learn about gentle parenting and its key principles, techniques, and practical tips for parents and teachers. Discover how empathy, respect, and positive discipline foster emotional growth and improve behavior in children, both at home and in the classroom.

Can California's Universal Transitional Kindergarten Plan Make the Grade?

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Business owners, employees divided over how much of a struggle child care is, report finds

Topline: A new report by First 5 California finds that 48% of parents in California — mostly women — find it difficult or very difficult to find affordable childcare.

The Workers Behind the Workers

Not long ago Kenya was taking the subway home from work when she heard what sounded like gunshots behind her. Heart pounding, she ducked under her seat. A native New Yorker, she isn’t easily rattled, but now she could see people running around her.

This boss vowed to help his workers with child care. It hasn't been easy

MANITOWOC, Wis. — It was during the height of the pandemic that Sachin Shivaram realized the depth of his employees' struggles with child care.

Celebrating Differences: Building a Culturally Responsive Curriculum in Your California Classroom

Learn strategies to create inclusive classrooms that celebrate California's diverse population, fostering a sense of belonging and identity in young children.

EPA Grants Target Lead Exposure Risks from Drinking Water at Schools, Childcare Facilities Nationwide

The new federal grant is a part of the larger Biden-Harris Administration Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, which is intended to help mitigate the problem of lead exposure among the nation’s children.

Why Summer Child Care Is a Nightmare

To all the frantic parents who’ve survived yet another year of the summer-child-care shuffle: I salute you. It’s a well-established fact that in the United States, finding summer child care can be hell.

California’s Minimum Wage Will Increase Again in 2025

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10 Engaging Ways to Plan a Childcare Orientation to Welcome New Families

Learn how to create a welcoming and engaging orientation for new families at your childcare center. Discover ten effective strategies to build strong relationships and ensure a positive start. Make new families feel valued and excited about joining your community.

Head Start Final Rule Makes Big Changes to Staff Compensation, Program Eligibility, and More

The Office of Head Start (OHS) published the final rule on August 21st, titled Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, updating the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

A Guide to the Best Tips for a Productive Monthly Meeting with Your Childcare Teachers

Enhance your monthly meetings with childcare teachers using these effective tips! Learn how to set clear objectives, encourage participation, and provide professional development.

Where Does Kamala Harris Stand on Education? Inside the 2024 Democratic Platform

Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic candidates would push for universal prekindergarten, expanded career and technical education, a reduced emphasis on standardized testing, and efforts to improve teachers’ working conditions if elected later this year.

The rise of microschools: A wake-up call for public education

The demise of great corporations like Kodak, Sears and others serves as a stark reminder of the perils of failing to innovate and evolve with consumer demands. Kodak famously ignored the rise of digital cameras despite inventing the technology itself.

Navigating Daycare Grants in 2024: Strategies for Financial Growth

Learn how to secure daycare grants in 2024 with this comprehensive guide. Discover strategies for finding grants, crafting compelling applications, and leveraging support from CQEL to enhance your daycare center's funding and growth.

What education could look like under Harris and Walz

Education vaulted to the forefront of conversations about the presidential race when Democratic nominee Kamala Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, worked for roughly two decades in public schools, as a geography teacher and football coach.

100 Days of School Ideas: Themes, Holidays, and School Events to Celebrate Milestones

Celebrate the 100th day of school with innovative ideas and activities! Explore themes, holiday-inspired events, and practical tips tailored for childcare providers to ensure a fun, inclusive, and enriching experience for students.

White House Brings Newborn Baby Kits to More Households – But Real Challenges to Caring for Young Kids Remain

New babies may be bundles of joy, but they also bring bundles of bills – and not every family is in a financial position to comfortably shoulder this new expense.

Extreme Heat Affects Young Children. Are Early Learning Programs Equipped for It?

2023 was the hottest year ever recorded on the planet — by far. More than halfway in, 2024 is on track to exceed it, with June the hottest month on record and July 22 the hottest day. Everyone is feeling it — energy bills are up, social plans are disrupted, sleep and exercise are more elusive.

Implementing Co-Teaching Models in Early Childhood Education: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn how co-teaching transforms early childhood education by combining educators' strengths to enhance learning and inclusivity. This guide covers benefits, models, and steps to effectively implement co-teaching in your program.

Campus researchers investigate impact of California’s allocation of early education childcare funding

A new UC Berkeley report reveals that California’s increased investment in Transitional Kindergarten, or TK, may be causing unintended consequences for other early education programs, such as state preschools and Head Start.

State Of Play: Federal Child Care Solutions Gain Steam Going Into The August Recess

June and July brought a lot of Congressional momentum, with multiple pieces of proposed legislation that would bring better support to more working families and young children who need quality, affordable child care.

I spent a year researching child care around the world. Here’s what I discovered

Hello! I’m excited to be back at Hechinger after spending the past academic year as a Spencer Fellow at the Columbia Journalism School. This past year was eye-opening and invigorating.

The Importance of a Solid Daycare Payment Policy for Your Staff and Families

Discover why a solid daycare payment policy is crucial for financial stability and trust in your daycare center. This blog post explores key tips for creating an effective payment policy that benefits both staff and families.

Spotlight On: Child Care and the 2024 Olympics

There have been many memorable moments from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Steve, the Pommel Horse guy. Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav bringing the fun as Ambassadors. Simone Biles, the GOAT. The chocolate chip muffins in the Olympic village.

Stress Hormones In Preschoolers Improve With Emotional Knowledge, Study Indicates

Picture this: a 3-year-old in a preschool classroom is playing with a popular toy when a classmate asks if they can have the toy. The first child says, “I’m playing with it.

10 Signs Your Family Child Care Center Should Consider Changing Its Business Structure

Explore the top ten signs your family child care center should consider changing its business structure. Learn how evolving from a sole proprietorship or partnership to an LLC or corporation can offer significant advantages in the dynamic early childhood education landscape.

Unlocking the Power of Authentic Assessment in Early Childhood Education

Learn how aspiring childcare providers in California can use this holistic approach to understand and support children's development, moving beyond traditional methods to gain valuable insights and inform instruction.

Unveiling Misconceptions in Early Education Curriculum Themes

Learn about common misconceptions in teaching themes like colors, senses, nature, and community, and how aspiring childcare providers in California can debunk these myths for accurate, enriching experiences.

Decoding California’s Vaccine Requirements for Childcare Providers

Stay informed about California's new vaccine requirements for childcare providers. Discover essential steps for full vaccination, weekly testing, and addressing vaccine hesitancy to create a safer childcare environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The First Five Things to Know About: The Kaine-Britt Bipartisan Child Care Plan

Millions of American families are struggling to find quality, reliable, affordable child care they can depend on. This is having a devastating impact on our youngest learners, working families, and …

Senators unveil bipartisan proposal aimed at making child care more affordable

Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., unveiled a bipartisan package of bills Wednesday morning aimed at making child care more available and affordable for low- and middle-income families. Their proposal would modify existing tax credits to help working parents afford child care.

How insurance is affecting the cost of childcare

The childcare industry has been having a tough go of it. It's already expensive; pandemic-era programs have ended; plus there are too few providers. Enter a new challenge: increasing liability insurance premiums.

Dual language, dyslexia, staff shortages: A reporter reflects on her favorite early childhood stories of the past year

It’s been a busy year for me filling in as co-author of the early education newsletter for Hechinger Report senior reporter Jackie Mader.

Nutrition Nuggets: Crafting Healthy and Delicious Meals for Picky Eaters

Discover how aspiring childcare providers in California can create nutritious, tasty meals for picky eaters. This guide highlights techniques to encourage healthy eating habits and a positive food relationship in early childhood.

Empowering Early Educators to Support Parents Transitioning from COVID Parenting: A Guide

Discover essential strategies and resources for childcare providers in California to support families transitioning from COVID-19 parenting challenges. Learn how to empower parents with resilience and confidence during this period of adjustment.

UC Berkeley Report Finds Enrollment in California's Public Preschool Programs Hasn't Recovered From Pandemic

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Strategies for Childcare Providers to Thrive Amidst Transitional Kindergarten Changes

Discover how to adapt your childcare program to maintain high enrollment amidst Transitional Kindergarten changes. Learn strategies on curriculum enhancement, flexible scheduling, family engagement, and more.

Kamala Harris vows to revive Biden’s defeated ‘care economy’ plans

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris vowed twice this week to revive Democratic plans to expand the welfare state, previewing a campaign message against Donald Trump and potentially signaling one of her top priorities should she be elected.

Outdoor Summer Science Fun: Hands-On Experiments for Curious Minds

Embrace the summer season with outdoor science exploration for aspiring childcare providers in California. Discover hands-on activities that engage young minds in plant growth, weather, and climate, fostering curiosity and a lifelong love for learning.

L.A. child-care industry in tailspin, hit with disruption as transition kindergarten grows

DIG Childhood Center in Mar Vista once had no problem filling all 36 of its slots with eager young learners, who romped barefoot in a play yard filled with vegetables, monarch butterflies and a small stream. Before the pandemic, there was even a wait list.

Securing Support: Navigating the Landscape of Daycare Grants in 2024

Daycare services support working parents and nurture young children, but starting a daycare is costly. Daycare grants provide vital financial help. This guide explores California daycare grants in 2024, offering strategies and resources for aspiring childcare providers.

Sen. Katie Britt leads effort to address childcare crisis

Alabama’s U.S. Senator Katie Britt is spearheading efforts to tackle the nation’s childcare crisis, focusing on accessibility and affordability for families grappling with inadequate childcare solutions.

Are co-ops the answer to the child care crisis?

It's a nationwide issue — lack of affordable daycare. Even when you find it, you could be on a waitlist for years. The result is many dropping from the workforce so one can stay home with the children. This ultimately puts a massive strain on the labor force.

Helping Children Make Sense of Their World through Science

A recent report by a National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine committee declared the need to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities in early childhood, asserting that “every child deserves to experience the wonder of science and the satisfaction o

2024 Child Care and Early Learning State Fact Sheets

FFYF’s 2024 State Fact Sheets from 50 states and Washington, D.C. show how federal investments in child care impact working parents, children, and the economy. Federal funding and programs benefit families nationwide and serve as the foundation for America’s early care and education system.

What You Need to Know About the 2025-27 Child Care and Development Fund State Plan

Discover key insights into the 2025-27 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan. Learn how updated eligibility criteria, quality improvement initiatives, and new health and safety standards will impact childcare providers and families in California.

Comprehensive List of California ECE Courses and Child Development Courses for Qualified Teachers

Explore detailed listings of Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses at top California colleges, including course titles, descriptions, and numbers. Find the right program to kickstart your career in child development and early learning.

The 2024-25 California State Budget Explained

In late June, Governor Newsom and state leaders reached a deal on the 2024-25 California state budget. Confronted with a substantial shortfall, state leaders negotiated a budget package that presents a mixed bag for California families.

Unveiling the Value: Why Directors Should Embrace Creating a Newsletter

Effective communication is essential in early childhood education. Daycare directors can foster collaboration, engagement, and community involvement by creating newsletters. Discover the numerous benefits of using newsletters to strengthen relationships with parents, staff, and stakeholders.

Granting Access: A Guide to Finding Daycare Grants in 2024

Daycare centers are crucial for early childhood education, but financial challenges are common. This guide helps aspiring providers find 2024 daycare grants, ensuring access to essential childcare services.

Streamlining Child Progress Reports and Portfolios: A Comprehensive Guide

Recording a child's growth is crucial in early education. Learn how progress reports and portfolios offer insights into development. Discover strategies for effective assessment practices for childcare providers.

Essential Heat Wave Preparedness for Early Educators in California

Discover essential strategies for early educators in California to manage heat waves effectively. Learn about health risks, preventative measures, regulatory guidelines, staff training, and parental communication to ensure children's safety during extreme heat.

Pricey camps. Family favors. Early dashes from work. How do parents survive summer?

Kristen Dang’s tenuously planned child-care schedule is in full summer swing — a costly, worry-inducing logistical feat that has tested her maternal prowess. And she considers herself among the fortunate.

Money-Saving Ways of Staying Cool in the Heat Waves

Discover cost-effective strategies for keeping childcare environments cool during heat waves. Learn about energy-efficient cooling solutions, DIY methods, hydration tips, engaging activities, and community resources to ensure children's safety and comfort on a budget.

Child Tax Credit 2021: Advance Payments FAQs & Calculator

The child tax credit has grown to up to $3,600, and you may be able to get some of what you're due in advance monthly payments. The child tax credit is a refundable tax credit of up to $3,600 per qualifying child under 18.

Money-Saving Ways of Staying Cool in the Heat Waves

Discover cost-effective strategies for keeping childcare environments cool during heat waves. Learn about energy-efficient cooling solutions, DIY methods, hydration tips, engaging activities, and community resources to ensure children's safety and comfort on a budget.

Nurturing Positive Relationships Amongst Twins and Closely Aged Siblings

Siblings shape each other's social and emotional skills for life. For twins and closely aged siblings, this bond is even more significant. Childcare providers in California can nurture these relationships to foster lifelong interpersonal skills and emotional resilience.

Essential Heat Wave Preparedness for Early Educators in California

Discover essential strategies for early educators in California to manage heat waves effectively. Learn about health risks, preventative measures, regulatory guidelines, staff training, and parental communication to ensure children's safety during extreme heat.

Fostering Cohesion: Team Building Activities for Early Educator Directors and Their Teachers

Strong teams are vital in early childhood education. Discover how collaboration and communication among teachers in California ensure high-quality learning experiences for young children.

Art in the Park: Safe and Fun Ways to Do Neighborhood Walks for Early Education Classrooms

Explore where early childhood education meets nature and creativity. Discover how outdoor adventures and art activities from infancy to preschool foster learning and exploration. Unlock the potential of neighborhood walks for young minds in California.

Winners and losers in California budget deal

Although the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld federal approval of the abortion medication mifepristone and California enshrined the right to an abortion in its constitution in 2022, confusion over reproductive health care access in the state remains.

Which bills will Gavin Newsom sign into new California laws?

Election workers sort ballots at the Sacramento County voter registration and elections office in Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2022.

California Democrats want Gavin Newsom to close more prisons over cutting child care, welfare

California Democrats worried about deeper child care and social safety net cuts in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget want the state to instead close more prisons. That way, they argue, there would be more funding for the programs in jeopardy.

Powerful Circle Time Ideas for Fun and Interactive Sessions

Uncover the power of circle time, learn its benefits, and get practical tips for creating engaging sessions that foster learning and community. Enhance your classroom with dynamic circle time activities.

National Child Care Analysis Finds Troubling Trends Continued in 2023

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) recently published Child Care at a Standstill: Price and Landscape Analysis, an annual report assessing the national, state, and regional trends in child care. The newest edition analyzes the supply, affordability, and price of child care in 2023.

When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound

When Tanya Gillespie-Lambert goes to an event in a local park in Camden, New Jersey, she takes a handful of brochures about free preschool with her.

Biden Administration Moves To Forgive Preschool Teachers' Student Loans

The administration of President Joe Biden is taking steps to forgive student loans of preschool teachers and other early childhood educators who were left out of a program that has canceled debts for teachers and other public servants.

What Parents and Child Care Providers Want Their Elected Leaders to Know

Child care concerns have reached a boiling point for parents and providers, and it’s become increasingly difficult for families to afford essentials like health care and housing.

Jill On Money: The high cost of parenting

Parents, it’s not just you: It really does cost a lot to raise a child in the United States. The annual Child Cost Aware of America (CCAoA) report is out and the results are staggering. The national average price of childcare for 2023 was $11,582 – and that’s just the AVERAGE!

Reimagining early education

For years, conservatives have dropped the ball on early childhood education policy, almost entirely ceding the playing field to the left. This has led to programs that lack guidance from some important conservative intuitions, like fiscal restraint, the centrality of family and the power of markets.

Opinion: Can California control its boom-and-bust budget?

California has until Saturday to balance a budget that is billions of dollars out of whack, and not in a good way. Ambitious, worthy programs put into place in 2022, when Gov. Gavin Newsom was projecting a record surplus, are being paused or rolled back, and state reserves are being drawn down.

Trickle of growth in child care sector, report shows

This analysis of a Bureau of Labor Statistics report reveals much-needed growth in the beleaguered sector. However, a seasonal dip in employment patterns over the summer months may soon cause a decrease, experts note.

Invest in Black and Latina Early Childhood Educators. Our Students Deserve It.

You can’t have high-quality early education without high-quality early educators, and you can’t recruit and retain high-quality educators without providing professional pay and opportunities for professional growth.

Can the tech industry solve child care problems? Some companies are betting on it

A tech company out of San Diego is working to solve the vexing problem that is child care, by creating a platform where employers, working parents and child care providers can connect and transact.

Home Visiting Programs Aren’t Just for Families. They Can Support Child Care Providers Too.

Soon after Miriam Bravo began watching her 2-year-old grandson full-time, she realized that many years had passed since she was last responsible for a young child. Feeling a bit rusty, she turned to the internet to seek out activities suitable for little Tadeo and advice for how best to support him.

LAUSD fined $8 million for staffing violations. Too many students, not enough teachers

LAUSD has been fined $8.1 million after an independent audit uncovered classrooms in the district’s highly promoted transitional kindergarten program with too many students and not enough teachers’ aides — a stiff financial penalty that will be withheld from the district’s state funding.

Pre-K Enrollment Surges in US, With Mississippi & New Mexico Making Big Strides

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Four-year-olds entering pre-K in Mississippi’s Lamar County Schools don’t spend their days on worksheets or bent over papers practicing their letters.

Budgeting Like a Boss: Budget-Friendly Incentives for Childcare Providers

Keep your childcare superstars happy & motivated! Explore creative, budget-friendly ideas for staff incentives & rewards in your California childcare program. Boost morale & build a thriving team environment!

Child care cost rising at nearly twice the pace of inflation: Research

by - 05/31/24 1:51 PM ET

Achieving Excellence: Guiding Childcare Centers through California's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)

Mastering the QRIS! Unleash the potential of your program! Navigate California's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) with this detailed guide. Learn how to assess, improve, and achieve excellence in early childhood education!

Inclusive Storytelling: Choosing Books that Reflect Our World

Spark imagination & celebrate diversity! Discover the power of inclusive storytelling to foster empathy, acceptance, & a love of learning in your California childcare program.

Embracing Second Languages: Ways Directors Can Help Promote Multilingualism

Unlock the cognitive & social-emotional benefits of multilingualism in your program. Learn how to create a supportive environment & empower young minds for a globalized world! Embrace the diversity of California's childcare settings!

Project-Based Learning: Engaging Activities for Deeper Exploration in Busy Seasons

Keep the learning alive! Discover how to adapt project-based learning (PBL) during busy times in your California childcare program. Foster curiosity, problem-solving, and deeper exploration even amidst holidays & end-of-year transitions!

The Importance of Exploring Emotions: Techniques for Emotional Expression that Aren't Stressful

Help young children navigate feelings & build healthy relationships. Learn how to create a safe space for emotional expression & equip them with stress-free techniques to thrive! This equips aspiring California childcare providers to foster social-emotional learning (SEL) in their program.

Setting the Classroom for Success: Creating a Trauma-Informed Environment for Children

Every child deserves to thrive. Learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & how to create a trauma-informed classroom in your California childcare program to support all children's success!

The Art of Collaboration: Ways to Work Effectively with Co-Teachers

Explore the benefits of co-teaching models - differentiated instruction, diverse styles, & richer learning. Discover how to foster communication, respect, & a shared passion for a thriving childcare environment!

Dramatic Play Benefits and Setting Boundaries In Early Education

Unleash imagination, language & social skills through pretend play. Learn how gentle boundaries keep the learning alive & create a thriving dramatic play space for children in your program!

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Trends in Early Childhood Education

Explore top trends shaping early childhood education - a shift towards holistic learning, social-emotional well-being, and a love for exploration. Learn how to integrate these trends and create a stimulating environment for the children in your care!

TK staffing ratios are often unmet, teachers say; why some districts escape fines

This is the second in a series of stories on how inadequate staffing may be impeding California’s efforts to offer high-quality instruction to all 4-year-olds by 2025.

Breaking Down the Stigma: Dispelling Myths About Childcare

Unveiling the truth about high-quality childcare & its benefits for children, families, and aspiring caregivers in California. Celebrate the positive impact of early childhood education!

Beyond Babysitting: Addressing Parental Concerns in Early Childhood Education

Build strong parent relationships & foster a thriving learning environment. Learn tips & tricks for effective communication & collaboration with parents in your California childcare program!

Retaining Your Best: Why Offering On-Site Childcare Benefits Your Childcare Program (and Your Teachers)

Discover how an on-site childcare benefit attracts top teachers, reduces turnover, and fosters program stability for a thriving childcare environment!

Beyond the Lesson Plan: Cultivating Reflective Practice for Early Childhood Educators

Unleash the power of reflective practice. Learn how self-analysis & a growth mindset can transform your teaching & create a thriving learning environment for all children. This post equips California early childhood educators with powerful tools for improvement.

More companies offer on-site child care. Parents love the convenience, but is it a long-term fix?

LAS VEGAS (AP) — They operate in places like an airport, a resort, and a distribution center, tucked away from the public eye but close enough for easy access. They often emit laughter — and the sound of tumbling blocks, bouncing balls, and meandering tricycles.

Beyond Tuition: Unveiling Grant Opportunities and Funding Resources for California Childcare Providers

Unlock Your Program's Potential! Expand capacity, enhance quality, and serve more children! Explore childcare funding resources in California and gain the knowledge to navigate this valuable support system.

Pink Eye 101

“Pink eye” is not a technical term. In fact, today’s topic is conjunctivitis, which translates to “inflammation of the conjunctiva.” The conjunctiva is the membrane under your eyelid and that covers the eye surface.

Building Strong Bonds: Essential Questions to Ask Parents About Their Child's Needs

Build strong parent relationships from the start. Learn how to ask thoughtful questions & gather key information during intake meetings to personalize care and create a successful childcare experience.

The Restaurant World Still Has a Child Care Problem

When Lisa Baptiste worked as a restaurant host, it was a constant puzzle finding someone to watch her 6-year-old Kennard. From Wednesday to Sunday, she’d be at the Brooklyn restaurant Beso, which serves a mix of Caribbean and American comfort food, until closing, sometimes as late as 3 a.m.

Building a Thriving Learning Environment: A Guide for Evaluating Your Childcare Curriculum

Learn key elements of a high-quality curriculum & explore strategies to evaluate its effectiveness in your program! This post equips aspiring childcare providers with the tools for success.

Keeping it Fresh: Recognizing It's Time to Revisit Your Childcare Curriculum

Is your curriculum outdated? Learn how to recognize signs it's time to refresh your ECE program's curriculum & ensure it meets the evolving needs of the children in your care!

Teacher-Authored Curriculum vs. Pre-Made Programs in Early Childhood Education

Explore the pros & cons of teacher-authored & pre-made models to find the best fit for your early childhood education (ECE) program!

Microchip Companies Need Federal Grant Money. They’re Rolling Out Child Care to Get It.

Last year, the Department of Commerce announced a historic first: Companies applying for a federal grant program had to provide a plan for offering child care to their workers.

How child care access changes who runs for office

Like many working parents, Hawaii Democratic State House Rep. Jeanné Kapela is struggling to afford child care as a new mom to a baby girl. “If I was to put her in infant care, it would cost me $3,000 a month. That’s more than my paycheck,” Kapela says. “So it's really just not possible.

How Directors Can Support Teachers with Daily Reports in California Childcare Programs

Streamline Daily Reports! ⏰ Empower your teachers & improve communication with parents. Discover strategies to make daily reporting efficient, collaborative, and less time-consuming!

LAUSD parents and teachers in uproar over timed academic testing for 4-year-olds

This month in her transitional kindergarten class at L.A. Unified, student Maria Arriaga will be timed to see how many uppercase and lowercase letters she can name in a minute.

The child care cliff that wasn’t

We don’t need apocalyptic economic predictions to advocate for better family policy. “The writing is on the wall right now, in big, bold letters: the child care crisis is only going to get worse unless we take action — and soon!” said Democratic Sen.

Congress is sending families less help for day care costs. So states are stepping in

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Across the country, the story for families is virtually the same: Child care is unaffordable for many, hard to find for those who can pay, and financially precarious for day care operators and their employees.

The Art of Early Education: Cultivating Effective Teaching Practices in California

California childcare providers, learn key teaching practices to nurture young minds. This post equips you with the tools to create a stimulating environment and become a fantastic educator.

How to Choose the Right Observation Methods for Your Childcare Program

Discover how to go beyond playtime - explore effective observation strategies for California childcare providers! Learn to tailor learning and nurture each child's unique development.

71% of parents are ‘constantly’ thinking about childcare gaps, survey finds

Parental burnout is real, and there are lots of factors that can contribute to it, from carrying the mental load to learning how to regulate your own emotions while teaching your kids to regulate theirs. But perhaps one of the largest contributors is access to child care.

Mothers cannot work without child care, so why aren't more companies helping?

Most of us are lousy multitaskers. When we try to do two things simultaneously, studies show, we fall short on one or the other, or both. This is especially true for working parents who must multitask daily to make sure their kids and their careers are thriving.

Striking a Balance: Examining the Pros and Cons of Screen Time for Young Children

How much is too much? Balance learning with healthy development. Explore pros & cons of screen time for young children.

From Parallel Play to Sharing Space: Exploring the Wonders of Associative Play

Learn about associative play, where social interaction blossoms. Discover tips to create a space that sparks social-emotional development.

Streamlining Your Finances: Selecting the Perfect Payment Processing Software for Your California Childcare Business

Save time & money! Learn key factors to consider when choosing payment processing software for smooth tuition collection & a thriving childcare business.

Beyond the ABCs: Essential Tools and Tricks for Thriving Daycare Providers

CA daycare dreams? This guide equips aspiring providers with essential skills for classroom management, engaging activities & building positive relationships with young minds.

Unleash the Learning Power of Nature: Stress-Free Tips to Creating an Outdoor Classroom

Make learning an adventure! This guide unlocks stress-free tips for creating a thriving outdoor classroom & sparking a love for learning in young minds.

Beyond Stereotypes: Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Childcare

Celebrate diversity! Learn to create inclusive classrooms that honor unique cultures & backgrounds for a thriving learning environment.

Unlocking The Potential: How Taxes Can Boost Compensation For Child Care Providers

Gary Romano, CEO, Civitas Strategies, has personally advised thousands of small businesses. Child care is a vital sector for our economy, employing almost half a million owners and caregivers, forecasted to increase by 1.3% annually.

Keeping Cool and Safe: Hydration Tips and Tricks for Early Childhood Care Programs in Summer

Dehydration can lead to a range of health concerns, from fatigue and irritability to heatstroke, making it a top priority for childcare providers to ensure children stay hydrated throughout the day.

Anxious California teachers with pink slips await word on jobs next school year

Second-grade teacher Jacob Willis has worked in the San Diego Unified School District in different roles since he graduated from high school in 2016. Now, he is one of hundreds of California teachers waiting to see if they will still have a job when campuses reopen next school year.

Communication and Collaboration with Parents on Food Allergies in Childcare

Learn how to partner with parents to create a welcoming & inclusive environment for children with allergies.

Fueling Young Minds and Bodies: Healthy Snack Ideas for Busy Days in Childcare

Fuel young minds & bodies! Learn how to create healthy, manageable snack routines that keep kids energized throughout the day.

Fun Activities to Develop Gross Motor Skills in Young Children

Playtime builds healthy futures! Learn how to develop gross motor skills & boost cognitive development through fun activities for young minds.

Building the Foundation: Understanding Brain Development in Early Childhood

Brains grow fastest in the early years. Learn how to create enriching experiences for young minds during this critical window.

Supporting Children Through Harsh Times: Tips for Childcare Providers

CA childcare providers: Be a haven for kids! Learn to spot stress & trauma, create a safe space, & support children facing challenges at home.

Advocating for Quality Childcare: Making Your Voice Heard

CA childcare: More than just care! See how it benefits children, families, & society. Learn to advocate for quality care & make a real difference!

California’s Care Workforce

California’s care sector is at a critical juncture. The state recently developed master plans to address the needs of its aging population and provide more comprehensive early childhood learning and care.

Universal prekindergarten is coming to California — bumpy rollout and all

OAKLAND, Calif. — Teacher Yasmin Kudrolli sat on a low chair and lit a candle to start the morning meeting in her prekindergarten classroom in Oakland. Speaking quietly to her 4-year-old students, she picked one boy from the group to count his classmates: 22.

The Power of Knowledge: Why Professional Development and Teaching Permits Matter for California Childcare Providers

Stay ahead! Learn how ongoing education & teaching permits unlock career growth & ensure top-notch care for children.

Building a Rewarding Career in Childcare: Tips for Success and Avoiding Burnout

Magic & mayhem! CA childcare offers purpose & challenges. Learn how to build a fulfilling career & prevent burnout working with young minds.

Supporting Working Parents: Resources and Strategies for Child Care Providers in California

CA's working parents need childcare! Learn how providers can support families & nurture children's development in a thriving childcare program.

Streamlining Success: Tech Tools to Simplify Record-Keeping and Communication in Childcare Centers

CA childcare overwhelmed by paperwork? Childcare management software saves time, reduces errors, and lets you focus on the kids!

States are required to background check child care workers. Many are falling short.

More than a decade ago, Celia Sims sat in a room with parents whose precious children had died while at day care. Most had been neglected by their caregivers. Some died from injuries, others in their sleep.

Harnessing the Power of Social Media: Marketing Your Childcare Program

Attract CA parents with social media! Learn to stand out & build a thriving childcare community.

The Power of Play: Unstructured Play and Its Importance in Early Development

Unleash the Power of Play in Your California Childcare Program! Go beyond structured activities. Discover how unstructured play fosters imagination, social skills, and development in a fun and engaging way!

Summer Fun Under the Sun: Tips for Early Childhood Directors to Help Teachers Plan Engaging Activities

Transform your program with engaging outdoor activities. Discover tips for planning, supporting teachers, and creating a summer curriculum that balances learning with the joy of play!

Smooth Sailing Transitions: Strategies to Help Children Adjust to New Routines

Aspiring California providers, learn how to support young children through changes, reducing stress & fostering social-emotional development. Create a positive learning environment where all children feel secure & ready to explore!

Mother's Day Magic: Crafting Memories That Last in Early Education

Mother's Day in early education isn't just about macaroni necklaces and construction paper cards. It's a cherished opportunity to celebrate the incredible mothers and caregivers in our children's lives while fostering positive parent-child relationships. But how can we move beyond the routine

Advocating for Your Childcare Center: Building Strong Relationships with Local Policymakers

Become a Champion for California's Childcare System! High-quality childcare benefits children, families, and the economy. This post explores challenges and how aspiring providers can advocate for a strong system, including building relationships with policymakers.

Creating a Safe and Secure Environment for Children in Your Childcare Center

Keep children safe & happy in your childcare setting! Learn how to create a secure & nurturing environment as a new childcare provider in California. Understand state regulations & essential safety measures to ensure children thrive under your care.

Half of new state spending on preschool was backed by COVID aid last year, new report finds

Sign up for Chalkbeat’s free weekly newsletter to keep up with how education is changing across the U.S. After preschool enrollment took a nosedive during the pandemic, a new report offers some encouraging news.

New bipartisan bill seeks to tackle national child care shortage with help from the Pentagon

WASHINGTON — As the country faces a shrinking supply of child care workers and higher costs of care, a bipartisan duo of senators is taking steps to address the shortage, specifically targeted at helping service members who face unique challenges trying to access reliable child care. Sens.

Positive Discipline Techniques for Childcare Settings

Build happy, confident learners! Positive discipline fosters strong relationships & teaches social-emotional skills in childcare. This approach aligns with social-emotional learning (SEL) for positive interactions & empowered children.

Keeping Up-to-Date on Childcare Regulations: A Tips for Aspiring Providers

Launching a childcare business in California? This guide simplifies complex regulations, equipping you with the knowledge and resources to stay compliant and ensure children's safety.

Supporting Social-Emotional Learning for Emotionally Sensitive Little Ones

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is key for all children, but especially important for those with high emotional sensitivity. Learn how childcare providers can nurture their social-emotional well-being.

US military to expand universal pre-K at dozens more bases this fall

Leila Rojas loves school. Since she became one of the first 4-year-olds enrolled in the Defense Department’s free universal preschool program, which launched last year at M.C.

Engaging Earth Day Activities for Young Learners

Explore California's diverse ecosystems and celebrate Earth Day all year round with fun, educational activities that empower young minds to become responsible environmental stewards.

Working Warriors: Finding Quality Childcare for Early Childhood Educators

Daycare dilemma for daycare providers? You're not alone! Long hours, low pay make finding childcare tough. Conquer it with these strategies & secure quality, affordable care for your little ones.

How Employer-Funded Child Care Can Work

Providing child care for employees may not seem like a savvy business choice, but some companies swear by it. WSJ’s explores the different approaches – and the benefits – at businesses both large and small.

For families that need the most help, child care costs are about to drop

For more than a decade, Erin Farias has watched the low-income families who send children to the day cares she runs navigate America’s broken child care system.

Small businesses like restaurants and cafés are now offering childcare to prevent employee turnover

It's no secret parents in the United States are struggling to find, afford, and retain childcare services. Parents in some states are spending an average of $10,000 annually to send their kids to a childcare center or day care, Business Insider previously reported.

Dive Deep: Unleashing Your Inner Ocean Explorer with California's Marine Wonders!

Turn your space into an underwater adventure & ignite your child's love for the ocean! Easy tips for creating an immersive experience that sparks curiosity & makes them fearless ocean explorers!

Let's Go Camping! Bringing Natural Wonders to Early Education Programs

Unleash the explorer in your child! Discover the magic of California's nature-based preschools & kindergartens. From redwoods to beaches, explore how California's diverse landscapes nurture curious minds.

Does access to childcare help stabilize the workforce?

A new study found nearly $18 in benefits for every $1 spent on support for employees with children. Based on interviews with parents and a survey of 304 people, the study shows benefits for employers and caregivers alike.

Appropriations Bill Provides Unprecedented Child Care Funding

ARLINGTON, VA, March 21, 2024 – Congressional leaders today unveiled legislation to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year.

$1.2T funding bill includes IRS cuts, boost for child care in race to avoid shutdown

March 21 (UPI) -- Congressional leaders early Thursday unveiled the text of a $1.2 trillion government funding deal to prevent a government shutdown this weekend.

Investing in Child Care Offers a Rare Glimpse of Cross-Partisan Agreement

These days, it’s hard to find almost anything people agree on anymore. Fox News or MSNBC? Is a hot dog considered a sandwich? Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce be engaged by summer?

Recent Study: There’s a Strong ROI for Employers That Support Parents

Business leaders looking to boost their return on investment might do well to look at one area that’s a good bet: child care. A recent study, conducted by Vivvi and The Fifth Trimester, found nearly $18 in benefits for every $1 organizations spent on support for employees with children.

Spring Cleaning the Classroom: Tips for Organizing & Streamlining The Experience

Say goodbye to clutter! Discover organization hacks & routines for a vibrant spring clean that boosts learning & ignites joy in your CA kindergarten.

Planting Seeds for Summer Fun: Budgeting for Field Trips & Activities in California

Sunshine & sprinklers are just the beginning! Discover unique field trips & activities that spark curiosity & weave lasting memories.

Recharging for Spring: Self-Care Strategies for California Directors

California spring blooms with challenges, but you're not alone! Find your support network & discover valuable tips to overcome spring stress and blossom in your leadership role.

Play, Not Pressure: Navigating Homework Expectations in Early Education

Unite parents & teachers! This guide offers practical strategies & resources for a vibrant early learning environment built on playful exploration, not homework battles.

Conquering the Deep Clean: A Guide for Childcare Providers

Cleaning in CA can be a breeze with the right team! Discover collaborative deep-cleaning strategies for your childcare program, building a sparkling haven where happy kids & a joyful team thrive.

The Art of Letting Go: Foster Independence & Confidence in Your Childcare Classroom

Discover how "letting go" fosters independence and joy in your childcare program, from sandcastles to shoe laces. Tips & tricks for nurturing confident little learners who shine!

The new kids on campus? Toddlers, courtesy of Head Start

San Antonio College has a whole building designed for pupils who are much younger than the typical college student.

Engaging Young Minds and Fostering Responsibility With Classroom Job Ideas

For little hands and big hearts, preschool classroom jobs aren't just tasks; they're superpowers for growing independence, teamwork, and making their classroom world a happier place.

From Juggling Toddlers to Taming the Waitlist: The Art of Childcare Enrollment

Help frazzled fellow childcare providers tame the waitlist beast with this post packed with organization tips and effective strategies for building trust and smooth enrollment processes with families seeking care for their little ones

Shine in 2024: Craft Your Perfect Childcare Worker Job Description

Attract top talent in today's competitive market! Discover tips for crafting a 2024 childcare job posting that sparks passion, ignites interest, and lands you the perfect hire.

Biden to push for return of expanded child tax credit in State of the Union speech

by Ariana Figueroa, Arizona Mirror WASHINGTON —  Top White House economic officials said Tuesday that President Joe Biden will announce how his administration is tackling economic issues — from the housing crisis to restoring the expansion of the child tax credit — during this week’s State

Navigating the Golden State: Launching Your Childcare Dream in California

California dreams start with early childhood education! Unravel the intricacies of running a childcare program in this diverse state, equipping yourself for success.

Practical Ways to Sprinkle Positive Reinforcement in Your Classroom

Beyond beaches, California's heart beats with the laughter of diverse learners. Discover how childcare programs weave sun-soaked encouragement, building lifelong confidence and joy.

Bounce Back: Managing Equipment Costs in Childcare Centers

Keep play spaces stocked & budget-balanced! Discover how depreciation & write-offs empower your childcare center.

Cultivating Excellence: How Preschool Teacher Evaluation Forms Can Fuel Professional Growth

Preschool fuels lifelong learning, but teachers need support too! Discover how evaluations nurture staff & young minds.

When to Call in the Cavalry: Deciding When to Hire a Cleaning Crew for Your Early Education Program

Glitter, slime, & oh, the diapers! Conquer the Early Ed mess with cleaning hacks for a healthy, happy classroom.

Spark Creativity, Ignite Wonder: Unleashing the Power of Loose Parts Play in Preschool

Transform Your Classroom! Fuel Imagination & Problem-Solving with Loose Parts Play. Discover practical tips to turn everyday objects into spaceships, castles, & endless possibilities!

VP Kamala Harris announces landmark legislation that will lower childcare costs for 100,000 families

Childcare costs continue to surge nationwide, disproportionately affecting low-income families and caregivers for foster children and those with disabilities and other special needs.

ED and HHS Urge States to Make Headway on Mixed Delivery Preschool

Earlier this week, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released a joint Dear Colleague letter urging leaders to work with local education agencies (LEAs) and early childhood partners to serve more children in preschool through a mixed-delivery approach.

Tips for a Smooth Graduation: Making a Lasting Impression

Gain strategies and valuable tips to ensure your graduation event is seamless and leaves a lasting impression on your young graduates and their families.

Crafting a Successful Fundraiser for Your Childcare Center

Fundraising Fun for Future Brights! Spark joy, build community, and grow your childcare center with our fundraising guide.

Taming the Tech Tantrum: Cultivating Balanced Tech Habits for Growing Explorers

Even toddlers can get caught in the screen trap in our tech-driven world. But it's not all doom and gloom! This guide equips parents with practical strategies for setting healthy digital boundaries that promote growth, imagination, and real-world connections for their little ones.

Joy and Learning: Crafting Engaging Lesson Plans for Infants and Toddlers

Ditch boring routines! Ignite exploration & learning with creative lesson plans for your little adventurers.

Crafting a Clear and Comprehensive Daycare Sick Policy for 2024

Ensuring a happy, healthy daycare environment comes down to a clear and effective sick policy. Get tips on crafting a plan that keeps everyone safe and smiling!

Expanding Horizons: Unconventional Careers that Inspire Young Learners

Ignite preschooler curiosity with UNEXPECTED careers! Broaden horizons, spark passions, explore beyond the usual suspects. Join our journey into the wild world of work!

March Madness: Navigating Spring Break Schedules & Costs for California Families

With a little planning and these helpful tips, you can slam dunk that spring break and score a season of unforgettable memories.

Bridging the Gap: Building Stronger Preschool Relationships with Communication

Build stronger bonds with teachers & parents using powerful communication apps in a preschool's whirlwind.

Taming the Receipt Tsunami: A Guide to Tax Savvy for California Childcare Directors

Calling CA childcare directors! Master receipts, maximize write-offs! Tame the paperwork beast & unleash tax superhero skills with this ultimate guide.

From Scribbles to Stories: Navigating the Wonderfully Messy Path of Early Childhood Writing

Navigate the messy magic of early childhood writing! This post will help you through scribbles to stories, offering practical tips & celebrating the journey.

California's Early Childhood Education System: What Parents Need to Know

Confused by California's Early Childhood Ed maze? Unravel the secrets & empower your child! Find programs, tips & resources right here!

Funding Frontiers: Exploring Innovative Funding Models for California Childcare Programs

Forget stale budgets! California childcare pioneers innovative funding models, from partnerships to tech-driven tools. Empower families, embrace data, & rewrite the narrative for a thriving early childhood landscape.

Celebrating Cultural Tapestry: Weaving Inclusion into Every Thread of Your Day

Daily celebration vs. appropriation! Weave rich cultural tapestry with respect & inclusion. Let every thread shine, avoid missteps & build vibrant connections.

Mindful Moments: Nurturing Calm and Connection in Your Childcare Center

Transform your childcare center into a mindful oasis! Integrate playful practices, build calm communities, & reap the rewards of awareness. Nurture happy hearts, focused minds, & strong bonds.

Beyond the Bulletin Board: Amplifying Voices in California Childcare Communities

California childcare communities embrace creative communication. Apps, murals, family nights - engage diverse voices, build bridges, & amplify stories.

Unveiling Excellence: Effective Strategies for Assessing Teacher Performance in Your Childcare Center

Assess teachers beyond paper! Deepen insights, celebrate strengths, and tailor support. Nurture excellence, not anxiety. Build a thriving childcare community where every teacher shines.

The Art of Observation: Seeing Beyond the Bubbles in Your Childcare Center

Master the art of observation in your childcare center. Enhance learning, personalize lessons, & celebrate progress. See every child's unique story unfold.

Building a Legacy: Childcare Directors as Architects of Teacher Excellence

Directors: Shape teacher excellence! Empower, mentor, & foster collaboration. Build a legacy of happy teachers & thriving students.

New: Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Child Care Tax Incentives Introduced

The New PACE Act: Today, U.S. House Reps.

Building a Village: Strong Roots for Happy Sprouts in Your Childcare Center

Plant trust, nurture communication, & cultivate community! Build strong parent-childcare partnerships for happy sprouts & thriving villages.

Early Childhood Education: Embracing Innovation, Shaping Tomorrow

Early childhood education bursts into a new era! Unleash potential with tech, build bridges of understanding, & nurture eco-heroes. Innovation shapes tomorrow, one young mind at a time.

Chavez-DeRemer, colleagues introduce bill to address child care workforce shortage

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) joined Reps. Annie Kuster (NH-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Mike Lawler (NY-17) to introduce bipartisan legislation Wednesday that aims to address the child care workforce shortage.

Data-Driven Decisions: Cultivating Thriving Childcare Gardens with Analytics

Bloom brighter with data! Cultivate thriving childcare centers using analytics for personalized learning, early support, & financial strength.

Storytime Under the Sun: Bringing Books to Life with Outdoor Reading Adventures

Swap stuffy classrooms for vibrant nature! Bring books to life with outdoor reading adventures for all ages. From tiny bookworms to literary explorers, ignite a love for stories & nature under the sun!

Parents Would Get Up to $8,000 Under New Democratic Bill

In a move to support American families grappling with the surging costs of child care, Democratic Senators Bob Casey, Patty Murray and Ron Wyden have introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2024.

From Sandbox Socializing to Treetop Teamwork: Tailoring Outdoor Gatherings for Tiny Buds

Ditch the walls, and embrace the outdoors! From picnics to treetop teamwork, nurture social skills & community in tiny seeds to blooming kindergartners. All ages thrive under the open sky!

The Great Playground Cleanup: Cultivating Environmental Stewardship Through Playful Action

Tiny eco-warriors unite! From infants to kindergartners, turn cleaning into an epic playground adventure. Sort, recycle, create! Nurture environmental stewards through playful action.

Inspiration on Harnessing the Power of Music and Movement for Springtime Fun

Music & movement ignite imagination & early learning. Bounce like bunnies, sway like flowers, sing silly rhymes as nature's music takes flight!

Ways to Transforming Early Ed Classrooms into Butterfly Havens

Transform classrooms into vibrant butterfly havens for infants to 5-year-olds, sparking environmental awareness & a love for nature!

Beyond Bikes & Balls: Essentials for Unstructured Outdoor Play

Ditch screens, chase rainbows! Embrace outdoor play's magic. Little explorers dance with raindrops, build mud castles, & soar on wings of imagination. Unplug & reconnect with nature's joy!

Glorious Mud! Embracing the Science of Messy Mayhem for Sensory Learning

Let tiny toes paint the canvas of muddy landscapes, where giggles become raindrops and laughter fills the air like chirping frogs. Check out how to embrace mud, each gooey masterpiece and the testament to a memory sculpted in joy.

Essential Toolkit for Childcare Providers: How a 504 Plan Works in Childcare

Embracing 504 plans in childcare enriches everyone. Learn how these personalized roadmaps empower children with disabilities & create a vibrant, inclusive garden for all. Discover resources & tips for a flourishing program!

From Crawlers to Climbers: Supporting Gross Motor Development

Celebrate movement & ignite fun with Crawlers to Climbers! Watch tiny toes conquer stairs, build pillow mountains, & dance like stars!

Storytime Under the Stars: Embracing Cozy Days with Flashlight Storytelling and More

Unplug & spark imaginations with Storytime Under the Stars. Weave shadows into creatures, let flashlights paint stories, & build a bedtime fortress beneath the cosmos. Find interactive activities, cosmic crafts, & tips for a magical night adventure!

Tiny Hearts, Big Transitions: Navigating Separation Anxiety and Building Resilience

Tiny tears & big goodbyes? Embrace separation anxiety as a stepping stone to resilience! Build confidence, navigate transitions, & celebrate victories. Discover resources, playful tips, & support for growing hearts on their brave journey.

One thing that Republicans and Democrats agree on about the economy? The cost of raising kids.

Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed that “being a parent today is financially harder than ever before,” according to a recent survey published by Common Sense Media, a children’s-advocacy group. There was “intense” agreement on that statement even across party lines, the survey said.

Beyond Busy Schedules: Cultivating Calm and Nurturing Rest in Whirlwind Worlds

Beyond busy schedules, find magic in stillness! ‍Cultivate calm & nurture rest for growing minds with fun activities. Refuel creativity, build resilience, & embrace quiet moments. From cozy reading time to mindful spa retreats, discover playful ways to prioritize rest!

Childcare costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday evening to assist low-income families through an expansion of the child tax credit and the bill now awaits approval in the Senate.

Employers are desperate to hold onto working parents and they’re building more childcare centers in the office

The U.S. is in the midst of an ongoing childcare crisis as costs continue to skyrocket. Many working parents, especially mothers, face pressure to leave the workforce or scale back to part-time positions to take care of their family.

Tiny Chefs, Big Flavors: Whipping Up Learning and Fun in the Classroom Kitchen

Unleash tiny chefs in your classroom! ‍ Whip up learning & fun with playful kitchen adventures. Discover sensory feasts, math made yummy, & teamwork in action. ‍‍ From language labs to confidence boosters, cook up delicious recipes & big smiles!

Beyond Valentine's Day Hearts: Cultivating Kindness and Empathy in Tiny Humans

Forget the candy hearts and plant real magic! Cultivate kindness & empathy in your classroom beyond Valentine's Day. Discover joyful ways to nurture compassion, celebrate acts of service, & build a generation of tiny human heroes. Let kindness bloom, one smile, one helping hand, at a time!

Art Attack! Unleashing the Messy Magic of Creative Explosions

Messy magic brewing! Embrace the Art Attack - let kids explore, express, & build confidence through glorious chaos! Find sensory symphonies, imagination takeoffs, & emotional outpourings in finger paints & squiggly lines. Bonus resources to fuel the fun!

Funding Your Childcare Center in California: A Guide for 2024

Scale CA's childcare funding peaks in 2024! ️ This comprehensive guide equips you with grants, contracts, & hidden funding trails. Build a solid foundation, explore diverse options, & network with your climbing buddies. Climb for thriving centers & bright futures!

Teaching and Talking About Race and Racism in Early Education: Resources and Tips

Learn essential tips & resources to talk about race & racism in early education. Start early, nurture empathy, address bias, & empower young minds to be champions of diversity & respect. Bloom a garden of acceptance - one conversation at a time!

Sleep Strategies for Success: Building a Nighttime Ritual for Restful Zzz's

Unleash restful Zzz's with these sleep strategies for early childhood. Discover consistency tips, calming activities, cozy havens, & playful routines. Ditch the screens, embrace connection & say goodbye to tired mornings! Sweet dreams for all await!

Bill would reduce cost of child care through tax credits

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens.

Nurturing Every Bloom: Applying IDEA Principles in Early Education

Unlock every child's potential! Early Ed educators, discover how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) empowers you to nurture ALL little minds. Learn inclusivity tips, celebrate diverse talents, & embrace collaboration. Resources & advocacy tools included! Bloom beyond limitations!

The Long Game: Investing in Early Childhood Education for Lifelong Impact

Invest in childhood, reap a lifetime! Early education isn't just cute giggles - it builds brains, fosters well-being, breaks cycles of poverty, and creates a stronger society. Resources & action steps included! #earlychildhood #impact #brightfuture

Independent Play: Cultivating Self-Sufficiency and Confidence

Unplug & unlock the superpower of independent play! Discover how solo exploration cultivates self-sufficiency & confidence in young minds. Learn the key elements, overcome hesitations, & celebrate the messy magic. Unleash the inner adventurer in your child!

The Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries with Confidence in Early Education

Early ed chaos got you saying "yes" to everything? Master the art of confident 'no' for happy, independent learners! Discover why, how, & when. Say no to building a space where everyone thrives!

IN CONTEXT: Child Care Costs Surpass Other Major Family Expenses

We’ve all heard that families with young children in the United States today are struggling to afford child care. Now we know just how tough it really is. According to a new report from Care.

From Playpen to Playground: Crafting the Ideal Early Learning Environment

As early childhood educators, designing this early learning environment becomes our artistic masterpiece, a space that sparks curiosity, ignites learning, and nurtures little minds and bodies in bloom.

Building Resilience: Nurturing Emotional Intelligence in Little Ones

Within each tiny adventurer lies a hidden treasure: the seeds of emotional intelligence and resilience. As early childhood educators, we are vital to tending these seeds, ensuring they blossom into vibrant tools for navigating life's inevitable journey.

How Campaign Funding For Childcare Is Helping More Parents Than Ever Run For Office

As the drumbeat for more funding for childcare increases across the public and private sectors, a new report sheds light on how crucial this funding can be in getting a more representative government.

Recent Revenues Coming in Below Governor's Budget Projections

Administration Projects Personal Income Tax (PIT) Revenue to Increase 12 Percent in Current Year. The 2024-25 Governor's budget projects that PIT revenue will grow 12 percent this year, from $101.7 billion in 2022-23 to $113.8 billion in 2023-24.

From Montessori to Waldorf: Unveiling the Educational Labyrinth

Lost in the educational labyrinth? California childcare providers fear not! This post navigates the choppy waters of Montessori, Waldorf, and beyond, equipping you with the knowledge and resources to chart your course toward nurturing every child's unique brilliance.

Here are two child credits parents can take advantage of this tax season

The cost to raise a child has become expensive for parents in the U.S. As tax season approaches, it's smart to pay attention to tax breaks related to children and care expenses. Costs for child care have increased significantly due to inflation.

Listening to America – The Childcare Cliff

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The nation is in the midst of a childcare crisis. Without pandemic related relief funds, preschools and daycares will have to hike prices or lower teacher pay to stay afloat.

How to Prepare a Child for Starting Childcare

It can be difficult for parents to let go of their children and trust that they will be well-cared for.

Building Safe Havens: Cultivating Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Classrooms

In the nurturing world of early childhood education, creating a trauma-informed classroom becomes an essential mission, a safe haven where healing can begin and every child can thrive.

The Child Tax Credit deal is great, but it’s not a solution to the childcare crisis

Childcare expert Elliot Haspel argues that while the deal is to be applauded, it’s important that policymakers and the public understand that child tax credits are not a childcare policy, and this deal does nothing to change the need for major Congressional action on childcare.

Unveiling the Magic of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

As aspiring childcare providers, embracing DAP isn't just about following guidelines; it's about crafting environments that nurture the whole child, fostering their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth in a way that feels natural and inspiring.

Celebrating Cultures and Cultivating Inclusivity in Childcare

Let's embark on a journey of bridge-building, weaving cultural celebrations and inclusivity into the very fabric of childcare, crafting a welcoming space where every child feels seen, valued, and celebrated.

Understanding and Supporting 504 Plans in Your Early Childhood Setting

In every vibrant classroom, there's a kaleidoscope of learners, each with unique strengths and needs. Some children may require additional support to access and thrive in a general education setting.

Unlocking Curiosity: Crafting Captivating Lesson Plans for Toddlers

By understanding the unique needs and learning styles of our tiny charges, we can craft experiences that ignite their imaginations, fuel their development, and make lesson planning a joyful adventure.

Cracking the Code: Unveiling the Power of Phonemic Awareness

Imagine a world where words aren't just strings of letters but vibrant tapestries woven from tiny, shimmering sounds. This is the world of phonemic awareness, a foundational skill that unlocks the magic of reading and writing.

New data shows child care providers continue to struggle

New data from the state shows despite recent investments in the child care industry, many providers are getting by without a salary or benefits.

Are Preschools as Segregated as the Rest of American Life?

Sociologist Casey Stockstill spent two years observing “all the richness happening” inside a Head Start preschool in Madison, Wisconsin. Then, she figured, she ought to look at one other early learning program, for good measure. The Madison preschools shared much in common.

OPINION: A hopeful note for early childhood education in 2024 — Some states are stepping up investment

Millions of families may now face a lack of child care following the recent expiration of pandemic-era federal funding. The child care “stabilization” funds included in the American Rescue Plan Act were just that — emergency funding to stabilize the sector amid a pandemic.

Mealtime Melodies: Harmonizing with Picky Eaters

We've all faced the frustrated frowns and plate-pushing battles. But before the stress violins take over, let's explore some gentle, harmonious tips to turn mealtime into a delightful duet, even with the most reluctant nibblers.

Do's and Don'ts of Lesson Plan Templates: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators

Lesson plan templates can be both a teacher's best friend and a creativity-stifling enemy. Used wisely, they offer structure and guidance, ensuring our preschoolers engage in enriching, developmentally appropriate activities.

Child care funding could be included in next farm bill - Marketplace

Sign up for the Marketplace newsletter to get the day’s biggest business stories, our economic analysis, and explainers to help you live smarter, straight to your inbox every weekday evening. Gracie and Cayden Viramontes are fourth-generation New Mexico farm kids.

Resolution Ready: Achieving Harmony Between Productivity and Quality Childcare

Balancing productivity and quality childcare is a juggling act worthy of a circus master. This year, let's ditch the guilt and embrace a resolution that celebrates both your professional goals and the precious moments with your little ones.

Financial Forecast 2024: Navigating the Changing Childcare Landscape

As we steer into 2024, the winds of change are swirling around the childcare landscape. Navigating these financial headwinds requires a clear map and a steady hand.

Reset and Recharge Your Early Childhood Program for a Thriving New Year

By optimizing your systems and processes, we lay the groundwork for a thriving year, enriching the lives of not just our little learners, but also our dedicated staff and families.

Introducing Safe Cutting with Scissors: A Guide for Nurturing Young Hands

Delve into the world of scissor skills, equipped with tips and strategies for guiding California's little artists towards confident snipping success.

Sharp Eyes and Bright Minds: Fun Visual Discrimination Activities

Beneath this playful surface lies a crucial cognitive skill – visual discrimination – the ability to perceive and understand differences between visual stimuli.

Strategies for Enhancing Kids' Well-Being During Sick Season

It can also disrupt their social and emotional well-being, posing challenges for childcare providers. As responsible caregivers, we play a crucial role in supporting children during this time, ensuring their emotional needs are met alongside their physical health.

Tiny Wonders, Big Learning: Unlocking the Secrets of Curriculum Planning for Infants

As aspiring childcare providers, it's our privilege to guide them on their journey, nurturing their development through thoughtfully crafted curriculum plans. So, let's embark on a voyage of discovery, exploring the secrets of crafting captivating lesson plans for our tiniest learners.

Why Parents Struggle So Much in the World’s Richest Country

Raising kids shouldn’t be this hard. Produced by ElevenLabs and NOA, News Over Audio, using AI narration.

Elliot’s Provocations: The Child Care Stakes for 2024’s Election Just Went Up

Elliot’s Provocations unpacks current events in the early learning world and explores how we can chart a path to a future where all children can flourish.

Creative Gardening Activities for Preschoolers and Keeping the Fun Growing

Imagine a world where the classroom walls dissolve, replaced by towering sunflowers and buzzing beehives. This, friends, is the magic of gardening with preschoolers.

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Cultivating Meaningful Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education

This year, let's ditch the isolation and ignite a beacon of sustainable family engagement, one that illuminates the entire learning journey.

Post-Pandemic Play: Reimagining Childcare and Social Development

As we reimagine childcare and social development in this golden state, let's embrace fresh perspectives and innovative approaches, crafting a brighter future for our little ones.

Exploring the Significance of Media for Childcare Services in California

While some people may worry about the negative effects of media on children, media can also be a powerful tool for learning and development.

Sibling Rivalry and How to Handle It

Sibling rivalry is the competition and conflict that can occur between siblings. It is a normal part of growing up, and it can happen in families of all sizes. Sibling rivalry can range from mild to severe, manifesting in various ways, such as fighting, arguing, and name-calling.

Work-Life Balance Reimagined: Juggling California Dreams and Quality Childcare

Time to ditch the juggling act! Let's design ways to seamlessly blend ambition at work with the irreplaceable connections at home.

Grants, Credits, and Savings: Navigating the Financial Aid Maze for Childcare in California

This guide illuminates the pathways to financial aid for childcare in the Golden State, empowering you to maximize resources and unlock a brighter future for your little ones.

Rebooting Behavior: Navigating Challenging Actions after Long School Breaks

Suddenly, the structured environment and consistent school expectations are replaced by unstructured playtime, looser schedules, and, sometimes, a surge of pent-up energy. This can lead to challenging behaviors, leaving parents and caregivers feeling frustrated and unsure how to respond.

Back-to-School Blues Be Gone! Embracing California Sunshine in the New Term

For aspiring childcare providers in California, this pivotal transition presents a beautiful opportunity to shine, becoming beacons of support for the little ones in your care.

Mindful Moments: Calming Winter Stress and Fostering Family Connection

This winter, let's break free from the stress and rediscover the true meaning of togetherness, one mindful breath at a time.

Say Goodbye to Licensing Stress: Embrace Clarity and Confidence

Navigating the intricate web of California childcare regulations can feel like a daunting task, leaving even experienced directors with questions and concerns.

Keeping Everyone Healthy: Crafting a Comprehensive Daycare Sick Policy

Embark on a journey of preventative planning, building a sick policy that promotes health, fosters open communication, and keeps everyone feeling safe and cared for.

California Childcare Maestro: Conducting Harmony with CQEL's Resource Library

Running a California childcare program is a beautiful symphony of laughter, learning, and nurturing young minds. But amidst the joyous harmonies, the occasional discordant note of administrative tasks can disrupt the rhythm.

From Isolation to Inspiration: Connect with California's Childcare Leaders

Running a California childcare program means wearing many hats – educator, nurturer, leader, and sometimes, lone wolf wrestling with complex challenges. But picture this: stepping into a virtual coffee break, nestled amongst California colleagues, where solutions simmer alongside steaming mugs.

California Childcare's HR Lifeline: Connect to Expert Support

Running a California childcare program is a symphony of laughter, learning, and nurturing tiny explorers. But amidst the joyous melodies, the occasional discordant note of HR complexities can disrupt the harmony.

New Year, Stronger Together: Building an Engaged Early Childhood Education Team

Let's embark on a collaborative quest to build a team that hums with shared passion and purpose, a team where every voice is valued and every contribution fuels a thriving year for all.

Double Down on Savings: CQEL Unlocks the California Childcare Advantage

Running a childcare program in California is a noble mission, but facing rising costs can feel like navigating a stormy financial sea. CQEL offers more than just regulatory guidance; we bring you treasure troves of savings to keep your program afloat and thriving.

Navigating the Regulatory Ocean: Licensing and Law Updates in California

Running a childcare program in California is a rewarding, yet ever-evolving adventure. While you're busy nurturing tiny explorers and igniting curious minds, the regulatory landscape around you is constantly shifting.

From Soup to Superstars: Boosting Immunity with Fun Winter Activities

Remember, laughter is the best medicine, and winter offers a treasure trove of opportunities to giggle, play, and build those tiny bodies into flu-fighting superstars!

Cabin Fever Games: Keeping Giggles Going When Stuck Inside

This blog post unlocks a treasure trove of indoor game ideas and practical guidance, ensuring your program thrives even when sunshine's scarce.

Beyond School Breaks: Unconventional Fun for Kids in January

This January, ditch the ordinary and ignite your little adventurers' imaginations with activities beyond the confines of traditional school breaks.

40 Years After ‘A Nation at Risk’: The Imperative for High-Quality Pre-K

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now. The 74 is partnering with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the ‘A Nation At Risk’ report.

Canada is promoting child care for $10 a day

Could it work in the US? A massive social policy experiment is unfolding in Canada to provide families throughout the country with child care for an average of $10 a day.

U.S. House Democrats and Advocates Push for Additional Federal Child Care Funding

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol.

End-of-Year Research Roundup: Three Economic Studies for Building a Better Child Care Sector

Recently, an unprecedented amount of attention has coalesced around the U.S. child care market.

New Study Provides More Evidence That Full-Day Preschool Benefits Children

When your child reaches age 3 or 4, you may start thinking about whether your child is ready to start preschool. You might wonder whether a full- or half-day is the best fit, or whether your little one may thrive better in preschool, daycare, or at home.

Tyson Foods invests in on-site child care for workers - Marketplace

It was story time at the Tyson Learning Center in Humboldt, Tennessee, and teacher Tequeria Pewitte was rounding everyone up.  “I need all my friends to have a seat on their bottoms, please,” Pewitte said. “Let me see you do crisscross applesauce.

Today's parents have to pay $3.4 million to fund the American Dream for themselves and their kids

It's more expensive than ever to achieve the key goals of the American Dream. On December 5, Investopedia released an analysis on the costs of ten key milestones Americans seek to achieve — and the grand total for those milestones comes to $3.4 million.

Why is child care so expensive when child care providers are paid so little? Let's do the math - Marketplace

Melissa Colagrosso and her husband have struggled to make a profit during the nearly three decades they’ve owned A Place To Grow Children’s Center in West Virginia. “We borrowed a lot of money.

How Businesses Can Support Working Mothers As They Return To The Office

Nearly four years after offices were abruptly shuttered and white-collar workers found themselves Zooming from their kitchen tables, an increasing number of companies are looking to ditch their flexible policies.

Why Early Childhood Education Is More Important Now Than Ever

By Dennis R. Maple American economic prosperity and competitiveness are inextricably linked to the success of early childhood education providers.

The 2023 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap Report Illuminates Conditions in Ohio and Around the Country

Vanderbilt University’s Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center (PN-3) just issued its annual State Policy Roadmap, exploring ways that the states (and D.C.) can improve conditions so infants and toddlers can thrive.

Do Child Care Solutions Stand a Chance in Congress?

This story was originally published by The 19th. In September, when billions of dollars in child care funding were about to expire, a Senate subcommittee convened to discuss solutions. It was there that Sen.

Many rural California communities are desperate for school construction money. Will a new bond measure offer enough help?

Small, rural districts often struggle to pass local bond measures to pay for school construction and repairs. In some cases, leaking roofs, dry rot and broken air conditioners haven’t been fixed in years. Lea este artículo en español.

What Degree Do You Need to Open a Daycare in California?

While not required, a degree in early childhood education can provide daycare providers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful. Early childhood education programs typically cover topics such as child development, curriculum planning, and classroom management.

Preschool Ages in California: What You Need to Know

In California, preschool is typically for children between the ages of 4 and 5. However, some center programs may accept children as young as 2 years old.

A Comprehensive Guide to Preschool Teacher Requirements in California

In order to become a preschool teacher in California, there are certain education, training, and background check requirements that must be met. This blog post will provide a comprehensive overview of all of the preschool teacher requirements in California.

Speech Delay in 2-Year-Olds: Everything Early Educator Directors Need to Know

Speech delay is a common developmental concern in early childhood. It is estimated that 3-5% of toddlers experience a speech delay.

Title 22 Regulations: A Guide for Early Childhood Program Directors in California

Aspiring childcare providers in California must have a thorough understanding of Title 22 regulations in order to operate a compliant program. This blog post will provide an overview of the key topics and subtopics that childcare program directors need to know about Title 22.

Common Title 22 Violations for Early Childhood Programs and How to Avoid Them

Title 22 compliance can be complex and challenging, but it is essential for all early childhood programs. By complying with Title 22 requirements, programs can help to ensure that children are safe and healthy and that they are receiving a high-quality early childhood education.

Understanding the Different Types of Licensing Fees for Early Childhood Programs in California

As an aspiring childcare provider in California, it is important to understand the different types of licensing fees that you will be required to pay.

New Federal Legislation Proposes Essential “Fix’ns” for Meals in Child Care Settings Bipartisanship May Make It Happen

This holiday season, while some Americans are enjoying a cornucopia of abundance, 44% of child care providers are struggling to afford at least one basic need like food, housing or utilities, and one in three is going hungry.

Six ideas to ease the early intervention staffing crisis

Eighty-seven percent of states lack enough speech language pathologists to reach all the infants and toddlers in need. Eighty-two percent suffer from physical therapist shortages.

Resources for Early Childhood Program Directors on Criminal Records

As an early childhood program director in California, you have a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of the children in your care. This includes...

The Business Case for Child Care Is the Community Case for Child Care

Employers are increasingly recognizing that child care support is vital to not only help businesses survive but also to help communities thrive. I was born in Custer, South Dakota, a 2,000-person town in the southern Black Hills.

Tips for Writing a Clear and Concise Early Educator Job Description

Writing a clear and concise early ed teacher job description is essential for attracting qualified candidates and ensuring a successful hiring process.

Professional Development for Teachers: How to Stay Up-to-Date

Why is professional development important for teachers? There are many reasons why professional development is important for teachers. Some of the key benefits of professional development include...

What It Takes to Be a Teacher: The Requirements, Rewards, and Challenges

Aspiring childcare providers in California should be aware of the requirements, rewards, and challenges of teaching in order to determine if it is the right career path for them.

Teacher Assistant Certification: A Win-Win for Directors and Teachers

Teacher assistant certification is a valuable asset for childcare directors and teachers alike. For directors, it can help to improve the quality of care provided, reduce staff turnover, and attract new families.

The Role of the Director in Supporting Teacher-Child Ratios

What role does the director play in supporting teacher-child ratios? As an aspiring childcare provider in California, you know that teacher-child ratios are essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of children in childcare programs.

Partnering with Parents: How Quality Early Childcare Centers Support Families

There are many different models of parent partnership in ECE, but all of them share the common goal of building strong relationships between ECE programs and families. Some common models of parent partnership include:

Financial Assistance for Childcare Providers in California

There are a number of financial assistance options available to help aspiring childcare providers in California meet the cost of their education and training.

Americans Want Federal Funding for Child Care

Commentary Care Economy Americans Want Federal Funding for Child Care November 03, 2023 In response to the urgency of the nation’s child care crisis—with federal child care stabilization funds expiring, creating a child care cliff putting at risk child care for millions of American families—P

Toddler Programs for Early Educator Directors in California

Early educator directors who are considering opening a toddler program in their center should be prepared for the unique challenges and rewards that come with working with this age group.

What Are CARE Tools and Why Are They Important for California Childcare Providers?

What CARE Tools Can Do for Childcare Providers? CARE Tools can help childcare providers in a number of ways, including...

We asked every member of Congress about child care policy. Only 5 Republicans answered.

In September, when billions of dollars in child care funding were about to expire, a Senate subcommittee convened to discuss solutions. It was there that Sen. John Kennedy laid out the partisan tension at the heart of what’s billed as a bipartisan issue.

Fixing Child Care: What We Can Learn From the Military

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Every community in the US has a K-12 school district. This same system doesn’t exist for our youngest children.

The Toddler Years: A Critical Time for Early Childhood Education

The toddler years, from 18 months to 3 years old, are a critical time for early childhood education. Toddlers are rapidly developing physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.

Child Care Requirements for Teachers and Directors in California: A Guide

Childcare providers who meet the required qualifications are better equipped to meet the needs of young children and help them reach their full potential.

12 ECE Units in California: A Guide to Creditable and Accessible Options

12 ECE units, or 12 Early Childhood Education units, are a set of coursework that is required for childcare providers in California to obtain a Child Development Permit (CCDP). The CCDP is a state-issued credential that allows childcare providers to work in licensed childcare centers and preschools.

The Future Workforce for Early Childhood Education in California

Early childhood education (ECE) is essential for preparing children for success in the future workforce. Research has shown that children who participate in high-quality ECE programs are more likely to succeed in school and in their careers.

Investing in California's Future: Resources for Aspiring Childcare Providers

Aspiring childcare providers play a vital role in investing in California's future by providing quality ECE.

The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development: Resources for Parents

Play helps children develop their cognitive skills, such as problem-solving and critical thinking. It also helps them develop their social and emotional skills, such as communication and cooperation.

Smart Strategies for Running a Cost-Effective Childcare Center in California

Running a childcare center can be expensive, especially in California. However, there are a number of creative and new ways to run a childcare center cost-effectively.

Best Ways to Navigating Licensing Complaints in California

It is important to navigate licensing complaints effectively to protect your childcare center and ensure that you provide high-quality care to children. By following the tips below, you can learn how to navigate licensing complaints effectively and minimize the impact on your business.

The Missing Piece For Mixed-Use Communities: Early Education And Child Care

Nick Koros is the Chief Development Officer for Primrose Schools, the franchise system and a leading provider of early education and care.

How to Teach and Talk About Bullying in Early Education

Bullying is a serious problem that can have a lasting impact on children, both physically and emotionally. It is important to start talking to children about bullying early on, so that they know what it is, how to identify it, and what to do if they are bullied or witness bullying.

Preventing the Spread of Flu in Your Childcare Center: Tips for the Fall Season

The flu season brings a wave of worry for childcare providers, as children are particularly susceptible to the virus. A childcare center's crowded and interactive environment can lead to the quick spread of the flu virus among children and staff.

How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Early Childhood Center

In order to be effective, social media for early childcare centers should have a presence on a variety of social media platforms.

Getting expelled from preschool is harmful for kids in the long run, AAP says

Too many families find themselves headed down the path of school expulsion—sometimes starting when their kids are very young.

Sibling Rivalry in Childcare Centers: A Comprehensive Guide for Providers

There are a number of things childcare providers can do to help children manage their sibling rivalry healthily.

Supporting Children of Separated Parents During the Holidays: A Guide

As a childcare provider, handling these situations with sensitivity and understanding is important.

Preventing the Spread of Flu in Your Childcare Center: Tips for the Fall Season

The flu season brings a wave of worry for childcare providers, as children are particularly susceptible to the virus. A childcare center's crowded and interactive environment can lead to the quick spread of the flu virus among children and staff.

Embracing Transformation: Essential Considerations for California Childcare Providers in 2024

This article will guide California childcare providers on key considerations for the coming year.

Nurturing Minds: Mental Health for Young Children

This article provides a comprehensive understanding and approach for childcare providers in California to foster early childhood mental health.

Supporting English Language Learners in Your Childcare Center

Armed with this information, childcare providers will be better equipped to facilitate a comfortable, engaging, and productive experience for all children.

Changes in Childcare Legislation: What California Providers Need to Know

For childcare providers in California, keeping up-to-date with legislative changes is of paramount importance to ensure legal compliance and optimal service provision.

Funding Childcare Dreams: An In-depth Guide to Grants for Childcare Providers in California

The cost of setting up and operating a childcare center in California can be quite substantial. Thankfully, there are numerous grants available that can help offset some of these costs.

Deciphering Tax Deductions for Family Child Care Homes in California

Understanding the applicable tax deductions can lead to considerable savings and financial sustainability. This blog post will guide you through some often overlooked tax deductions that can benefit your family child care home.

Saving Daycare Access in California

If you haven’t read about it or spoken with a daycare provider recently in California, there is a serious problem facing the community of small businesses that give parents early childcare support before they enter public school.

The Importance of Warm Clothing: Keeping Children Cozy and Safe

This blog post will discuss the importance of warm clothing for children, give tips for dressing children in the colder months, and recommend some clothing items for keeping children warm and safe.

Q4 Tax Planning for Childcare Providers: Preparing for Year-End Filings

We aim to outline key considerations and strategies that Californian childcare providers can implement to manage their tax obligations and prepare for year-end filings effectively.

Optimizing Nap Times: Tips and Ideas for Directors

Nap times are essential for children’s growth and development, but they also need to be carefully planned and managed to ensure that teachers have adequate breaks and that curriculum time is maximized.

How the California Child Care Initiative Project Shapes New Providers' Journey

The project focuses on providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible childcare services to meet the diverse needs of families across California.

Halloween Safety for Childcare Providers: A Guide

As a childcare provider, you have a crucial role in ensuring the children in your care are safe and enjoy Halloween festivities without any mishaps.

Autumn Nutrition: Seasonal Foods that Boost Children’s Health

Incorporating seasonal foods into your childcare routine can be a great way to introduce children to new flavors, encourage healthy eating habits, and boost their immune systems as we head into cold and flu season.

Financial Planning for Year-End: Tips and Strategies for Childcare Providers

Year-end is crucial for financial planning for any business, including childcare providers. Proper financial planning ensures that your childcare center remains financially stable and can continue to provide quality care for children.

The Importance of Vitamin D: Keeping Kids Healthy in the Darker Months

As childcare providers, it’s essential to understand the importance of Vitamin D and implement strategies to ensure children in your care are getting enough.

A childcare center founder explains what she learned after 3 decades and why it's so hard to make the business work

In fact, she said, some of her students' parents attended the center when they were kids. After more than 30 years, Clark sold her childcare center this past summer. Clark, 68, said she will continue working as a consultant until the end of December.

COMMENTARY : Congress must reinvigorate the nation’s Head Start program

Our country is facing an urgent crisis: the early-educator shortage. Earlier this year, the National Head Start Association reported that 19% of Head Start staff positions were vacant nationwide, leading to the closure of 20% of all Head Start classrooms.

Utilizing Outdoor Spaces: Fall-Themed Learning Activities for Children

Explore various fall-themed learning activities that can be conducted in outdoor spaces, encouraging children to engage with the natural world while enhancing their cognitive, physical, and social development.

New Millions for Childcare: See If You Qualify

The U.S. Department of Education said on Thursday that it will grant more than $13 million to higher educational institutions across the country to assist with campus childcare programs for parents enrolled in classes.

Preparing for Daylight Saving Time: Managing Sleep Schedules in Childcare

As a childcare provider, it is important to understand the impact of this transition on children and implement strategies to help manage their sleep schedules.

From Cribs to Beds: Guiding Transition Strategies for Toddlers

The transition from cribs to beds is a significant milestone for toddlers and can be challenging for the children, parents, and teachers.

The Harmonious Impact of Music and Arts on Early Childhood Development

In this post, we delve into the value of these creative outlets and share strategies for incorporating them into your childcare program.

Promoting Respiratory Health in Childcare Centers

This post will outline key strategies for promoting respiratory health in childcare centers and provide resources for further guidance.

Top Takeaways from the Fireside Chat: The Future of Child Care with Rep. Ro Khanna and Wendy Doyle

While we’re taking Early Learning Nation Studio on the road less often during the pandemic, we’re offering recaps—Top Takeaways—from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events from the Early Learning field.

Optimizing Indoor Spaces: Preparing for Indoor Activities During Colder Months

Here are some guidelines and recommendations for preparing indoor spaces for activities during colder months.

Empowering Inclusivity: A Childcare Provider's Guide to Meeting the Needs of Children with Special Needs

This guide explores key strategies that can enable childcare providers to support children with special needs effectively.

Fostering Success: Meeting the Educational Needs of Foster Children in Your Childcare Program

In this blog post, we delve into some essential resources and strategies that can help childcare providers meet the educational needs of foster children.

Recognizing and Addressing Childhood Anxiety in Your Childcare Setting

Childhood anxiety, a prevalent mental health issue affecting children of all ages, is often overlooked or misinterpreted in childcare settings. As childcare providers, understanding its signs, effects, and coping strategies is crucial.

Negotiating Lease Agreements for Your Childcare Facility: Tips and Best Practices

With a well-negotiated lease, you can secure a conducive environment for your childcare service while keeping costs manageable. Here are some tips and best practices for negotiating lease agreements for your childcare facility.

Pandemic Pivot: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childcare and Adapting to New Normals

In this blog, we delve into the profound effects of the pandemic on childcare and explore ways in which providers have adapted to this new normal.

Understanding and Observing Indigenous Peoples' Day in Childcare

Best practices for childcare providers can understand and observe Indigenous Peoples' Day in their childcare centers, and provide resources for further learning and exploration.

Strategies for Marketing Your Childcare Business: Standing Out in the Competitive California Market

Effective marketing strategies are key to attracting and retaining clients in the competitive California childcare market.

Engaging Fathers in Childcare: Crafting Inclusion Strategies for Every Stage

This article explores innovative strategies to engage fathers more actively in your childcare program, with ideas tailored for each age group, from infants to five-year-olds.

Offering Comfort in Crisis: Helping Children Navigate Grief and Change

This guide offers strategies and resources for childcare providers to help children cope with grief and adjust to life changes.

The Childcare Cliff: $122 Billion Dollar Crisis, But Whose Problem Is It?

September can be a challenging month for parents. For many, the back-to-school frazzle, change in routine, and the frequent viruses and stress that come with the change of season can be a significant test of will. The juggle is undoubtedly real. For the parents of 3.

The Rise of Nature-Based Education: What California Childcare Providers Should Know

Nature-based education is an approach that uses natural environments to enhance learning. This method has seen a rise in recent years as research continues to illustrate the plethora of benefits that come with outdoor learning.

Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Childcare Routine: Guidelines and Recommendations

Incorporating physical activity into your childcare routine can sometimes be challenging due to time constraints, space limitations, and other factors. However, with some planning and creativity, it is possible to integrate physical activity into your daily routine in a fun and engaging way.

The Magic of Paws and Claws: The Benefits of Pet-Assisted Therapy in Early Childcare Settings

In this post, we will delve into the fascinating world of pet-assisted therapy and how it can enrich the learning environment for children in early childcare settings.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset in Early Childhood: Why it Matters and How to Do It

By fostering a growth mindset in children from an early age, we can help them to become more resilient, motivated, and successful learners. But how?

Shaping the Future: The Role of Childcare Providers in Advocacy and Activism for California's Educational Policies

By participating in policy discussions, childcare providers can influence the formation of policies, helping to create a more supportive and effective framework for quality early learning and care in California.

The California Childcare Subsidy System: An Overview

These subsidies are available to low-income families and are based on factors such as family size, income, and the age of the children. Over time, these subsidies have undergone numerous revisions, which have had significant impacts on both families and childcare providers.

What America can learn from Canada’s new ‘$10 a Day’ child care system

GIBSONS, British Columbia — Two years ago, Marisol Petersen’s family was paying more than $1,200 a month for her son to attend child care in this small, coastal town about 20 miles across the Howe Sound from Vancouver.

Articulating Your Preschool USPs to Build Enrollment

To host an impactful center tour, it’s important that staff are trained on the school’s unique selling points, or USPs.

The Importance, Challenges, and Strategies to Promote Hydration in Children

As providers, we are tasked with nurturing both minds and bodies, and promoting hydration in children should be a key element of this responsibility. This post delves into the importance of hydration, the challenges it poses, and practical tips to promote healthy drinking habits in children.

Unveiling Microaggressions: Navigating a Path Towards More Inclusive Early Childhood Environments

Microaggressions are often unconscious, subtle slights or insults that can be verbal, nonverbal, or environmental and are often directed towards marginalized groups.

Updating Immunization Records: A Fall Checklist for Childcare Providers

As a childcare provider, you are responsible for ensuring that all children in your care are updated with their immunizations.

Understanding and Preventing Cyber Threats in Your Childcare Center

The cybersecurity risks in a childcare setting are numerous, from maintaining digital records of children's personal information to utilizing learning apps and digital tools.

Staying Relevant: When and How to Update Policies for Year-Round and Seasonal Childcare Centers in California

Revising and revising these policies periodically is crucial to ensure they remain up-to-date and relevant to your center's changing needs and regulatory updates.

OPINION: Early childhood educators are being forced to make poor choices just when parents need them most

Making choices can be hard, but in a high-quality early learning environment, young children discover how to make wise choices one step at a time. Teachers help them understand how to work out a problem, make a plan to solve it and, finally, do something about it.

The Impact of Climate Change on Childcare: Preparing for Future Challenges in California

This article will explore how climate change impacts childcare and offer insights on how to prepare for the future.

The Effects of Wildfires on Childcare in California: Preparing for Environmental Disasters

Understanding the effects and potential consequences helps providers develop a robust plan to protect their children, staff, and facilities.

Understanding the Rights of Immigrant Families in California Childcare

As childcare providers, it's crucial to understand and promote the rights of immigrant families within your care.

Navigating the Challenges of High Turnover Rates in the Childcare Industry

With detrimental effects on the consistency and quality of care, the high turnover rates are a barrier that childcare centers must learn to overcome.

Supporting Transitions: Preparing Children for Kindergarten

Our job is not just to foster skills that enhance children's readiness for the school environment, but also to alleviate anxieties and boost their confidence about this major change.

Starting School Before Age 2 Helps Children Avoid Achievement Gaps, Study Finds

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Steering the Ship of Play: Guiding Children Through the Waters of Conflict and Cooperation

As childcare providers, it becomes our task to facilitate effective peer play, allowing children to sail through conflict and cooperation gracefully. Let's explore these dynamics and our role in this process.

The Role of Childcare Providers in Early Detection of Learning Disabilities

By closely observing children’s developmental milestones, behavior patterns, social interactions, and learning styles, childcare providers can identify early signs of learning disabilities.

Scaled Success: Smart Strategies for Expanding Your Childcare Center

The first step in the journey towards expanding your childcare center is recognizing the need and potential for expansion. This might stem from a consistently full enrollment, an extensive waitlist, or a surge in demand for childcare services in your community.

Adapting to Urbanization: Maximizing Outdoor Play in Limited Spaces

The rise of concrete landscapes has increasingly squeezed the space available for children's outdoor play, especially in childcare centers and family childcare homes.

Supporting Healing: Early Childhood Trauma and Recovery Techniques in Childcare

This article offers a comprehensive guide to recognizing the signs of trauma in young children and introduces proven recovery techniques to incorporate in your childcare practice.

Democrats introduce legislation extending child care funding in bid to keep day care doors open

by - 09/13/23 2:13 PM ET

San Diego Congresswoman pushes bill to avoid child care funding cliff

Emergency child care funds from the pandemic will expire this month. If nothing is done, centers could shut down and thousands of kids could be left without care.

A Spectrum of Care: Tailoring Childcare Approaches for Children with Autism

Regarding children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this calls for tailored approaches and specific practices that cater to their unique needs.

Harnessing the Sun: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Solar Power for Childcare Centers in California

For childcare centers, this could mean an opportunity to reduce operational costs, impart essential environmental education to children, and contribute to the fight against climate change.

Pawprints in the Classroom: A Guide to Setting up Pet-Assisted Therapy in Early Childcare Settings

How do you integrate this unique form of therapy in your childcare setting? Here is a detailed step-by-step guide to setting up pet-assisted therapy in early childcare settings.

How Congress could have prevented the upcoming spike in child poverty rates

by Zachary Parolin, opinion contributor - 09/08/23 6:30 PM ET

Bay Area parents, leaders and lawmakers discuss affordable 'child care crisis'

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- Whether you are a parent or not, a situation being described as a childcare crisis will impact everyone, officials say.

The U.S. stands on the precipice of a potentially disastrous child care cliff

We’re hurtling toward what experts call a “child care cliff.” It could wreak havoc on families, the economy, not to mention President Joe Biden’s approval ratings.

San Diego region prepares for more childcare closures if emergency federal funding expires

The struggle to find affordable childcare could soon get even harder as federal funding for childcare providers is set to expire at the end of September. The $24 billion Child Care Stabilization Program passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021.

What rising child care costs could mean for families and the economy

A wave of child care center closures is coming due to an end in stimulus money. Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, joins CBS News to discuss how this will affect both American families and the economy.

Anticipating the Unexpected: Earthquake Preparedness for Childcare Centers in Seismic Zones

Understanding the potential risks and creating an effective response plan can mean the difference between chaos and calm during an unexpected event.

Rising Real Estate Prices in California: Solutions for Sustainable Childcare Facilities

Rising real estate prices in California are posing unique challenges for childcare providers. From those who own their spaces to those who lease, the surge in prices impacts everyone, putting the future of affordable, high-quality childcare at risk.

Embracing Alternative Education: Montessori, Reggio, and Waldorf in California

Childcare providers in the Golden State are increasingly exploring and implementing alternative education methods. Three of these methods—Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf—have gained significant traction, redefining how children learn, play, and grow.

Fostering Healing: Books and Activities for Early Childhood Trauma and Recovery

This blog post will delve into various books and activities that effectively support children dealing with trauma.

The Impact of Evolving Family Structures on Early Childcare

For childcare providers in California, understanding these evolving family structures is critical to providing relevant and inclusive services.

Bridging the Past and Present: Navigating Indigenous Child Rearing Practices and Modern Research

In the realm of early childhood education, striking a balance between indigenous child-rearing practices and modern research can be a complex task. Both hold valuable insights and can significantly contribute to the holistic development of a child.

Upholding Standards: Professionalism, Ethics, and Best Practices in Childcare

Professionalism in childcare encompasses many aspects, from qualifications and skills to ethical practices, a sense of responsibility, and nurturing positive relationships with children, families, and fellow professionals.

Empowering Military Families: Addressing Unique Needs and Challenges in Childcare

With frequent relocations, deployments, and the everyday stressors of military life, military families often face unique challenges that can impact their childcare needs.

Free Resources for Navigating Tax Deductibles for Childcare Centers in California

For childcare centers in California, navigating tax deductibles can be overwhelming. Fortunately, various free resources can assist with understanding and maximizing your deductions.

Streamlining Teacher Recruitment: Top Tools and Tips for Early Childcare Directors

Assembling a team of dedicated, passionate, and qualified educators is an essential aspect of running a successful childcare center. However, the hiring process can be a challenging endeavor.

Integrating COVID-19 Protocols into Wellness Policies: A Blueprint for Childcare Centers in California

In California, where diverse communities often mean varied infection rates, childcare centers must seamlessly integrate COVID-19 protocols into their wellness policies.

Ten Things to Avoid in Your Childcare Policy: Guiding Your Policy Creation Process

The Do's and Don'ts of Policy Writing: Crafting effective policies for a childcare center is as much about knowing what to exclude as it is about deciding what to include.

Navigating Current COVID-19 Protocols: A Comprehensive Guide for Childcare Providers in California

As childcare providers, you play a crucial role in maintaining safety and health standards while continuing to offer essential services.

Essentials of Background Check Compliance: Practices for Childcare Providers in California

In California, as is the case nationwide, background checks are a vital part of the hiring process, especially for childcare providers. Ensuring the safety of children entrusted to their care requires meticulous diligence.

From STEM to STEAM: The Artistic Leap in Your Childcare Curriculum

Integrating arts into the STEM curriculum can enhance creativity, improve problem-solving skills, and boost the overall learning experience. But how can we effectively incorporate STEAM in early childcare?

Sowing Seeds of Knowledge: Integrating Gardening into Childcare to Foster Environmental Stewardship

A comprehensive guide for childcare providers in California looking to incorporate gardening into their curriculum and promote environmental stewardship.

Enhancing Childcare Center Operations: Unconventional Additions to Your Policy

While many providers recognize the importance of standard policies covering enrollment, payment, health, and safety, several lesser-known policy areas can significantly contribute to a smoothly running childcare center.

Leveraging Social Media: Fostering Connection with Parents and Community in Childcare

This article will delve into the effective use of social media in childcare settings, along with practical examples and linked resources.

Easy Tax Deductibles for Childcare Centers in California: A Comprehensive Guide

Savvy childcare providers can effectively manage their tax liability and potentially save money by knowing what expenses qualify as tax-deductible.

Wheezing in Toddlers: When Should Early Educators in California Be Concerned?

This article aims to provide guidance on when wheezing might be a sign of a more serious issue, and when it's simply a harmless, albeit bothersome, symptom.

Crafting Effective Policies: A Comprehensive Guide for Childcare Providers in California

As a childcare provider in California, understanding the nuances of writing a solid policy is crucial. This guide covers all the key aspects aspiring childcare providers in California need to know.

­­A wave of child care center closures is coming as funding dries up

In Hopewell, Virginia, about 20 miles southeast of Richmond, Juanterria Browne spends her days providing child care for children with disabilities, a demographic for which it is notoriously difficult to find care.

Child care has been silently crushing women farmers for generations. That may change soon.

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The Importance of Continuing Education for Childcare Providers: Staying Current in Your Field

As a childcare provider, your educational journey does not end when you receive your certification or open your childcare center.

Nurturing Parent-Teacher Relationships: Key Initial Meeting Questions for Childcare Providers

The first meeting sets the groundwork for this crucial alliance, allowing you to foster trust, facilitate open communication, and grasp each family's unique needs and expectations.

What is a ‘child care cliff?’ What parents need to know about the current child care crisis

One of the hardest hits to any working parent’s checkbook (or Venmo, now) is their childcare bill. Costs are rising at a much higher rate than typical inflation increases, NPR reports.

Speech Delays in Toddlers? Causes and Resources

As an early educator, understanding what might cause a speech delay in toddlers and knowing what resources are available to support such children is invaluable.

Balancing Business Goals and Quality Care: Challenges and Solutions for New Childcare Providers

We'll guide you through understanding this complex balance, highlighting some challenges, and proposing effective solutions, with a focus on childcare providers in California.

Involving Children in Environmentally Friendly Practices: Green Childcare Centers in California

As an aspiring childcare provider in California, understanding and implementing these practices are crucial for nurturing an eco-conscious generation.

Nutrition in Early Childhood: Designing a Healthy Menu for Your Childcare Center

For childcare providers, understanding the basics of early childhood nutrition and knowing how to design a balanced, diverse menu for their centers is essential.

How the child care cliff could yank back the labor market

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As costs rise, parents may be facing what's called a child care cliff

NPR's Michel Martin talks to Julie Morita of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on health, about the looming expiration of federal child care funding.

Building Partnerships with Parents: Top Questions to Ask Your Parents

As a childcare provider, establishing a partnership with parents is integral to providing the best care and learning experience for the children in your charge.

Rising Heat, Rising Action: A Comprehensive Guide to Heat Stroke Prevention in Childcare

Children, especially those under four years old, are particularly vulnerable due to their underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems.

Incorporating Diversity and Inclusion in Your Childcare Centers

A pivotal part of cultivating a well-rounded learning environment that respects and values each child's uniqueness.

The Art of Conflict Resolution in a Childcare Setting: Managing Disputes Among Children

Conflict, though at times challenging, plays a crucial role in children's developmental process, allowing them to learn vital life skills such as negotiation, empathy, and problem-solving.

Top 10 Must-Have Features in Childcare Management Software for California Providers

As the demand for quality childcare services continues to grow, providers must find innovative ways to manage their centers efficiently and enhance parent communication.

A Guide for Aspiring Childcare Providers: Supporting Parents Dealing with Child Behavioral Problems

A key part of your role will involve understanding and navigating the challenging terrain of child behavioral problems.

Setting Your California Childcare Center Apart: Enhancing Your Reputation with Technology and Software

In today's competitive landscape, it's crucial for childcare centers to stand out. With a plethora of choices available to parents, your center's reputation is paramount.

Empowering Breastfeeding Mothers: A Comprehensive Guide for California Childcare Centers

Breastfeeding is a deeply personal journey, filled with unique challenges and rewards. As a childcare center, your role in supporting breastfeeding mothers is crucial.

Ensuring Data Privacy: How Childcare Management Software Complies with California's Privacy Laws

In the digital age, data privacy and security are fundamental concerns that extend across all industries. For childcare providers, who deal with sensitive information about children and their families, these concerns are doubly crucial.

Child care advocates seek solutions as pandemic-era federal funding winds down

Child care advocates are sounding the alarm and searching for solutions as federal funding gets closer to running out. The price of child care has risen steadily in recent years with the average annual cost ranging from 4,000 to over $24,000 in some parts of the country.

Streamlining Childcare Operations: How Management Software Boosts Efficiency in California Centers

In the rapidly evolving sphere of childcare, a focus on operational efficiency is of utmost importance. It is essential for childcare providers in California, and indeed across the globe, to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements.

Why parents are choosing nature-based preschools

Nature-based preschools' growing popularity has exploded in popularity in recent decades. Kyra Miles of Minnesota Public Radio explains why more parents are choosing this for their children and efforts to make it more accessible to everyone.

Establishing Healthy Boundaries with Communication Apps: A Guide for Early Educators

In our digital era, technology has seamlessly intertwined itself with education, facilitating communication between childcare centers and parents. Communication apps offer a way to share updates, events, pictures, and even daily reports.

Decoding Licensing Waivers: A Guide for Early Educators in California

A licensing waiver is a crucial concept for educators in California to understand, especially those working in early childhood settings.

Strategizing for Success: The Ideal Season for Fundraising Childcare Centers

Childcare centers often rely on fundraising activities to supplement their operational budget, fund special projects, or support community outreach initiatives.

Steering Through Rough Waters: Five Challenges Faced by Directors of Childcare Centers

The role of a childcare center director is multidimensional, encompassing administrative, educational, and leadership responsibilities.

Understanding the Role of Insurance in the Budgeting of California Childcare Centers

Insurance plays a crucial role in the financial planning and management of any business, and childcare centers are no exception.

Igniting the Joy of Tinkering in Childcare Centers: Tips, Tricks, and Resources

Tinkering, the hands-on exploration and manipulation of materials, is a powerful learning tool in early childhood education.

Maximizing Parent Tours: How Teachers Can Enhance the Experience at Childcare Centers

In the world of early childhood education, the tour is a pivotal moment. It's an opportunity to showcase the unique qualities that set your childcare center apart and create a lasting impression.

Majority of parents spend 20% or more of household income on child care, report finds

The cost of child care in the U.S. has been increasing, and many families spend more than what the government considers affordable.  Two-thirds of parents, 67%, spend 20% or more of their household income on child care, according to a recent report by Care.com that surveyed 3,000 U.S. parents.

Navigating Infection Outbreaks in California Childcare Centers: Who To Turn To and What To Do

In this article, we will discuss who a childcare center in California should turn to in case of an infection outbreak and explore specific strategies for common conditions like lice, pink eye, flu, and strep throat.

COMMENTARY : Education’s power lies in the connection between teachers and their students

In the bustling fourth grade classroom, as Xavier anxiously tapped his foot against the chair, memories of my own struggles as a reader came rushing back.

What Makes a Teacher Memorable? It’s All About Awe

Toward the end of my high school sophomore year, our Spanish teacher organized a trip to see an Andean band perform in Philadelphia. We packed into a van on a Friday evening and headed downtown to a seated auditorium.

Supporting Early Learning and Well-being: Developmental Milestone Printables

Developmental milestones are behaviors and skills that emerge in young children over time and at different ages. Milestones are often described as the things that most children can do by a certain age.

Free Mindfulness Printables from Pawsitive Choices: Calming Breath Cards

As educators, we play an important role in helping children learn how to manage big feelings. Being able to navigate emotions such as anger and frustration is a foundational element of healthy social-emotional development.

Universal transitional kindergarten at Los Angeles Unified | Quick Guide

The Los Angeles Unified School District says it’s on track to roll out universal transitional kindergarten, or UTK, this coming fall — two years ahead of the state’s deadline for all public elementary schools.

Potty training, ‘accidents,’ wiping issues complicate 4-year-olds’ start at public schools

With just weeks left to prepare her 4-year-old son for his first day in public school, Andrea Gallegos still has a few things to check off on her to-do list. Buy him a new backpack. Wean him off his daily nap. And achieve a major developmental milestone — using the toilet completely on his own.

Understanding Licensing Regulations: After Hours Childcare in California

When it comes to operating a childcare center in California, maintaining compliance with state licensing regulations is non-negotiable.

The Impact of Organizational Setting on Childcare Center Research: A Closer Look for California Educators

Conducting research within a childcare center can present unique challenges, not least of which is the effect of the organizational setting on the research process.

Why Commercials May Not Be The Best Advertising Strategy For A Childcare Center: Rethinking Outreach for Educators

In the fast-paced digital age, the art of advertising is constantly evolving, with marketers seeking innovative ways to connect with their audiences.

Guiding Through the Dark: How Directors Should Respond to Power Outages in Childcare Centers

As a childcare center director, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care is your paramount responsibility.

Nurturing a Dream: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Childcare Center in California

If you're aspiring to be a childcare provider in California, this sophisticated guide will help you navigate the critical steps and resources needed to get your venture off the ground.

Unraveling Toddler Talk: Understanding the Age Milestones for Educators

Language development in children is a captivating and crucial aspect of their growth.

The Role of a Director of Operations in a Childcare Center: An Overview for Early Educators in California

As an early educator in California, understanding the roles and responsibilities of leadership positions within your organization is essential for ensuring a harmonious and efficient work environment.

NEW: FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets

Our new analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that child care and early learning programs have tremendous impacts on young children, their families, and the economy at large.

Is remote work helping or hurting moms?

Hi Rulers! Thanks to everyone who spoke at or attended our event on Thursday. Here’s a recap of some of the takeaways: Women are more likely to work from home. It’s still not clear if that’s an advantage.

Fostering Effective Collaboration: How Childcare Directors Can Work Effectively with Their Staff in California

A significant component of a director's role involves establishing and maintaining positive, productive relationships with staff.

Addressing Challenges: Identifying and Overcoming the Most Strenuous Parts of the Job as a Childcare Director

Being a childcare director in California, like many leadership roles, can be as challenging as it is rewarding.

Navigating the Biting Phase: A Guide for Childcare Directors on Addressing Child Biting

Biting is a common behavior in early childhood, especially in toddlers.

The Journey of an Early Childcare Substitute Teacher: Roles, Responsibilities, and Insights

Stepping into the role of a substitute teacher in an early childcare setting can be an enriching yet challenging endeavor.

Preschool License California: Ensuring Quality Early Education for Your Child

In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the world of preschool licensing in California, exploring the requirements, regulations, and benefits associated with licensed preschools.

California Childcare Licensing: Comprehensive Guide

In this blog post, we will explore the various aspects of childcare licensing in California, providing you with a wealth of information to navigate through this important journey.

From Good to Great: Defining the Qualities of Early Education Teachers in California

In the dynamic landscape of early childhood education, teachers play an integral role in shaping young minds. As educators or directors, it is paramount to understand what distinguishes a great teacher from a good one and, moreover, how to identify and remedy the traits of a less effective educator.

Embracing Multilingualism: A Resource Guide for Early Educators in California

In our increasingly globalized society, the ability to speak a second language can offer numerous cognitive, cultural, and social benefits to young learners. As early educators, it's crucial to have access to resources that aid in teaching, learning, and speaking a second language.

Navigating Teacher Certification in California: The Path to Empowerment

Teaching is a noble profession that carries the weight of shaping future generations. As educators, our effectiveness is augmented by acquiring the necessary qualifications and certifications.

Child Care: The quiet backbone of the workforce and economy | Chamber Commentary

Licensed a record number of family child care businesses, creating 61 new licenses, resulting in 488 new family child care spaces for children in Santa Barbara County! Opened a child care center: WINGS Preschool in May of 2023 where we are serving 60 children ages 2-5.

The First Five Things To Know About: Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5)

Today, 26.8 million people in the workforce – or one out of every six – rely on child care so they can work or go to school. Child care is essential to the health and strength of our nation’s economy, but it can be challenging to meet the very different needs of families and communities.

Readout of the White House States Convening on Child Care

Today, White House officials welcomed more than 90 state legislators from 41 states across the country to support state actions to make child care more affordable for working families, increase child care provider supply, and improve job quality for child care workers.

Improving Access, Affordability, and Quality in the Early Care and Education (ECE) Market

Nearly 60 percent of children under age six in the United States spend time in nonparental care on a regular basis. For families with young children, access to affordable, high-quality early care and education (ECE)has economic and social benefits for children and their parents.

Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

Sold a Story is a production of American Public Media with funding from the Hollyhock Foundation, the Oak Foundation, and Wendy and Stephen Gaal.

Embracing Mindfulness: Integrating Yoga into Early Childhood Education in California

In today's fast-paced world, the benefits of mindfulness and physical well-being cannot be overstated, and introducing these concepts early is a gift we can give to our young learners.

Understanding Nighttime Cries: Why Toddlers Cry in Sleep & Warning Signs for Educators

As an early educator in California, you may occasionally receive reports from parents about their toddlers crying in their sleep.

Acing the Interview: What to Bring and What to Ask in an Early Education Job Interview in California

Job interviews in early education allow both parties to assess compatibility. For applicants, it's not only an opportunity to showcase their skills, but also to gauge if the center aligns with their values and career goals.

The Art of Appreciation: Recognizing and Praising Our Early Educators in California

Teachers are the unsung heroes of our society, shaping future generations with their dedication, wisdom, and love. Recognizing and expressing gratitude for their invaluable work can inspire and motivate them, while also fostering a positive school culture.

Guide to Toddler Sleep: Nap Times and Ages for Early Educators

As early educators, understanding the evolving sleep needs of toddlers, especially their napping patterns, is a key component in fostering their growth and well-being.

The Journey to Becoming an Early Childhood Educator in California: Fastest, Easiest, and Explained

Embarking on a career in early childhood education offers opportunities to make significant contributions to young lives.

Understanding the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in Early Childhood Education

If you are an early educator director or a preschool teacher in California, you may have come across the term CDA, or Child Development Associate. The CDA credential serves as a significant stepping stone in the field of early childhood education, setting the standard for quality childcare.

Understanding DCF’s Role in Childcare Funding in California

As an early educator director or a preschool teacher in California, it’s crucial to understand how funding mechanisms like those provided by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) can impact your center and the families you serve.

California’s hottest new student recruits? 4-year-olds

Hundreds of school banners, bus bench promos and billboards, not to mention high-volume text and robo-call campaigns, are inundating parents of California’s youngest students this summer as 4-year-olds have suddenly become the hottest recruits in California.

Choosing the Best Assessments for Early Childhood Education Settings

As an early childhood educator director or a preschool teacher in California, selecting appropriate assessment tools for your young learners is a crucial aspect of your role.

The Process of Creating a Risk Management Policy for Childcare Centers in California

Running a childcare center is an exercise in responsibility and trust. One of the crucial aspects of upholding that trust is the creation and implementation of a robust risk management policy.

The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Voter Support For Child Care Funding

In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining voter attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood education programs.

Families with young children face increased hardship after pandemic relief policies end

Pandemic-era policies like eviction moratoriums, the expanded child tax credit, increased food stamp benefits and free school meals helped decrease hardship for families with young children. Yet when many of those programs were discontinued, these same families saw an increase in hardship.

The Why, How, and What of Becoming an Early Education Teacher in California

Choosing to become an early education teacher is a decision that goes beyond a career choice – it's a calling to inspire, nurture, and shape the future by impacting young minds.

Choosing the Right Location for Your Childcare Center in California

Selecting the ideal location for your childcare center in California is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your business.

The California Childcare Licensing Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Opening a childcare facility can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, but navigating the licensing process can be daunting.

Prepping for Parent Tours in California Childcare Centers

As the director of a childcare center, welcoming prospective families to your facility is an exciting opportunity to showcase your unique offerings, share your philosophies, and make a strong first impression.

Understanding California's Childcare Regulations and Requirements

As a childcare director in California, it's crucial to have a thorough understanding of the state's childcare regulations and requirements to ensure a safe, nurturing, and compliant environment for children.

Biden administration plans to cap how much families pay for child care through a government program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that the government plans to put a cap on how much families pay for child care as part of the Child Care & Development Block Grant program.

Child care costs would fall for low-income families under new rule in government program

Your trusted source for contextualizing the news. Sign up for our daily newsletter. The administration announced Tuesday its plan to strengthen the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the program that subsidizes care for 1.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining Permits and Licenses for Your California Childcare Center After Denial or Revocation

Running a successful childcare center in California requires obtaining and maintaining various permits and licenses.

FAQ: How to Create an Emergency Preparedness Plan for Your California Childcare Center

Childcare centers in California face a variety of potential emergencies, including natural disasters, power outages, and medical emergencies.

Understanding the Difference Between a Licensed and an Accredited Childcare Center in California

During this process, the terms "licensed" and "accredited" often surface. Understanding these terms can help parents make a well-informed choice and provide directors with valuable insights into achieving outstanding standards in early childhood education.

California Child Care Providers Secure Largest Pay Increase in State History

California’s struggling child care providers will be getting the largest pay increase in state history as well as an ongoing overhaul of the reimbursement rate under the tentative agreement hammered out Friday evening between the state and Child Care Providers United, a union that represents 40,00

For many parents, it was ‘a saving grace’. Now, California’s childcare subsidy is expiring

Like many working mothers, the first months of the pandemic were a nightmare for Andria Kemp-Sellers. The state of California declared her husband’s job at a sugar factory essential, so he continued to go in for 12-hour shifts.

Slow roll to finish California budget

A new CalMatters newsletter: The CalMatters California Divide team is devoted to providing in-depth, innovative and independent coverage of the politics and policy of inequality. Now, the team is bringing you a free weekly newsletter.

California Childcare: Background Checks & Staff Compliance Guide

Ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care is a top priority for any childcare center.

The Future of Childcare in California: Trends, Predictions, and Navigating the Industry Landscape

The childcare industry in California is continuously evolving, influenced by various social, economic, and technological factors.

Designing Inviting Outdoor Play Spaces in California Childcare Centers

Outdoor play spaces are essential components of a well-rounded childcare center, providing children with opportunities to explore, engage in physical activity, and connect with nature.

5 Outdated Childcare Practices and the Latest Research: Embracing Change for the Better

Childcare practices have evolved over the years, with new research continually shaping our understanding of the best ways to support children's growth and development. Some previously accepted childcare practices have since been deemed outdated and potentially harmful.

Navigating Common Pitfalls: Avoiding Potholes When Setting Up a Childcare Center in California

Setting up a childcare center in California can be a rewarding venture, but there are several common pitfalls that directors may encounter during the process. Being aware of these challenges and understanding how to navigate them is crucial for ensuring a successful and compliant childcare center.

Embarking on a Rewarding Journey: How to Become an Early Childhood Educator in California

As an early childhood educator, you have the privilege and the responsibility of shaping young minds during their formative years. If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and want to become an early childhood educator in California, you're in the right place.

AI in Education: Not a Replacement, But a Revolution in Classroom Teaching

The mention of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education often stirs concerns about machines replacing human educators.

Framing Boundaries: The Importance of Written Policies for Childcare Centers

Operating a childcare center involves more than simply providing a safe and educational environment for children.

Free Resource: Creating Equitable ECE Environments for Young Boys of Color

The California Department of Education Early Education Division (EED) recently released a new online publication: Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color.

Editorial: A shortage of bilingual teachers threatens goal for a multilingual California

Five years ago, the California Department of Education set a goal that half of K-12 students would be literate in at least two languages by 2030, and three-fourths by 2040, to be achieved by recruiting and training more teachers to teach bilingual classes, enrolling more students in dual immersion c

Does your child speak a language other than English? California preschools want to know

If you’re enrolling your child in California state-subsidized preschool this fall, you’ll be asked new questions about what languages they speak and understand.

Small Ways Leaders Can Build Schools Where Everyone Feels Like They Belong

It takes a lot of time and effort to build a community where all students and staff feel like they belong. But there are interim—and meaningful—steps principals can take as they wait for long-term efforts to take root.

Navigating the Educational Marketplace: The Do's and Don'ts of Using Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) has revolutionized the way educators share resources and gather inspiration for their classrooms. The online marketplace offers a platform where educators can buy, sell, or share educational materials.

Best Places to Buy Affordable College Books for Early Education Classes

As an early education major, you're embarking on a journey to shape young minds, and that begins with equipping yourself with knowledge.

Maximizing Google Classroom: A Tool for Early Educators

As an early educator, you are continually seeking effective ways to engage young learners, manage your classroom, and streamline administrative tasks.

The Vital Role of the Director in Early Childcare: Demystifying Duties and Frequently Asked Questions

As the backbone of an early childcare center, the director plays a critical role. They are responsible for ensuring a safe and nurturing environment where children can learn and grow.

Opinion

There's a bipartisan consensus that child care costs too much and pays too little. But are lawmakers serious enough to pay the difference?

Is the child care crisis poised to get worse?

The childcare crisis may get worse once pandemic federal stabilization funds end, as Business Insider reported. States like Texas and New York might see the largest number of children lose spots.

Empowering Parents: A Resource Guide for Early Educators Working with Children with Special Needs in California

As early educators, our role extends beyond the classroom, often involving supporting and guiding parents, particularly those with children who may be challenging or have special needs.

The Co-Director in Early Childhood Education: Roles, Duties, and Differentiation

In the world of early childcare, there are a multitude of roles and responsibilities that keep the system functioning seamlessly. Two pivotal positions that can sometimes spark curiosity are the director and co-director.

The Sippy Cup Conundrum: Who Should Provide Them – The Childcare Center or The Parents?

As childcare professionals, we are constantly exploring how to offer the most nurturing environment for the children under our care. Sometimes, this involves decisions about seemingly minor matters, such as sippy cups.

Defining the Role: A Closer Look at Preschool Director Qualifications in California

Taking the helm of a preschool is a fulfilling yet complex task that requires a unique blend of leadership skills, educational knowledge, and administrative acumen.

Top Resources on Business Plans and Financial Projections for a Successful Childcare Center in California

Creating a robust business plan and accurate financial projections are essential steps toward building a successful childcare center in California.

How Colorado Went From ‘Laggard to Leader’ in Early Childhood Education

In late April, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sat down at his desk to make some phone calls. The governor, on this day, was calling to deliver good news.

Crafting a Safe and Inspiring Learning Environment for Children: A Practical Guide for Directors in California

As a childcare center director in California, one of your primary responsibilities is to create a safe and inspiring learning environment for children.

New Study: We Can Change Minds—and Mindsets—About the Value of Early Childhood

Considering how often we say we care about children in the U.S., one might assume we’d be able to point to stellar statistics on our children’s well-being as proof of that value. Unfortunately, we can’t do that. According to UNICEF data from a 2020 pre-pandemic study, the U.S.

Democrats urge extension of federal funding amid worries millions could lose child care

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Millions of children could lose child care soon, according to a new report. That has Democrats calling on Congress to extend federal funding to prevent what they call a “child care cliff.”

Creative Activities for Fostering Early Literacy Development

As an early childhood educator, fostering early literacy development is an essential part of your job. Early literacy skills are the foundation for academic success, and they play a vital role in a child's cognitive and social-emotional development.

Building an Inclusive Environment: Strategies for Supporting Children with Diverse Abilities

Understand the need for individualized accommodations, building partnerships with families and specialists, fostering an inclusive culture, providing sensory experiences, and employing universal design principles for a welcoming, supportive educational environment.

8 Tips for Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment in Your Child Care Center

Learn eight essential tips to foster a safe, healthy environment in your childcare center.

The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development: How to Incorporate it Into Your Curriculum

Uncover the crucial role of play in early childhood development and discover strategies for integrating it into your curriculum.

Child Care Disruptions Expected as Record Funding Nears an End

For two years, the United States has been effectively running an experiment in federally funding child care providers. The $24 billion disbursed in pandemic relief has been the largest investment in child care in U.S. history.

Democrats call for action ahead of child care ‘funding cliff’

by - 06/21/23 12:12 PM ET

Families flock to D.C. to protest child care crisis

It's hard for parents of young children to find time for just about anything. So it's no small feat that families from all 50 states have traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to call on Congress to address what has been called a child care crisis.

FAQ: Setting Up a Balanced and Age-Appropriate Curriculum in California

Creating a balanced and age-appropriate curriculum is essential for providing a high-quality early learning experience in your childcare center.

A Deep Dive Into the Roles and Duties of an Early Childcare Teacher's Aide

In the dynamic world of early childcare, teacher's aides play an integral part in facilitating a nurturing and supportive learning environment.

Creative Activities for Fostering Early Literacy Development

Uncover innovative activities designed to foster early literacy development in young learners.

Managing Stress and Burnout in the Early Childhood Education Field

Discover the importance of self-care, mindfulness, setting boundaries, and seeking professional support to ensure the well-being and productivity of educators.

Understanding the Essentials of Title 22 Child Care Ratios

Uncover the importance of child-to-staff ratios in California childcare centers as outlined in Title 22 regulations.

The child care crisis hurts families, workers and the economy, report shows

The country’s lack of affordable child care hurts children, costs the American economy, and pushes families to the breaking point, according to the 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Transit, child care are among the sticking points in California’s $300 billion budget negotiations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers passed a budget Thursday to ensure they keep getting paid, but it’s a blueprint unlikely to become law because the Democrat-controlled Legislature is still negotiating with Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Parents are struggling at work or quitting altogether because of the childcare crisis. This map shows how bad it is for families in every state.

America's wildly expensive childcare is forcing parents to either leave jobs behind or turn down potential new opportunities as they contend with sky-high costs. A new report from the Annie E.

Emerging Curriculum Trends for Early Educators: Shaping the Future of Learning

Explore emerging curriculum trends that are shaping the future of learning for early educators.

Comparing Approaches to Developing a Strong Parent-Childcare Provider Relationship in California

Learn about the advantages and challenges of each approach and find guidance to implement the most effective strategy for your childcare center, aiming at strong relationships that foster children's well-being and development.

Empowering School Leadership: Tips and Resources for Effective Management, Vision Setting, and Community Engagement

Empower your school leadership with this guide to effective management, vision setting, and community engagement.

Understanding COLA: A Comprehensive Guide for Early Educators and Childcare Providers in California

As professionals dedicated to early education in California, navigating the landscape of legislation, funding, and policy is an essential part of our role. One term that's particularly vital to understand is COLA - Cost-of-Living Adjustment.

Future Marketing Strategies for Your Childcare Business: Predictions and Trends

The childcare industry is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest marketing trends is essential for California childcare businesses to remain competitive and attract new families.

Nailing the Hiring Process: A Comprehensive Guide to Hiring a Childcare Center Director in California

The director of a childcare center plays a crucial role in shaping the overall educational environment and fostering a safe and nurturing space for children to learn and grow.

Sparking Young Minds: Creative Activities for Fostering Early STEM Development

Discover engaging activities to introduce early STEM concepts to young children. This post provides hands-on experiments, creative challenges, and outdoor explorations designed to ignite curiosity and foster critical thinking in young learners, laying a foundation for lifelong STEM learning.

Navigating the Terrain: Understanding Criminal Record Exemption Requests in California's Early Education Sector

In California, those working with children, especially in a childcare or educational setting, must undergo a comprehensive background check. However, in some cases, individuals with certain types of criminal convictions may apply for a Criminal Record Exemption.

What to Know About the Growing Popularity of Employer-Sponsored Child Care

The last several years have served as one prolonged watershed moment for the early care and education sector.

OPINION: The pandemic wiped out decades of progress for preschoolers. It’s time to get them back on track

One clear lesson from the pandemic: Children lose out when they don’t attend school. Young children learn best through hands-on activities, and parents found “remote” preschool a frustratingly poor substitute for in-person learning.

Empowering Your Team: How Early Childcare Directors Can Effectively Support Teachers and Staff

Learn how to foster open communication, encourage professional growth, and cultivate a positive work environment, thereby enhancing job satisfaction, retention, and overall success in the early learning community.

Best Practices for Using Technology in the Classroom: A Guide

This guide covers goal-setting, appropriate tool selection, balancing teaching methods, fostering collaboration, and modeling digital citizenship.

Unpredictable work schedules pose child care hurdles for parents

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Showing up to school was hard amid COVID. Why aren’t kids (or teachers) returning to class?

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On a drizzly, blustery morning in late April, elementary school Principal Jasibi Crews helped students exit their cars, heavy-duty umbrella in hand. Most of the school’s students live nearby and can walk to campus, but given the weather, many had to be dropped off.

What Is Curriculum Development and Design?

As teachers know, quality education takes a lot of planning and preparation. One important part of this is curriculum development and design. But what exactly does that mean? Here’s a basic overview.

New Report Highlights Precarious State Progress on Child Care Assistance Policies

Last week, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) released a report, “Precarious Progress: State Child Care Assistance Policies”, which examines the gaps and progress within state child care assistance policies between February 2021 and February 2022.

Innovative Approaches to Cultivating Empathy in Early Childhood Education

Explore innovative strategies for nurturing empathy in early childhood education, a key social-emotional skill crucial for developing healthy relationships and emotional intelligence.

Classroom Design and Organization: Creating Engaging Spaces to Enhance Learning for Early Educators

This comprehensive guide for early educators provides strategies for defining learning zones, creating an inviting atmosphere, optimizing natural light, offering flexible seating, organizing materials, and more, all aimed at fostering student engagement and growth.

Enhancing Fine Motor Skills in Young Learners: Practical Strategies for Early Educators

Explore effective strategies for improving fine motor skills in young learners. This guide provides early educators with hands-on activities to foster crucial motor development.

California child care grants aim to get more women in construction

At a construction training center in the Bay Area, Tamarra Hayward and 10 other women are hammering in a lumberyard. They’re about to graduate from a pre-apprenticeship, which is like a boot camp for carpentry.

The Looming Child Care Cliff

New York City councilmembers hold a press conference calling for a universal child care bill, March 2, 2023, at New York City Hall. Two years ago, in the midst of negotiating Build Back Better, Congress passed a block of grants intended to stave off impending disaster in the child care sector.

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide for Early Education Directors Conducting Parent Tours in California

Conducting parent tours is a critical responsibility for early education directors in California. These tours provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase your center's unique attributes, build rapport with families, and gain insights to better cater to the needs of each child.

Charting the Course: Understanding Daycare Director Requirements in California

Running a daycare center or a childcare center is a demanding yet rewarding role that requires a specific skill set, qualifications, and commitment.

Embracing P-3 in California: An Essential Guide for Early Educators and Childcare Providers

The early years of a child's life are foundational to their long-term educational success. As educators and childcare providers in California, understanding the P-3 approach —

Differentiating Instruction for All Learners: A Guide for Early Educators

Explore strategies for differentiating instruction in early education. This guide provides educators with practical steps for understanding student needs, adapting content, varying instructional strategies, and fostering a growth mindset to create inclusive and engaging learning environments.

Strengthening Young Minds: A Guide to Cultivating Self-Reliance and Self-Regulation

Discover practical strategies to cultivate self-reliance and self-regulation in young learners. This guide provides educators with tips on establishing routines, offering choices, encouraging problem-solving, promoting self-help skills, and more.

Rhythmic Adventures: Inspiring Ideas for Integrating Music and Movement in the Classroom

Explore inspiring ideas to integrate music and movement into your classroom, enhancing cognitive and physical development. Discover sing-alongs, musical games, and global music exploration activities.

California budget deficit could delay new child care funding

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Every weekday, Patricia Moran has up to a dozen children in her San Jose home day care center, mostly from low-income families — and sometimes the kids are as young as 2 weeks old because their parents can’t afford to take more time off from work.

Senate hearing highlights childcare crisis in the U.S.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — There’s concern from lawmakers that the childcare crisis is getting worse. Senators and experts agree, childcare is increasingly unaffordable for many Americans. “We’re talking about paying people 13, 14 dollars an hour,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said.

The most expensive cities for childcare

Why costs — and quality — vary so wildly Read in app A $122 billion problemThe most expensive places for childcareA model for the country

Addressing Inequities in Early Intervention Access

Supporting families in accessing early intervention (EI) services was an integral part of my job when I worked at The Primary School.

Navigating the Path to Success: A Guide to Licensing and Accreditation for Early Care Centers

Discover essential steps to achieve licensing and accreditation for your early care center. Learn to navigate regulations, create a robust business plan, and ensure high-quality care in our guide.

The Technology in Modern California Childcare Centers: A Resource Collection to Make Your Job Easier

In today's fast-paced world, technology has become an essential part of our lives, including in the realm of early childhood education.

How a Childcare Center Can Boost It's Marketing Efforts and Reach New Families

Discover effective strategies for boosting your childcare center's marketing efforts. Learn how local partnerships, events, and community engagement can attract new families and promote growth.

Rainy Day Adventures: Encouraging Physical Activity and Gross Motor Skills Indoors

Explore creative tips and activities for encouraging physical activity and developing gross motor skills indoors during rainy days in our comprehensive resource blog.

Strengthening Parent-Teacher Communication: Tips and Resources

Discover practical tips and resources for strengthening parent-teacher communication in our blog post. Effective collaboration can foster a nurturing learning environment, ensuring academic and personal success for every child.

Making the News: Biden’s Efforts to Keep the Child Care Dream Alive

In the early days of his 2020 campaign, President Joe Biden promised to increase access to early care and education for all of America’s children.

COVID-19 pandemic: Helping young children and parents transition back to school

Transitioning back to early childhood programs or school— or starting them for the first time—can create extra challenges during a pandemic. Learn what parents and teachers can do to help children make a successful transition to in-person learning and care.

One state just became a national leader on child care. Here’s how they did it.

Inside the winning fight in Vermont. Action in Congress to support child care has been stalled for years. But in Vermont, lawmakers have just approved an ambitious plan that would pour tens of millions of new dollars into the state’s starved child care system.

The best childcare in the world? Maybe so, but new parents in Iceland are holding out for better

In a bright, bunting-filled community hall in central Reykjavik, Eggert Arason bounces his 17-month-old son, Mosi, on his lap as they sing the Icelandic version of Row Your Boat, accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

More hospitals are offering child care. But they shouldn’t have to

Since the pandemic began, thousands of child care locations have closed, exacerbating an already acute shortage. But health care worker Jada Carter was lucky.

Vast majority of parents support federal child care programs, survey shows

Amid the federal budget debate, roughly 90% of parents with small children view family issues as a top priority, one report finds. Conducted by the advocacy group Zero to Three, the survey also showed great concern over possible cuts to child care, education, and housing programs.

Why the ‘science of reading’ may be the next dyslexia battleground

As the state moves to require dyslexia screening in public schools, experts say teachers need to embrace the “science of reading” approach that emphasizes phonics.

Schools struggle for bodies and potties one year into California’s big preschool expansion

Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a big plan for some of California’s littlest children.

Making Sense of the Governor’s May Revision

Our Budget Center experts will break down Governor Newsom’s May Revision and explore how the governor’s budget proposals adapt to the challenges facing the state and continue supporting the health and well-being of Californians. Additional details to come.

How My Lunch Table Became a Space for Community Among Multiracial Students

Picture of me at seven years old. Photo courtesy of Natasha Akery.I didn’t know I was biracial when I was a kid, but I knew I was different. I grew up on the coast of South Carolina with church steeples on the horizon and Spanish moss hanging from large live oak trees.

1 in 4 California child care centers has alarming levels of lead in water, research shows

New research reveals that nearly 1,700 licensed child care centers across the state, roughly 1 in 4, have exceeded the amount of allowable lead in drinking water given to preschool-age children and infants.

Gender Reveals: Data Shows Disparities in Child Care Roles

Survey and Census Bureau data shed light on the extent to which women bear the brunt of child care responsibilities. It's a deeply rooted truth in the U.S.: Women carry a heavier child care burden than men.

Educators Need More Than Self-Care. They Need Self-Compassion.

It’s no secret that educators and school leaders endure a lot of stress, from managing classroom and school communities to monitoring staff and student morale. When that stress mounts, negative feelings can shift inward.

The US has a childcare crisis. Enter: Jeff Bezos? Amazon tycoon bets big on Bezos Academy

In 2018, Jeff Bezos, one of the richest people in the world, announced that he would create a network of free Montessori-inspired preschools. The move was met with surprise from some Montessori educators and a fair bit of skepticism from many in the early childhood education space.

California’s budget deficit has grown to $31.5 billion – almost $10 billion higher than January predictions

California faces the cash crunch because it relies heavily on taxes from its highest earners, whose income tends to fluctuate with changes in the stock market. As a consequence, high inflation and the looming threat of a recession have dealt a blow to state coffers.

Is the child care crisis escalating?

Nearly 90% of brain growth happens before children start kindergarten. That’s why experts say high-quality care is so vital for small children.

San Diego child care providers say 'imagine a day without child care'

What would happen if there was no child care? It could cause an upheaval to our economy. That's the point parents and child care providers wanted to make when they declared Monday a nationwide Day Without Child Care.

How a Local Tax Is Keeping Much-Needed Child Care in San Francisco Affordable

Those funds have increased wages for teachers and expanded access to child care, putting San Francisco further along than the rest of the state in reforming the child care system.

Why Investing In Child Care Strengthens The Economy

On a daily basis in the U.S., too many parents are forced to make hard choices about whether to go to work or care for their young children – and the impact on the economy is devastating. In fact, fewer women in the workforce costs the United States $650,000,000,000 a year.

With emergency funding drying up, child care is once again on the precipice

When the pandemic threatened to shutter child care centers and their enrollment was sporadic and unreliable, many used federal emergency funds to keep their doors open.

‘It’s collapsing.’ Pandemic woes persist for struggling Bay Area childcare providers

Hundreds of childcare providers across the Bay Area shuttered their doors when the pandemic hit, and many never found a way to reopen. The shortage amid skyrocketing costs has made it tough on parents, creating a ripple effect across the economy.

Biden signs executive order to improve access to child care

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed an executive order containing more than 50 directives to increase access to child care and improve the work life of caregivers, the White House said Tuesday.

What is the child care crisis, exactly?

Leaders should say what they actually want to fix. Nearly every day a new story is published about “the child care crisis” in America. (I’ve written stories referencing it myself.

New bills would raise pay for child care providers and lower family fees

The child care industry has long been beleaguered. Many families can’t afford the care they need while many providers subsist on poverty wages. Amid the crisis, two new bills in the California Legislature would raise pay for child care providers and lower family fees for subsidized care. Sen.

Child care providers struggle to stay afloat as they wait on millions promised by the state

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State and local officials acknowledge that bureaucratic problems are delaying some of those promised funds.

California’s child care crisis a root cause of systemic inequities | Chamber Commentary

Guest Commentary: Our Northern Santa Barbara County United Way has built the Literacy 2.O initiative to address childhood and family support for financial and literacy education.

Child care should be much more expensive

Governments, businesses and families all benefit from a robust child-care system. Why isn't everyone paying for it?

Bill would give TK teachers 2 more years to take early childhood education classes

California teachers could get a last-minute reprieve from a law that requires them to take additional courses to teach transitional kindergarten.

New 2023 Employment Laws

Nonprofit and small business employers should be aware of a number of new California employment laws. Please read below for important updates affecting California employers.

Child Care Proposals

This brief provides an overview and initial analysis of the Governor’s key child care budget proposals for 2023‑24, estimates of child care program costs, and the effects of allowing some temporary policies to expire.

The 2023-24 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten and State Preschool Proposals

This brief provides an overview and analysis of the Governor’s proposals for transitional kindergarten (TK) and State Preschool. Delaying Facilities Funding and Maintaining Current TK Staffing Ratios Seems Reasonable Given State Budget Problem.

The pandemic fueled a public school exodus, study says

An estimated 152,000 California children went missing from public school classrooms amid the pandemic, according to new Stanford research, reflecting a period of profound disruption of family and school life.

Could a new San Francisco tax be a solution to the child care crisis?

There’s at least one place in California where even households making six figures can get help paying for child care: San Francisco, the state’s most expensive county when it comes to child care.

House Democrats just launched a 'Dads Caucus' to push for parental leave, the child tax credit, and universal childcare

America has a childcare problem. A group of Democratic congressmen say they want to push for a better way forward.

Child care providers are a casualty of California's transitional kindergarten

In late 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom trumpeted a multi-billion-dollar plan that he said would transform early childhood learning in California by bringing 4-year-olds into the public school system.

California’s child care aid misses hundreds of thousands of families who need it

Zaira Reynoso wanted to give her daughter, Ania, a sibling. But one fear was holding the 31-year-old and her husband Erik back from pursuing another pregnancy: They couldn’t afford child care for another kid.

Child Care Hasn’t Recovered From Covid, Keeping Many Parents at Home

The high cost and limited availability of child care is keeping some parents out of the labor force when unemployment is at its lowest rate in more than half a century. There were about 58,000 fewer daycare workers in the U.S.

This is what life is like for thousands of California parents who still can’t get child care

Nearly three years after the pandemic began, parents are still feeling a financial squeeze because of child care. In December, 51,000 parents had to miss work because of child-care problems.

America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care

They can actually bring their children to work if they need to. Most of America doesn’t have that luxury.

What If We Make Affordable Child Care About Wellness?

This article originally appeared in Brooding, a newsletter delivering deep thoughts on modern family life. Sign up here. I used to think “manifesting your future” was corny, but now I’m into it.

What is a preschool profit and loss statement?

A profit and loss statement (also known as an income statement) is a financial document that shows a company's revenues, expenses, and profits over a specific period of time.

How to start a daycare

Starting a daycare can be a rewarding and challenging endeavor, but it is also a complex process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. To help ensure that your daycare gets off to a successful start, here are the key steps to follow.

Requirements for being an assistant director in a California child care

The requirements for being an assistant director in a California child care center vary depending on the type of child care center and the specific regulations in your area. However, some general requirements apply to most assistant directors in California child care centers.

Requirements for being a preschool director in California

The requirements for being a director of a preschool in California vary depending on the type of preschool you want to run. For example, the requirements for a licensed family child care home are different from the requirements for a licensed child care center.

Requirements for early childhood education jobs in California

The requirements for early childhood education jobs in California vary depending on the specific position and the type of program. This post contains the common requirements for early childhood education jobs in California.

Strategies for reading aloud to young children

Reading aloud to young children can be a powerful and effective way to support their language and literacy development. Here are some strategies for reading aloud to young children:

How to conduct better teacher job interviews

In this blog post, we'll provide some tips for conducting better teacher job interviews, so you can find the best candidates for your program.

How to hire more preschool teachers

In this blog post, we'll provide some tips and strategies for hiring more preschool teachers, so you can build a strong and dedicated team to support the children in your care.

What is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)?

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional organization for early childhood education professionals in the United States. Founded in 1926, NAEYC is dedicated to advancing the quality of early childhood education and promoting the rights of young children.

How to market your child care business

In this blog post, we'll provide some tips and strategies for marketing your child care business and attracting new families to your program.

How to start a family child care in California

In this blog post, we'll provide a comprehensive overview of what it takes to open a family child care business in California and provide some helpful tips and resources along the way.

How to start a childcare in California

Starting a child care center in California can be a rewarding experience, but it's important to ensure you follow all of the state's regulations and licensing requirements. T

How to price childcare tuition

In this blog post, we'll provide some tips on how to price your childcare services in a way that is fair, competitive, and optimized for search engine visibility.

What are childcare licensing requirements in California?

In California, childcare providers are required to obtain a license from the Department of Social Services (DSS) in order to operate legally. The specific licensing requirements vary based on the type of childcare provided and the number of children cared for.

How to hire more childcare teachers

Here are a few tips to help you get started hiring more employees.

What is required to open a child care in California?

To open a childcare center in California, you must obtain a license from the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. In order to be eligible for a license, you must meet certain requirements, such as having a physical location for the childcare center that meets state and

What is a criminal record statement?

A criminal record statement is a document that provides information about a person's criminal history, including any arrests, convictions, and charges that have been filed against them.

What is the CAEYC conference?

The CAEYC conference is the annual conference of the California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC), a professional organization for early childhood education professionals in California.

Child care could be coming to a city park near you soon

Voters overwhelmingly passed Measure H to allow child care at San Diego parks and rec centers, and now city officials and childcare advocates are working on what happens next. That includes Councilmember Raul Campillo, who championed Measure H.

Child Care and Preschool

Budget Provides $12 Billion for Child Care and Preschool Programs. Of this amount, $4.6 billion is for preschool and transitional kindergarten (TK) programs, $5.2 billion is for other child development programs, and $2.2 billion is for support programs.

‘Now we sit on the precipice of collapse:’ Childcare shortages and empty classrooms could get even worse

But due to COVID-19 disruptions and strict staffing requirements by the state’s quality rating system, the Columbus-based childcare center had to start closing at midnight in 2021. Now, the center is only open from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Inflation Reduction Act left children and families behind

Do you count on EdSource’s education coverage? If so, please make your donation today to keep us going without a paywall or ads. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 makes major strides to address the urgent climate crisis and address soaring inflation.

San Francisco's New Department of Early Childhood Wants to Make It Easier for Families to Get Subsidized Child Care

Recent changes in San Francisco and on the statewide level mean it could soon be easier to navigate the process of finding publicly funded care and education for children. This week, San Francisco launched the city's new Department of Early Childhood.

Child care workers’ college costs covered under new San Diego County program

To improve the quality of child care and bolster an understaffed and underpaid child care workforce, county education officials are paying $1 million for dozens of local early childhood teachers to get free higher education.

The pandemic child care crisis is still here

Families are now grappling with inflation and a shortage of day care staff. On the Senate floor in early August, just two days before lawmakers voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, four senior Democrats came out to lament what they believed to be the bill’s biggest omission: child care.

Perspective: Women are having to get creative about child care. But what happens when they can’t?

It’s never been easy to be a working mother — before COVID-19, during COVID-19 or now, in the post-COVID-19 economy.

California Bill Would Require Pay Range in Job Ads

​A proposed bill in California would make pay more transparent. Under the bill, employers with 15 or more employees would have to include pay range in all of their job postings and publicly report how much certain groups of employees are paid.

Teachers, Nurses, and Child-Care Workers Have Had Enough

The country is in the midst of a burnout crisis.

The Pandemic Rise in Self-Employment: Who Is Working for Themselves Now?

Key Findings The increase in self-employment was disproportionately among women and especially non-white women.  The rise in self-employment is much larger among workers with young children (under age 6) in the household than those without young children.

More parents hiring nannies amid big shift in child care

It’s a pandemic-driven change that’s had staying power

What’s next for child care after Senate bailed on reforms

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Early Childhood newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about early learning. Subscribe today!

Newsom vetoes bill to make kindergarten mandatory, citing costs

Despite a tenure that has focused on early education, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sunday that would have made kindergarten mandatory in California.

Will women rule in the 2022 California election?

While female candidates still face challenges, voters could elect a record number of women to the state Legislature in November. The roster of female lawmakers could rise to 45 of the 120 seats, according to a CalMatters analysis.

California Poll Finds Parents Leaving Traditional Public For Charter Schools

Scorned by the bureaucracy of Los Angeles Unified School District and the tumultuous politics of reopening schools in the spring of 2021, Carrie Kangro moved her oldest son to a charter school in the midst of the pandemic.

Governor vetoes full-day and mandatory kindergarten bills

California won’t be making kindergarten mandatory or extending the kindergarten school day, at least not any time soon.  Gov.

Catalyzing Growth: Using Data to Change Child Care

Our child care system is in crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic made a weak, disjointed system crumble even further.

Universal Preschool: What happened and what's next

After nearly eight months of tireless advocacy, the Universal Preschool bill, SB-976, will not become law. Here’s your briefing on what happened, the key players, and why money trumps constituents' needs in California education politics.

Cost and child care most challenging for student parents, report finds

The cost of higher education and the cost of child care are the “biggest hurdles” for student parents in colleges across the nation, according to a new report from the Education Trust, Imaginable Futures, and Generation Hope.

Child cares brace for staffing raids as states expand public preschools

Free universal preschool is finally arriving in states like California, thanks to ballooning budget surpluses. But for child cares already dealing with staffing shortages, the timing couldn’t be worse. SACRAMENTO, Calif.

COMMENTARY : Child care access is key to pandemic recovery for California’s children, working families

This past March marked the two-year anniversary of unprecedented and necessary actions to stop the spread of Covid-19.  Now, as we contemplate how to live with and move beyond the virus, it is time to focus on recovery, especially for those most impacted by the pandemic.

California education news: What’s the latest?

California State University, Los Angeles has received a $300,000 grant to improve the success of student transfers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM fields).

The pandemic’s toll: study documents fatality rates of teachers, child care workers in 2020

Child care workers were more likely than the typical American worker to die of COVID in 2020, according to new research. Among over 1 million child care workers, 405 died from COVID in 2020, the study found, using data from nearly every state.

How to Write Magnetic Job Descriptions That Attract Candidates 🧲

Most employers fail to write job descriptions that attract talent. But when they write them well, their hiring is more successful. Here's a brief on how to write better job descriptions.

If cleared, Covid shots for children under 5 could be available as soon as June 21, a White House official says.

Updated June 3, 2022, 12:11 a.m. ETJune 3, 2022, 12:11 a.m. ETDaily Covid BriefingVideoDr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid-19 response coordinator, said preparations are contingent on federal regulatory action.CreditCredit...

Universal Preschool- What's the latest?

Since February, CQEL has sponsored and supported SB-976, the Universal Preschool Act, in coalition with childcare and family advocacy groups. The bill will bring massive support to children, families, and providers.

The case for revolutionizing child care in America

Parents of the world, unite! OK, so Dana Suskind's call to arms doesn't have quite that revolutionary zeal. But it comes close.

The F.D.A. authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for children ages 5 to 11.

More than eight million of the 28 million children in that age group in the United States have received two vaccine shots.

Two U.S. senators push a more modest proposal on child care

Amid the deepening child care crisis, two Democratic senators, Patty Murray of Washington and Tim Kaine of Virginia, are joining forces to push a scaled-back version of the ambitious child care program that was part of President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation, as HuffPost reported

How to restore California’s ailing child care system: Pay the teachers

Covid-19 brought California’s already-ailing child care system to its knees. If you work in child care or are a parent, you are intimately familiar with this reality.

Governor Newsom Proposes $18.1 Billion Inflation Relief Package

Package includes direct payments to help address costs of rising inflation and past-due water and utility bills, free public transit, money for health care workers, middle-class health care subsidies, and waiving child care fees for families  SACRAMENTO – As people throughout the country face inc

California’s Subsidized Child Care Providers Are Overdue for Pay Raise

How Are Subsidized Child Care Providers Paid in California? Subsidized child care providers are paid in one of two ways in California: 1) by accepting vouchers from families or 2) by contracting directly with the state.

Some California school districts launch transitional kindergarten without state help

The state mandates transitional kindergarten, but isn’t paying the tab for a small portion of wealthy school districts. Some are balking. In a major shift for early education, California is expanding its transitional kindergarten program to eventually include all 4-year-olds.

A public pre-K expansion doesn’t have to box out private care

xpanded exclusively in public school districts, pre-kindergarten has the potential to decimate the nation’s child care market, inadvertently depriving working families of access to infant and toddler care.

Biden says nearly 1.2 million women haven't returned to work because there's no affordable childcare

For nearly a year, businesses have been complaining that they can't find workers as labor shortages abound, and the labor market gets tighter and tighter.

In defense of pre-K

What one study can — and can’t — tell us about education policy. In January, a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University released a study that seemed to be a serious setback to the push for nationwide, universal pre-K programs.

Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Works Safely in Young Children, Company Says

Moderna Inc.’s Covid-19 vaccine safely induced robust immune responses in children ages 6 months to 5 years in a new study, the company said, though the shot had modest efficacy against the Omicron variant. Moderna said Wednesday the vaccine’s efficacy against symptomatic infections was 43.

Inflation threatens California’s economic recovery

CalMatters is dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives. Your support helps us produce journalism that makes a difference. Donate now.

In-depth: Childcare crisis in Coachella Valley

For many families in the Coachella Valley, having access to safe and affordable childcare has become rare within the last few years. Riverside County currently has a team called First Five.

Is it too risky for kids to go maskless at school and daycare? What experts say

With mask mandates easing, some parents and schools will have much to think about in the coming weeks. After Friday night at 11:59 p.m.

Will the pandemic leave a lasting mark on baby brains?

Donise Keller, a child care provider in Antioch, takes care of a little boy coping with some developmental delays. The 3½-year-old doesn’t talk very much, and he doesn’t enjoy interacting with other children.

Congress may increase child-care funding but it won’t fix systemic problems, advocates say

The omnibus package, which is expected to pass the Senate this week, includes increases for a number of federal child care and early education programs, including roughly $11 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start and $6.2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

Small Business Grants for Women (2022)

In celebration of Women's History Month, we're publishing some top grant opportunities for women-owned (and non-women-owned) businesses!

We're representing providers at the Capitol today

We're in Sacramento today representing community-based child care providers at the Capitol today.

10 things employees really want — and how to make them happen

Hiring employees is growing more and more difficult for small business owners. With a record number of team members quitting across the US, it’s more important than ever to not only attract the right candidates but also give them a reason to stay.

The lack of childcare centers has pushed Bay Area moms to open their own

For nearly a decade, Jackie Shaw, 43, worked three jobs: One at a housing clinic in San Francisco, a second at the county social service agency in Oakland, and a third at home in Treasure Island, as the single mother of three kids.

Early Childhood Education in California: Is there a PK-3rd credential on the horizon?

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s (CTC) is actively working on “multiple, accessible” pathways for elementary teachers and ECE permit holders to teach in TK and developing a PK-3rd ECE specialist credential.

Covenant Unified Grant Application

Letters of Inquiry that fall outside of The Covenant Foundation’s parameters for funding will not be considered. Please read the following information carefully and contact the Foundation if you have questions.

California to drop school mask mandate after March 11

California will drop school masking requirements after March 11, leaving the decision up to districts and local jurisdictions, state officials announced Monday. Currently, California students and teachers have to mask up indoors at K-12 schools statewide, regardless of vaccination status.

California child care workers struggle to survive

Donise Keller has made many sacrifices in 20 years as a child care provider, but she has rarely questioned her calling. She puts in 12-hour days. She gets by on less than $20,000 a year. She worries about getting Covid on the job. But, despite it all, she says she loves what she does.

Expansion of California’s preschool program proposed

The California State Preschool Program currently serves the state's low-income three- and four-year-olds. Edsource reports the new proposal to expand the program to children as young as two is part of the K-12 "trailer bill," clarifying policies related to the state budget for 2022-23.

California bill would eliminate Medi-Cal premiums for children, certain adults

(The Center Square) – Thousands of Medi-Cal recipients who are children, pregnant or disabled adults would no longer be required to pay premiums for health care coverage under a new proposal introduced by a California lawmaker. Assembly Bill 1995, introduced by Assemblyman Dr.

Nine out of 10 Los Angeles voters support more public funding for child care, preschool, poll shows

Nine out of 10 Los Angeles voters support increased public funding for child care and preschool, according to a new poll released Friday by the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment.

Fresno State professor on the link between cultural diversity and early childhood education

Children’s books about topics like race, gender identity and sexual orientation are increasingly at risk of being banned by schools and libraries across the country. But Dr.

Two new early education bills seek to expand kindergarten in California

Two newly introduced bills could impact the early education landscape in California if they eventually become law. Both bills seek to redefine aspects of the kindergarten experience.

Some California school districts are defying mask mandate

California ended its mask mandate for fully vaccinated people Tuesday for all but school staff and students, prompting protests across the state. Most school districts are sending unmasked students home, but the number of schools that are welcoming them is growing.

Senator Leyva: Working Families Need True Access to Universal Preschool

SACRAMENTO – Continuing her work to expand educational and developmental opportunities for young children, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced legislation that establishes universal preschool in California.

Senator Leyva: Working Families Need True Access to Universal Preschool

SACRAMENTO – Continuing her work to expand educational and developmental opportunities for young children, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced legislation that establishes universal preschool in California.

California’s subsidized preschool program may expand to toddlers

California’s subsidized preschool program may be open to children as young as 2 if the expansion of services in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget comes to pass. The California State Preschool Program currently serves the state’s low-income 3- and 4-year-olds.

Is universal preschool worth it?

Preschool attendance in the United States grew only slightly over the most recent decade–with enrollment among 3- and 4-year-olds never reaching 50%–and survey evidence suggests the ongoing pandemic has pushed the numbers even lower. But there are signs that the momentum is shifting.

What does the Tennessee pre-K study really tell us about public preschool programs?

A new study of the effects of Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K (TNVPK) program has ignited debate about the benefits of preschool right at a time when the Build Back Better bill—which includes historic investments in children and families through early care and education (ECE)—is stalled in Congres

Child-care costs are outpacing inflation — the average cost of daycare for infants now exceeds in-state college tuition fees

The average annual cost of daycare for infants hit just over $12,300 in 2020, according to a new report from Child Care Aware. With inflation at a 40-year high, families are feeling the pinch of higher prices at the grocery store checkout, on their home heating bill, and when they pay rent.

Pfizer postpones FDA request for COVID vaccine for kids under 5

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Friday that they are postponing their application to the Food and Drug Administration for the companies' COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 5.

A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool

Dale Farran has been studying early childhood education for half a century. Yet her most recent scientific publication has made her question everything she thought she knew. And by "this," she means the outcome of a study that lasted more than a decade.

With California’s mask mandate set to end, should you go maskless? Here’s what UCSF’s Dr. Wachter says

He gave the example of a party he went to this weekend in Florida, which was intended to be outdoors — until it started raining, forcing the party inside and forcing Wachter to decide if he was going to stay, eating and drinking inside without a mask, or leave his college friend’s 65th birthday

Community schools can reinvigorate learning after Covid — if done right

As 2022 begins, educators, students, families and communities continue to navigate a state of prolonged and volatile crisis. The persistent spread of Covid-19 has compounded the challenge of ensuring safe and healthy learning environments.

First 5: Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California’s First Surgeon General is a True Champion for Children and Families in the State

California’s first Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, whose departure was recently announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, continues to be a champion for children and families in the state. The First 5 Association, First 5 California and First 5 LA recognize Dr.

Debate rages over whether kids should wear masks at school

Now we turn to a new front in the debate over masks in schools. Some states, like California, are currently giving out respirator-style masks to children.

Family Math Activity: Craft Shiny Robots and Spaceships

Esta actividad está disponible en español. Spatial relations are the words we use to describe where something is in physical space or in relation to another thing. They’re also known as location and position words and are part of the math skill known as spatial sense.

Ever feel like screaming into the void? This is how mothers of young kids are navigating Omicron in the US

On a freezing cold night, a group of women slowly starts to gather in a mostly empty car park north of Boston. All of them are mums who, like so many others, have spent the past two years trying to manage the stress, fear and frustrations of trying to raise kids during a pandemic.

How learning happens in the brains of sleeping babies

Neuroscientists have long known that shut-eye helps consolidate memories in adults. Napping may play an equally crucial role in infants and young children.

‎Old Firehouse School Chat : COVID and Preschoolers with Dr. Monica Gandhi on Apple Podcasts

If you have children under the age of 5, January 2022 may have been one of the most stressful months since the beginning of the pandemic. The Omicron variant shuttered classrooms and left families and educators with questions about vaccines, masking, and the safety of being at school.

D.C. will send $10,000 checks to child care workers

Child care workers in Washington, D.C. will receive checks for at least $10,000, after the city's council approved a measure to redirect tax revenues from the city's wealthiest residents to the child care workers, the Washington Post reports.

Sen. Joe Manchin says Build Back Better bill is ‘dead’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin declared Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s vast social and environment bill is “dead,” using his strongest language to date to underscore that any revival of Democrats’ top domestic priorities would have to arise from fresh negotiations.

COVID-19 vaccine for young kids could be ready this month

The last age group of the population unable to get a Covid-19 vaccine may soon be able to do so — and much earlier than anticipated.

For child care programs, masking helped minimize closures, study shows

A new Yale study found that child care programs in the United States that practiced child masking early in the COVID-19 pandemic (May-June 2020) experienced a 13% reduction in program closure within the following year, and continued child masking throughout the one-year study period was associated w

What are the best masks for children to wear at school during the omicron surge? | Quick Guide

As the more highly transmissible omicron variant continues to be the country’s dominant Covid strain, health experts are recommending adults and children upgrade from cloth or surgical masks to higher quality masks such as KN95s or KF94s.

Biden talks climate and child care provisions of Build Back Better agenda with top CEOs

President Biden on Wednesday met with corporate executives from major companies about his Build Back Better proposal, arguing the benefits of the climate and child care provisions of it on the economy. “The bottom line is, a lot of folks refer to this as just social spending.

Omicron blazes through California child care providers already reeling from COVID

Child care centers were already struggling prior to the omicron variant. Now a dire situation has gotten even worse.

A search for solutions to the child care staffing crisis

Second in a two-part series. Read part one here. Lynn Twork tries to make sense of the most recent guidance from San Diego County on what to do when there’s a positive COVID-19 case in one of her preschool classrooms. She talks like someone stuck in a 16th century hedge maze from Europe.

The Great Resignation? More like The Great Renegotiation

There's been much hubbub in recent months about what's been dubbed "The Great Resignation." The popular phrase refers to the roughly 33 million Americans who have quit their jobs since the spring of 2021.

Global education trends and research to follow in 2022

As the third calendar year of the pandemic begins, 2022 promises to be an important one—especially for education.

A state-funded pre-K program led to ‘significantly negative effects’ for kids in Tennessee

Children who attended Tennessee’s state-funded voluntary pre-K program during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years were doing worse than their peers by the end of sixth grade in academic achievement, discipline issues and special education referrals.

Anti-vaccination forces gear up for fight over California vaccine legislation

California is poised to become the front line of America’s vaccination wars.

New bill would add Covid vaccine to list of schools’ required immunizations

The bill, introduced by State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, who is also a pediatrician, takes Gov. Gavin  Newsom’s Covid vaccine mandate a step further. It would require the vaccine regardless of whether the U.S.

Revised Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard Adding New Compliance Obligations for Employers Goes Into Effect January 14

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has revised and readopted Cal/OSHA's COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). This readopted ETS maintains much of the prior Cal/OSHA ETS requirements.

San Diego child care centers struggle with staffing crisis

Even before COVID there was a real staffing crisis among childcare providers, supporters say the positions are undervalued and poorly paid. Now the situation is far worse. K PBS investigative reporter Claire Traeger looks at what's causing this massive childcare staffing crisis in the region

Where did all the workers go?

CalMatters is dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives. Your support helps us produce journalism that makes a difference. Donate now. The single biggest challenge facing California small businesses: Labor shortages.

Parents and caregivers of young children say they've hit pandemic rock bottom

"I had a parent tell me to f*** off last week," Cori Berg said. She directs the Hope Day School, a church-affiliated early childhood program in Dallas.

San Diego looks at 72 city buildings as potential child care centers amid the daycare crisis

Child care has become an enormous issue since the pandemic started and now the Downtown San Diego Library is one of the many buildings in the area the city may potentially turn into a child care center. "It’s a big enough problem where we call it a crisis," said Director of Policy and Strategy

California will distribute Covid test kits to child care providers

California has a statewide distribution of at-home Covid-19 tests for child care providers planned for the end of January, as the LAist reported, which may provide some relief for caregivers scrambling to find tests and masks during the latest surge.

Free tuition available for early education providers

San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative and First 5 San Diego have partnered to offer free tuition to early education providers.

White House plans to restart talks with Manchin

The White House intends to restart talks with Sen. Joe Manchin on President Biden’s social safety net package, hoping to try a new tack in negotiations, as the Wall Street Journal reported, even as some  Democrats push for passing key pieces of the agenda instead.

Editorial: Child-care costs more than rent for many California families. That has to change

Recent research lays bare an enormous toll facing California families: Child care has become so costly that in most of the state it’s surpassed housing as the largest monthly expense for households with young children.

Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine for COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Incorporates changes based on CDPH Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People, CDC Interim Guidance on Duration of Isolation, and CDPH All Facilities Letter 21-08.

Official: California COVID surge could ease next month

Fans wear masks as they walk inside crypto.com Arena before an NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Nashville Predators Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Rate Reform Resources

Contains resources for California State Preschool Program Contractors regarding Rate Reform Effective January 1, 2022.

Child care officials say they are facing a staffing crisis

“We are definitely at a labor shortage and staffing crisis that really needs significant federal investment,” he said during a virtual news conference with Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont and other officials.

Child care is getting more support from some private companies

Kayley Wolf is considering switching employers. But before leaving any job, she has to look at her child care benefits that help provide for her 6-month-old son. In the midst of the pandemic, some in private industry have stepped up their child care benefits.

Why child care in the U.S. lags behind much of the world

Ideological differences make more of a difference than financial resources in keeping U.S. child care behind. Barbara Risman has studied gender, family and work for about 40 years.

For the sake of the economy, child care must be built back better

It’s time to accept that America’s child care market is fundamentally broken.

How to claim up to $16,000 in tax credit for child-care expenses in 2021

A new year means a new tax season coming soon -- and there are some big changes to the child and dependent care credit that could provide a major increase in your tax refund.

As child care costs soar, providers are barely getting by. Is there any fix?

Claire Suddath, a journalist in Brooklyn, pays about $24,000 a year for daycare for her 17-month-old daughter. Though considered cheap by Brooklyn standards, it's still an enormous expense — and one that Suddath acknowledges is out of reach for many parents.

What happens when child care runs out?

The American workforce has had a lot to celebrate in recent months. Employment and job opportunities are on the rise, companies are offering more flexibility, and more employees are getting vaccinated and shedding their pajamas in favor of real pants.

A model for how to spend federal money on early education already exists

The Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership has supported local child-care programs for years. Lawmakers can learn from it for the Build Back Better act.

Joe Manchin says he is unable to support President Biden's Build Back Better plan

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin doomed President Biden's roughly $2 trillion social spending and climate legislation known as Build Back Better on Sunday, telling Fox News in an interview that he cannot support it.

Child care hiring crisis is closing programs and keeping parents out of workforce

A hiring crisis is closing classrooms at Nurtury Early Education in Boston.The nonprofit, which serves mostly low-income families, has seen its staff shrink 30% during the coronavirus pandemic."We cannot find enough educators who are willing to come into our classrooms," CEO Laura Perille said.

Universal transitional kindergarten could bring relief to parents, but threatens child care providers

Soon California public schools will offer free transitional kindergarten for all four year olds. It will be a big help to working parents, but K PBS reporter Tanya thorn tells us it may have unintended consequences for childcare providers. Pamela causes four year old goes to an in-home daycare.

As child care costs soar, providers are barely getting by. Is there any fix?

Claire Suddath, a journalist in Brooklyn, pays about $24,000 a year for daycare for her 17-month-old daughter. Though considered cheap by Brooklyn standards, it's still an enormous expense — and one that Suddath acknowledges is out of reach for many parents.

California Department of Public Health Requires Universal Indoor Masking Through January

On December 13, 2021, the California Department of Public Health issued binding guidance requiring all Californians statewide to mask indoors irrespective of vaccination status.

Omicron evades Moderna vaccine too, study suggests, but boosters help

There's more mixed news about the power of vaccines to protect people against the omicron variant — this time about the Moderna vaccine. Previous research had indicated the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also less protective against omicron.

Lawmakers plan push for full child care access in New York

A bill that would create a universal child care system in New York was introduced Wednesday by state Sen. Jabari Brisport as advocates and state lawmakers seek to push the issue to front burner of the agenda in Albany in the coming year.

Scores of California Students Still Lack Proof of Vaccination as School Mandate Deadlines Approach

Those districts include West Contra Costa Unified (WCCUSD), as well those in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Oakland.

Why Day Care in America Costs More Than College Tuition

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Earlier we discussed the watershed moment for abortion rights in the U.S. A related issue is child care in America, which many parents recognize as dysfunctional.

Child care industry struggles with job recovery

Job recovery has been slow, further challenged by teachers walking away from the sector in search of higher wages at companies like McDonald’s and Amazon, the report notes. To make matters worse, child care has long been notable, experts say, as one of the lowest-paying jobs in the country.

Help Wanted: America's childcare crisis fueled by worker shortages in daycare centers

Jessica Duckett's Teddy Bear Day Care and Preschool is feeling the effects of the nation's hiring crunch firsthand.

84% of parents are overwhelmed by cost of child care, survey shows

As Biden’s social safety net bill makes its way through Congress, American families continue to struggle with child care while making ends meet.

Parents could get a lot of help with Biden child care plan. How long will it last?

There’s a lot for many California parents to gain in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan: big tax breaks for each child, free pre-kindergarten programs and a limit on how much families pay for child care. But much of the change would be temporary.

33 Ideas to Try Now for a Stronger Childcare Business in 2022

As 2021 draws to a close, many childcare and preschool directors are busy planning for the year ahead. In a recent webinar, we asked our community of ECE leaders what their best tips were for wrapping up the year well and strengthening their businesses in 2022.

Apprenticeships may help build the child care workforce

Sign up for the daily Marketplace newsletter to make sense of the most important business and economic news. Apprenticeships have traditionally focused on male-dominated jobs in trades like construction, electrical and plumbing, fields with above-average wages.

Measuring the toll of a broken child care system

Almost half the workforce can't leave the house with kids at home and few feasible optionsIt’s hard to get an economy moving again when almost half of your potential workers can’t leave the house.

Moms Are Back to Work, But Child Care Resources Are ‘Laughable’

Yearlong waiting lists, babysitters nowhere to be found, and families feeling the strain. Katy Stenta, the pastor of a small church in Albany, N.Y., and the mother of three boys, has experienced pandemic-related child-care shortages from all sides.

Understanding Child Care and Pre-Kindergarten Provisions in the Build Back Better Act

Skip to main content Understanding Child Care and Pre-Kindergarten Provisions in the Build Back Better Act SHARE

How Child Care Became the Most Broken Business in America

Cohen and her family live in Portland, Ore., where the cost of caring for an infant runs as high as $2,000 a month. Preschool for her older child was cheaper, but not much, and most of the programs Cohen found ended at noon. To cover a regular workday, she’d need to tack on aftercare or a nanny.

California stimulus checks: Why more payments could be possible again next year

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his 2021-2022 state budget proposal during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2021.

House passes Biden's social spending bill

House Democrats on Friday succeeded in their months-long quest to pass a behemoth social spending bill, but the legislation still needs to be hammered out by the Senate before it can become law. Why it matters: The $1.

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being

The PPIC Statewide Survey is directed by Mark Baldassare, president and CEO and survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California.

Why Child Care in California Hasn't Rebounded

Child care workers earn lower wages than pre-K teachers, who in turn make less than kindergarten teachers, according to data from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at Berkeley. There are several factors driving the pay gap.

CQEL EdNews : What does Build Back Better mean for child care programs?

The plan is still being volleyed around by legislators and the Congressional Budget Office, but if it moves forward, it will mean big changes for child care and preschool programs.

Worsened by pandemic, child care crisis hampers economy

SEATTLE — After Bryan Kang’s son was born in July, the occupational therapist and his wife, a teacher, started looking for child care in the Los Angeles area.

Why California's Universal Transitional Kindergarten Plan Poses a Threat to Some Early Childhood Ed Providers

Universal preschool is coming to California in 2025, a major victory, years in the making for early childhood education advocates. McCarty is the architect of the $2.7 billion initiative, which was authorized as part of an education funding bill signed into law in July.

Study confirms kids as spreaders of COVID-19 and emerging variants

Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvard news. Infected children are potential “reservoirs” for the evolution of new variants as well as potential spreaders of current variants, explains Lael Yonker.

🔒 Member-Only Access to CQEL's New CARE Licensing Inspection Tool

Welcome to CQEL's CARE Tool. It's built to be your handy organized reference to Licensing's inspection tools that's accessible everywhere. Bookmark it on your computer or on your phone so it's accessible when you have a licensing visit. Log in to access the tool here.

New government reports paint child care system as 'unworkable'

Children play together in the 3-year-old class at Little Flowers Early Childhood and Development Center in Baltimore. In Maryland, about 1 in 3 adults in households with those 4 and younger reported taking a child out of child care in the previous four weeks.

California coronavirus cases dropping, CDC says

California’s coronavirus transmission rates are dropping, a hopeful sign amid a summer surge fueled by the Delta variant, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4th stimulus check: $600 for Californians, $1,000 teacher bonuses, $2,000 payment petition

Millions of parents received their third child tax credit checks in their bank accounts this morning. And if you live in California, you could be getting even more money with the second round of Golden State Stimulus checks for $600 (or up to $1,100) on Friday.

Democrats poised to overhaul nation’s childcare, with taxpayers picking up the bill

Spurred by the pandemic, Democrats are proposing a foundational shift in how the nation pays for childcare — placing responsibility largely on taxpayers rather than parents. It’s a transition dozens of wealthy countries already have made.

ACLU sues Bay Area school district over ‘separate, unequal and illegal’ special education program

Outcomes for disabled students — especially those who are Black or English learners — in one Bay Area school district are so poor that the district is essentially denying the students their right to an education, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

Voters resoundingly defeat recall of California Gov. Gavin Newsom

The margin could narrow as further updates during the evening reflect votes cast in person on election day.

Inadequate U.S. Child-Care Hampers Economy, Treasury Says (1)

The U.S. child-care system fails to adequately serve many families due to insufficient supply and high cost, holding back parents’ ability to contribute to the economy, according to a new report from the U.S. Treasury Department.

How to Prepare for Transitional Kindergarten [Recording and Slides]

​It was so great seeing CQEL members at the Transitional Kindergarten briefing last week, and thank you for the fantastic questions and discussion. If you missed the recording, you can find the recording and slides here. Not a member? Join here: https://www.caqualityearlylearning.org/join

Biden to mandate COVID vaccines for federal workers, with no option for testing

President Biden speaks on workers rights and labor unions in the East Room at the White House on September 08, 2021. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

America Has A Child Care Crisis. Biden Wants To Spend Billions To Fix It

Crystal Rogers, owner of Cozy Couch Family Day Care in Martinsburg, W.Va., finally feels appreciated. It took the pandemic to make that happen. For too long, she says, society has looked down on day care — as somehow less worthy than school. And no wonder.

Senate Democrats weigh extending Biden's monthly $300 checks to families to 2024 in $3.5 trillion social spending plan

Senate Democrats are weighing a three-year extension of President Joe Biden's revamped child tax credit in the $3.5 trillion social spending plan, per a Senate Democratic aide familiar with the ongoing discussions.

The Right Direction: Mixed Delivery Early Care and Education

Without thoughtful implementation, a proposal for universal Pre-K could derail much of the country’s child care system, particularly for infants, toddlers, and their families.

Biden’s Child-Care Plan Might Only Raise Parents’ Costs

Making child care more affordable is a laudable goal of President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan, which would expand and create an array of new social programs. But the approach Democrats are likely to take will perversely increase its price, in much the same way student loan programs do.

Moody’s Report: “Especially Strong Employment Effects” from Federal Support for Child Care

With Release of Budget Resolution, Child Care and Preschool Should Remain a Top Priority in Reconciliation Package UPDATE: On Wednesday, August 11th, the Senate voted to approve the budget resolution, setting the stage for Congressional Democrats to […]

California requires teachers to get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced on Wednesday that school employees in the state must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. California is the first state to enact such requirements.

Senate proposal lays path for universal pre-K

Sign up for the daily Marketplace newsletter to make sense of the most important business and economic news. Senate Democrats put out a $3.5 trillion spending proposal Monday that includes a big expansion of so-called safety net programs, including federally funded universal prekindergarten.

How going remote led to dramatic drops in public school students

The pandemic-driven shift to remote learning contributed significantly to a dramatic drop in public school enrollment last year, especially among the nation’s youngest learners.

The Pandemic Is In A New Phase But Child Care Centers Still Struggling

After all the struggles of the past year and a half, Randy Lum and his four-year-old son Miles were eagerly awaiting the first day at Miles’ new preschool last week. But their excitement didn’t last long.

The U.S. Child Care Crisis Explained

The American child care crisis is decades old and continues to disproportionately affect women.

The Child Care Staffing Crisis Is Getting Worse

High turnover and staffing shortages have long been a scourge of early childhood education, but for many child care providers, the struggle has ratcheted up considerably during the pandemic. That was true in the height of the outbreak last year, and it remains true now.

‘We’re back to panicking’: Moms are hit hardest with camps, day cares and schools closing again

Parents of children under 12 are once again struggling to juggle work and child care. There’s concern about another mass resignation of moms.

California labor contract promises raises for child care providers

More than 40,000 California family child care providers will see a raise next year thanks to the Child Care Providers United union’s first labor contract with the state.

Biden’s child care plan faces a critical test

"First we have to build the capacity and get the workers, and then we will have the ability then to move on," Sen. Patty Murray says.

Ask HR: Should I Ask My Employer for Help Finding Child Care?

SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is answering HR questions as part of a series for USA Today. Do you have an HR or work-related question you'd like him to answer? Submit it here.

Child Care During Competitions Presents A Major Hurdle For Olympians And Paralympians

If you think parenting is stressful, imagine parenting while also competing as a Paralympic athlete. Lora Webster, who competes in sitting volleyball, is a mother of three, with number four on the way.

Combining job training, child care could be ‘magic road’ to single moms’ economic security

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Special correspondent Cat Wise and producer Kate McMahon report from Mississippi, where many working parents struggled to find affordable, quality child care long before the pandemic.

The ‘stars aligned’ in budget deal, but hurdles remain for early education

California families won big in the budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week — financing a half-million new child care seats and the nation’s boldest spread of preschool since the advent of Head Start nearly six decades ago.

Mothers struggle to return to work as California reopens

Before the pandemic, Patricia Gutierrez would drop her 8-year-old autistic son off at school in San Jose and her 4-year-old son off at day care every morning.

Child care, fast internet, and bullet train are part of infrastructure? Sen. Alex Padilla says yes

The debate over what exactly counts as infrastructure has been raging for months in Washington D.C. And now we may have an answer.

Post-Covid California state budget with record spending on education heads to Gov. Newsom

With brief but exuberant praise from Democrats and often acerbic criticism from Republicans, the Legislature dispatched the 2021-22 budget bill with spending levels for education that appeared implausible a year ago, in the throes of a pandemic.

As Infrastructure Deal Gathers Steam, Democratic Cracks Begin to Show

House progressives say they can bring down the bipartisan bill if they do not get their priorities too, but as White House lobbying steps up, other Democrats have different ideas.

Four things to know about the California budget deal

California Assembly and Senate budget leaders announce a budget deal that includes stimulus checks, more in-state students at UC campuses and more money for public health and undocumented immigrants. Gov.

The Best Way to Direct Child-Care Assistance Is Under Debate

While bipartisan support has grown in recent years for increasing federal investments in young children, disagreements remain over the best way to direct new spending.

That Time America Paid For Universal Daycare

In World War Two millions of men went to fight and millions of women joined the workforce. There was just one small problem.t Kids. With their parents out of the house, who would take care of the children? The U.S.

What Is in the New California State Budget?

This story was published June 28, 2021 by CalMatters.

California legislators just finalized a budget with TK. But it's missing a major component.

California Legislative leaders released a landmark $263 billion budget agreement on June 25th that would add a year of school for all 4-year-olds. But mixed delivery, a model for child care delivery to full communities, is missing.

Lawmakers, Newsom cut deal on state budget: Record spending on pre-K through college

Legislative leaders released a landmark state budget agreement late Friday that would add a year of school for all 4-year-olds, significantly expand Cal Grants and middle-class scholarships for college students and provide record funding for pre-K-12 schools anxious to use billions in one-time money

COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Frequently Asked Questions

Following the June 17 vote by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to allow the revisions to immediately take effect on June 17.

Face Coverings in California Workplaces: Amended Cal/OSHA Rules Expected June 17

In the face of criticism for its recently proposed standards about mask wearing and social distancing, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) has now announced revised amendments to its existing workplace safety rules for California employers.

Learning Care Group Acquires Prestige Preschool Academy

NOVI, Mich., June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Learning Care Group, Inc. today announced its acquisition of Prestige Preschool Academy, 23 preschools serving families in California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia.

Overview of Federal Relief for K-12 Education and Child Care

Since March 2020, the federal government has passed three relief packages that assist K-12 schools and child care providers in their response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Help wanted: Labor crisis plagues US restaurant industry

Sherry Villanueva’s family of Santa Barbara restaurants employed 350 people before the pandemic took hold and darkened dining rooms across California. Now, with the state’s economy officially reopened, about 250 workers are back on the job.

Welcome to the ‘Take This Job and Shove It’ Economy

More episodes ofThe Ezra Klein ShowJune 18, 2021  •  56:32Welcome to the ‘Take This Job and Shove It’ EconomyJune 15, 2021  •  1:06:06The Freeing of the American MindJune 11, 2021  •  1:12:25Sam Altman on the A.I.

Push is on to get San Diego area schools to offer transitional kindergarten

Efforts by state leaders to make transitional kindergarten available to all of California’s 4-year-olds has raised a question that is pitting some San Diego parents against their school districts. Are all districts required to offer transitional kindergarten?

California to Officially Align With CDC Masking Guidance as Part of June 15 Reopening

One of California's top public health officials confirmed Wednesday that the state will align with federal face masking guidance when the state's tiered reopening system is lifted next week.

Transitional Kindergarten For Every 4-Year-Old Could Reshape Child Care In LA — And Not Everyone Loves That

Offering transitional kindergarten for every 4-year-old could reshape child care and preschool in California. Governor Gavin Newsom proposed the transitional kindergarten, or TK, expansion last month, and state legislators included the estimated $2.

Transitional kindergarten for all would hurt early education providers

Early childhood experts agree that systemic educational equities cannot be addressed without equitable access to high-quality learning that spans from birth to age 5. So it may come as a surprise that Gov.

CQEL Benefits and Deals

All the product and vendor benefits and deals included in your CQEL membership

CQEL Resource Library

Resources that can make running a high-quality child care just a little bit easier.

Does Biden’s plan for a $15 minimum wage for child care workers go far enough?

President Biden’s proposal to set a new minimum wage for child care and preschool workers would be a good first step in an industry known for low pay and high turnover, but more must be done to establish a livable wage long term, advocates say.

Policymakers Used to Ignore Child Care. Then Came the Pandemic.

When the economist Nancy Folbre got a call from the MacArthur Foundation in 1998, she was expecting rejection: a courtesy call to deny the funding application she’d submitted. She had reason to think an institution might overlook her work.

Free First 5 California kit remains essential to new parents, especially now

Sacramento, Calif. – In 2021, First 5 California debuted its informative and resource-packed Kit for New Parents to millions of families and caregivers throughout the state.

Progressive lawmakers push child care plans ahead of President Biden's proposal

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Tuesday unveiled a $700 billion plan to help families get affordable, quality child care in the United States. Her proposal comes as the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the persistent challenges families face finding and paying for care.

California to Receive $3.8 Billion in Federal Cash to Help Childcare Providers

(CBM) – Help is on the way for childcare providers in California — an industry rocked by widespread closures with surviving operators burdened by the weight of sharp increases in their operating costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Biden's recovery plan for families means for California's children

In the wake of the pandemic, which has cast the essential nature of child care into high relief, President Joe Biden has revealed the outlines of a strategy to rebuild the country’s early education and care infrastructure.

Biden Will Seek Tax Increase on Rich to Fund Child Care and Education

The American Family Plan, which the president wants to pay for by increasing the capital gains tax and the top marginal income tax rate, currently doesn’t include an effort to expand health coverage.

Child care providers ask state to hold off on in-person inspections

LIVERMORE, Calif. — his story was originally published by CalMatters

The COVID recession was harder on women. When will they rebound?

While her husband kept his job, Yogi, who isn’t eligible to receive unemployment benefits here, said the financial stress of becoming a single-income household intensified because of the pandemic.

Why does California disappoint in preschool access and quality?

California continues to lag behind other states in preschool access and quality and the pandemic didn’t help matters, according to a national report that ranks all state-funded preschool programs.

Recovering from the pandemic by investing in our earliest learners

In a virtual classroom visit last month, I unexpectedly saw a toddler amongst the nine-year-old faces. One of the fourth graders, with his headphones and video on, was trying his best to actively listen while bouncing his younger sibling on his knee.

Biden administration releasing $39B to help early childhood educators, child care providers

The Biden administration on Thursday announced it is releasing the $39 billion in funding for the child care industry from the American Rescue Plan.

Editorial: Child care is in crisis, but we can fix it — and help the economy, too

Our pandemic-stricken society cheered the brave first-responders and medical crews who confronted COVID-19 risks every day, thanked grocery workers and tipped delivery people extra (you did, didn’t you?).

Almost 2 months later, child care providers still waiting for relief checks

Desperate child care providers who look after state-subsidized children are anxiously waiting on a much-needed one-time stipend of $525 per child promised by Gov. Gavin Newsom back in February.

Pandemic has damaged California’s school children

A comprehensive history of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on California would surely conclude that the state’s school children have been treated shamefully.

Stanford begins testing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on children as young as 2

As statewide eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine expands to residents 16 and older, researchers at Stanford Medicine have set their sights on an even younger group: children ages 2 to 5.

This Bill Could Turn Into America's First Comprehensive Child Care Program

In 2017, a pair of senior Democratic lawmakers first introduced legislation designed to create the nation’s first comprehensive child care system. But they were in the minority then, Donald Trump was president, and the bill never even got a hearing.

Influencing Legislation Toolkit

Dear CQEL Members, Thank you for joining CQEL in our advocacy efforts. As individuals we can only do so much, uniting is our real strength. Join CQEL in our efforts to inform legislators on how the decisions they make affect us and the children and families we serve. No one

The pandemic exposed how Americans devalue child care. Systemic racism and sexism are to blame.

Read Full Article [https://www.inquirer.com/news/american-child-care-racism-sexism-pandemic-20210327.html]

Child Care in Crisis: Can Biden’s Plan Save It?

In suburban Ohio, a decades-old child-care center that was thriving before the pandemic shut its doors for the final time in August.

Biden to Push Child-Care Spending in Next Economic Proposal

Investments in the caregiving economy, alongside infrastructure and the environment, are expected in the Build Back Better economic package

WATCH: Harris discusses child poverty and education with Secretary Miguel Cardona

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris discussed child poverty and education with Secretary Miguel Cardona on Friday. The Biden administration says it will launch a major campaign to make Americans aware of the benefits available under the $1.

Guest view: Funding the childcare industry supports working women

With a lack of societal and government support during the pandemic, women are having to make some tough decisions. In the U.S., more than 2.3 million women have left the labor force since the start of the pandemic as shown in research done by The Women’s National Law Center.

Is this finally the moment Americans get universal child care?

We don’t need to tell you America has a child care problem. Many of you can feel it. We certainly can; one of our producers changed a diaper during today’s taping.

States Must Fund Early Child Care Programs

President Joe Biden has identified universal pre-K as one of his priorities, and voters in Colorado and Oregon have passed measures to expand affordable access to care for all families.

The Great COVID Child Care Awakening

A year ago, my husband Matt and I crammed our son, our dog, and everything else we could fit into our car and drove to my in-laws’ in southwest Virginia.

The ‘invisible’ front line workers of education

Skip to content Posted inEarly Education The ‘invisible’ front line workers of education Experts call for more mental health care, help with basic needs for child care workers Get important education news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox Child care workers nationwide are worried ab

Biden’s rescue plan says child care is too important to leave to the market

Reuters/Kevin LamarqueHey, baby!From our ObsessionFixing capitalismCapitalism is just a collection of human decisions. We can change it if we want to.By Senior reporterThe imminent passage of the American Rescue Plan, some $1.

How Have U.S. Working Women Fared During the Pandemic?

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Job losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic have hit women harder than men, starting with the pandemic in early 2020 and continuing one year later through February 2021.

‘Revolutionary’ Federal Stimulus Bill Could Cut California Child Poverty By Half

As President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion virus relief package heads to the Oval Office for his signature, the mammoth spending bill has the potential to reduce child poverty in the Golden State by half.

California’s economy is failing women. Here’s why we need workplace reform

Since the coronavirus began its rampage, with most schools unable to stay open, women have been torn from the workforce. In December, women accounted for 100% of job losses across the country.

Los Angeles schools reach agreement with teachers union to reopen classrooms

The nation’s second-largest district would open for in-person learning in April.

🔒 Member-Only Access to CQEL's New Title 22 Tool

We’ve heard time and time again that Title 22 is confusing, and when a director needs to look something up, it’s frustrating to sort through all those long PDFs. The Title 22 Tool is a highly organized, searchable database of the Title 22 text. Log in to access the tool here.

CQEL Senate Testimony: Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response

CQEL testified at the California Senate's Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response. This is the transcript.

How to talk to families about Transitional Kindergarten

Biden pledges to help fix the child-care crisis in America. Here is his plan

President-elect Joe Biden has a plan to help fix what he calls the immediate and acute child-care crisis in America. He unveiled his proposal on Thursday, as part of his sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package.

New training: Can child cares require employees to vaccinate?

We're announcing a new training all about if you can require your employees to vaccinate, and other topics around the legality of the vaccine for employers. This is free for members 🎉- log in to get your code here [https://my.caqualityearlylearning.org/cqel-event-discount-codes/] then book your spot

County-by-County COVID-19 Tier and Vaccine Resources

California has a blueprint for reducing COVID-19 in the state and rolling out the vaccine. This page contains links to all county COVID-19 resources.

PPP 2.0: Funding Guide for Child Cares

A new relief bill will revive the PPP, which helps small businesses maintain payroll with forgivable loans. Here's what you need to know.

Funding Available for California Child Cares

For members only, we've built an up-to-date list on funding available to California child cares. This single resource could get you thousands in grants and tax savings. Sign up by clicking "Subscribe" above.

It’s time we gave women and young children their due

California’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care may seem at first glance like an overly forward-looking plan in this time of urgent need.

California's Child Care Providers Largely on Their Own to Struggle Through Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for California’s child care providers. Some saw their enrollment numbers plummet — along with their revenue — as families decided to keep children home.

Three Key Reasons California Must Prioritize Essential Child Care Personnel for COVID-19 Vaccination

California early educators are calling upon Governor Gavin Newsom, California Department of Public Health, and California Health & Human Services to prioritize child care personnel in the proposed rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations among essential workers.

Millennial Readers Share Thoughts on Debt, Child Care Amid Pandemic

One extolled the benefits of investing; another lamented the financial burden of childcare

Child Care Is Back, But Many Providers Are Struggling Financially

As the pandemic wears on, concerns about the stability of the child care system are rising as many Massachusetts child care providers report losing money -- with some closing their doors entirely. Eighty-two percent of the state's licensed providers reopened as of Nov.

Coronavirus Takes Toll on Black, Latino Child Care Providers

Mary De La Rosa stands inside a play structure in her home backyard, that once housed the now-closed child care program, Creative Explorers, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Another step toward universal preschool in California?

Long a goal of early childhood advocates, universal preschool came a step closer to becoming reality this week.

New day, new rules: Everything to know about California's confusing new stay-at-home order

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- We're in the middle of the worst coronavirus surge California has seen so far, and the state is making moves to shut back down again.

Will Newsom mend the gaps in state’s new plan for early learning?

California’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care is a “starting point,” but many advocates point to serious gaps that need to be fixed. Kate Karpilow writes on issues affecting women and families, and authored “Understanding Child Care: A Primer for Policymakers,” Kate.

Who will have priority for COVID-19 vaccine?

There’s nothing new about political jousting over shares of a limited but valuable resource. For instance, Californians have been squabbling for decades over divvying up water supplies among agricultural interests, municipal consumers and the natural environment.

New Master Plan for Early Learning and Care points way to California for all

As public servants and mothers whose life work is dedicated to maximizing the potential in all children from birth through young adulthood, we stand together as partners in an effort to transform how we provide every infant, toddler and preschooler a successful start that carries them through school

It's Not Just ABCs — Preschool Parents Worry Their Kids Are Missing Out On Critical Social Skills During The Pandemic

As COVID-19 cases once again spike across the country, parents in school districts like New York City and Detroit face another weeks long stretch of remote learning. This often includes

The parental burnout crisis has reached a tipping point

The ever-shifting demands of parenting in a pandemic are leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. The parental burnout crisis has reached a tipping point “I don’t know anyone that is not struggling” at this point in the pandemic, one mom says.

The cost of child care was already astronomical. In the pandemic, it’s ‘terrifying.’

Once a month, after the kids are in bed, Margie Yeager and her husband convene at the dining room table. She opens her computer and pulls up the spreadsheet where she tracks the family budget. There is one column that’s caused far more stress this year than any other: child care.

Transforming Kids' Worries Into Superpowers

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School Rankings: Framing (Slightly) Differently

You might have thought it would be settled by now, but the school reopening debate is far from over. In a sense, we are in no different a place than we were in September. Schools are open in some places and not in others, and the correlations are odd.

New York City to Close Public Schools Again as Virus Cases Rise

In a big setback for the city’s recovery, the schools chancellor, Richard Carranza, said the nation’s largest district would return to all-remote learning. New York City’s entire public school system will shutter on Thursday, the schools chancellor Richard A.

California's Fiscal Outlook

State Economy Has Undergone Rapid but Uneven Recovery. Although the state economy abruptly ground to a halt in the spring with the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019, it has experienced a quicker rebound than expected.

Coronavirus live updates: Contra Costa County urges families to get tested before Thanksgiving

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact across the world and also in cities across Northern California. The latest number of confirmed cases in the U.S. can be found at the CDC's 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the U.S. page.

How an Oregon Measure for Universal Preschool Could Be a National Model

Creators of the Portland-area approach tried to avoid the pitfalls of similar policies elsewhere, and are giving teachers large raises. On Election Day, Multnomah County, which includes Portland, Ore., passed one of the most progressive universal preschool policies in the nation.

Oregon posts workplace outbreaks, California has no such plan

Oregon led with transparency in reporting workplace outbreaks. California shields businesses so as not to shame them. The distinction has workers and public health experts worried.

There's a business case for companies to offer child care benefits

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the inextricable link between child care and the economy — and it's pushing businesses to confront the cost of working parents' unpaid side gig.

Child care crisis could cost women $64.5 billion in lost wages

A new report from The Century Foundation and Center for American Progress estimates women could lose $64.5 billion a year in earnings if current trends in workforce participation hold. The economic devastation of the pandemic has hit women particularly hard.

The American Government Once Offered Widely Affordable Child Care ... 77 Years Ago

Rachael Shannon gets nostalgic when she thinks of the life she lived in Germany until just a couple of years ago.

California needs a statewide system for measuring kindergarten readiness

We have to recognize that education-related inequities begin before children enter the classroom. Kara Dukakis is a senior program officer at Tipping Point Community, which fights poverty by funding nonprofits in the Bay Area, kdukakis@tippingpoint.org.

COVID could be the wakeup call businesses need to fix a broken child care system

Businesses have finally realized that the child care crisis damages the economy, and that it’s in their best, most selfish interests to help solve it. Back in 2009, when New York City imposed a tax on big businesses to help pay for the subway system, most got on board.

The Rise of the ‘Carebnb’: Is This Home-Based Model the Future of the Childcare Industry?

For the past six years, Brittany Schultz has been a kindergarten teacher in the Denver public school system. On May 28, she left, and on June 15, she opened Ms. Brittany’s Village day care in her home in Commerce City, Colo., with her three children and one from another family.

Who Minds The Children? Parental Childcare Choices

The landscape of childcare in the US has changed markedly over the past few decades. As recently as 1975, more than half of US children had a stay-at-home parent (commonly the mother).

How coronavirus exposed the flaws of the childcare economy

The U.S. government's Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that childcare workers in the nation have a median salary of just over $24,000 a year—below the poverty line for a family of four.

It’s Time to Talk About Covid-19 and Surfaces Again

Beth Kalb was worried about the pews. This summer, the century-old Catholic church she attends in a small town outside Minneapolis had, like many places, reopened its doors with new rituals of disinfection. Kalb had quickly noticed the side effects.

Flowchart: What to do if a child becomes sick or reports new Covid-19 diagnosis

How the Child Care for Working Families Act Benefits Children With Disabilities and Their Families

Authors’ note: The disability community is rapidly evolving to using identity-first language in place of person-first language. This is because it views disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender.

'It's My Job To Continue To Push' For More Diverse Early Childhood Leadership

Tashon McKeithan is the executive director at the Child Educational Center in La Cañada Flintridge. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.

LAUSD, Board of Supervisors Candidates Lay Out Plans For Early Childhood Programs

Two children in a pre-school class at Young Horizons play with blocks while wearing facemasks. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.

Where Trump and Biden Stand on Child Care

The child care system in the U.S. was already at a tipping point prior to the coronavirus pandemic – too few options, astronomical costs and workers earning some of the lowest wages in the country.

The lack of a national policy agenda for children during Covid-19 — and beyond — causes grave harm

As a neonatal intensivist, helping families and newborns in distress is part of my job. In the intensive care unit, the distress is obvious. Covid-19 is shining a light on distress in children and families that has been largely hidden.

Left without school or day care, farmworkers are bringing their kids to work

Every day after the sun rises in Limestone, Tenn., a 27-year-old Mexican farmworker walks into the barn where she washes and packs yellow squash and zucchini, her three young children carrying their backpacks next to her as she leads them straight to the break room.

Outdoor classes and ‘forest schools’ gain new prominence amid distance learning struggles

We need your insights! In a state as vast and diverse as California, we depend on parents, educators, students, administrators, policymakers and community members like you to help us understand what's working at your schools, colleges and early child care centers — and what must be improved.

Fearing distance learning, many parents opt for preschool instead of kindergarten

Many California parents are opting out of kindergarten this year, due to concerns about whether distance learning or attending school for the first time with strangers in masks will be good for children.

'Pandemic Pods' Raise Concerns About Equity

As many schools opt for a hybrid or online-only fall semester, some parents are teaming up and hiring teachers to educate their children in small groups — so-called pandemic pods.

Will Distance Learning Make Education Inequality Worse?

Ever since Bay Area school districts announced they would begin the fall 2020 school year with distance learning due to the still-increasing rate of COVID-19 infection across the region, parents have been scrambling to figure out how to manage their children’s schooling.

Child care safety during the pandemic

Child care facilities were deemed essential in the early days of the pandemic. Yet many of them closed as parents pulled children out when stay-at-home orders came. Over the summer, many early care programs began reopening with strict COVID-19 safety protocols.

California Requires Millions of Children To Be Tested for Lead Exposure

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed into law a measure to protect millions of children from the developmental and health impacts of toxic lead exposure. Assembly Bill 2276 ensures that the state screen and test the children most at risk of lead poisoning.

California’s Governor Signs Several Bills Causing Bold Changes to Employee Leaves

You are responsible for reading, understanding and agreeing to the National Law Review's (NLR’s) and the National Law Forum LLC's  Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using the National Law Review website.

Pandemic Closes 1,500 Child Care Providers, Movie Theaters Request Bailout

On the October 1 edition of the Reporter Roundup, KPCC reporters and a KCET producer discuss the permanent shutdown of child care providers, a call for a movie theater bailout and a powerful artist movement born on Southern California beaches.

California's Child Care System In Crisis

Child Care providers are calling for urgent action from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Amy Johnson reports.

A Quiet Season for California’s Child Welfare Bills

With the close of an abbreviated and narrowly focused legislative session amid the pandemic, some of the least fortunate and vulnerable Californians – those involved in child welfare cases – will receive only modest help in the coming year in the form of new legislation.

California child care providers stand to lose millions of dollars

SACRAMENTO — California child care providers stand to lose millions of dollars after Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers put their faith in a federal stimulus package that has yet to materialize.

The Effective School Owner: 5 Leadership Strategies for Women

After 24 years as a K-College teacher and administrator, I ventured into the new space of preschool ownership in 2018. I eased into the new role by first surveying the logistics and culture of the school.

California Department of Public Health releases new guidelines for outdoor playgrounds

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nota: Hay nuevas reglas para los parques durante la pandemia y algunos en su área pueden estar abiertos. Para obtener información en español, haga clic aquí.

First-ever report spotlights California, New Jersey, D.C. as best in nation for creating prenatal-to-3 policies that set children up to excel in early education

Only California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have implemented all of the state policies that research shows contribute to young children’s health and well-being during their first three years, according to a comprehensive new “roadmap” released earlier this month.

Voters Now View Child Care as an Essential Service Like Healthcare and Education

Regardless of party, voters overwhelmingly say high-quality, affordable child care for families with young children is an essential service—just like healthcare and education.

Picking Up the Pieces: Building a Better Child Care System Post COVID-19

Long before COVID-19, the U.S. child care system was in trouble. Last year, Child Care Aware® of America explored that broken system in our report, The U.S. and the High Price of Child Care. We found it was: The child care industry has now shattered completely.

Deadline Approaching: California Sexual Harassment Training

Employees must complete training by Jan. 1, 2021. California law requires all employers of 5 or more employees to provide 1 hour of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to nonsupervisory employees and 2 hours of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to supervisors and managers once every

The future of the economy hinges on child care

Part of The Great Rebuild Issue of The Highlight, our home for ambitious stories that explain our world. It was a Tuesday in March when Ellen Drolette heard that schools were closing.

Expert Interview: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Future of Child Care

Throughout the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard countless stories from parents and teachers alike about the impossible task of scaling a nationwide distance learning program.

Utah Study Finds Children Bring COVID-19 Home From Child Care Centers

Researchers recently investigated three outbreaks of COVID-19 at child care centers in Salt Lake City. Their findings are helping to fill a knowledge gap on how younger children might spread the virus.

How to Participate in Politics

When it comes to politics, Americans have become pretty pessimistic. People don’t trust the political parties. Voter turnout is mediocre. Cynicism and polarization are rampant. But this pessimism belies a truth: Individual Americans have more political power than they realize.

Child Care Centers Must Now Require Masks for All Children 3 And Older

Preschools and child care centers around the state will soon be required to have all children 3 years and older weak masks. The new regulations require child care programs and camps to create a written policy for mask-wearing.

Mom Shaming’s Running Rampant During the Pandemic

“So you can’t play with us anymore,” she said. She’s not a 4-year-old schoolyard bully, but a 34-year-old women’s studies professor and my new mom friend who lives down the street.

America Needs to Start Treating Childcare as What It Is: Vital Infrastructure

If the highway that connected the residential communities and business district of your town collapsed, the effects on the local economy would be immediate and obvious.

Schools May Get Sued Over COVID-19. 7 Things to Know About Managing That Risk

As school begins in earnest, districts are struggling to get their arms around an elusive but potentially costly challenge: risk management in the age of coronavirus.

How the government failed working parents—and which policies could help

From essential worker stipends to paying daycare tuition, states are trying different approaches to help families with young children weather the pandemic. long ReadThis story is part of Fast Company‘s Reinventing Education package.

Child care providers weigh the costs and benefits of reopening

Jason Gindele runs Mainspring Schools in Austin, Texas. It’s a nonprofit child care center for children up to age 5, mostly from low-income families, and it has been closed since March. He’s aware of how crucial his center is to those families.

Public pre-K programs are facing another lost decade

In California, a plan to expand state-funded pre-K to 10,000 children has been canceled due to a state budget crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In Wyoming, a public preschool program for children with disabilities and developmental delays will lose $8.8 million in funding.

The True Cost of Providing Safe Child Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the nation continues to grapple with the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, child care is among the hardest-hit and least supported industries.

Senate’s “Skinny” COVID-19 Package Includes $15 Billion for Child Care from HEALS Act

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced a paired-down economic relief package, which includes $15 billion in emergency funding for the child care industry.

COVID-19 Has Nearly Destroyed the Childcare Industry—and It Might Be Too Late to Save It

Jenna Antico, a 31-year-old childcare operator in Sarasota, Fla., thought 2020 would be a pivotal year for her business. The daycare facility she started building in 2015 was turning a steady profit, so she leased a second building in October 2019, then purchased a third in late February 2020.

Residents in 22 Northern California counties could lose power for up to 2 days, PG&E says

CALIFORNIA, USA — Update: 6:15 p.m. PG&E said they could be turning off power to parts of the Sierra Foothills and North Bay, impacting up to 172,000 customers in 22 counties.

Why some California classrooms will reopen for child care, though barred from in-person instruction

Some California students may find themselves in child care this fall in the very same classrooms they are barred from entering for in-person instruction.

'Galvanize this moment': California lawmaker hopes newborn speech will propel family leave

SACRAMENTO — It was a revolution with a baby and a blanket.

Many parents fill in gaps for preschoolers unable to go to in-person programs

In the five months since most Californians were ordered to shelter in place, parents and caretakers of preschool students have largely been left to fill the learning gap that began to widen when schools closed in the spring.

Researchers Warn Nearly Half Of U.S. Child Care Centers Could Be Lost To Pandemic

Angelique Speight-Marshall has come up with an ingenious idea to help the toddlers she looks after practice social distancing: She gave each of them a walkie-talkie. The kids squeal with delight as they run as far away from each other as possible, to talk.

Seeking Equity in Early Childhood Education

The work of early childhood educators improves the social, behavioral, and academic development of young children, providing a foundation for success in school and in life. Yet, the early childhood workforce, predominantly made up of women of color, continues to be undervalued and underpaid.

How Strange Bedfellows Can Save Science

It sounds so simple: all we need to do is show people the science and evidence-based research for how to stay safe, stay healthy, save the environment, and more, and they’ll change their behaviors.

With less money and more risk, waves of child-care providers call it quits

Kirsten Hove and her mom have been taking care of kids in San Francisco for decades. Hove’s mother opened a day care program in her home in the city’s Marina neighborhood more than 30 years ago. In 2006, Hove and a family friend expanded the business by opening sites in their apartments nearby.

Joe Biden wants to give working families a break on child-care costs, plus paid time off and access to universal pre-K

For many U.S. families, child care is simply too expensive. Parents regularly pay over $11,000 a year to send their infant to a child-care center, about $10,000 for toddlers and over $9,000 for 4-year-olds, according to Child Care Aware of America's 2019 report.

COVID-19 Prompts Child Care Crisis Across California

Falling enrollment, anxiety about health risks, and confusing guidelines from public health officials have all contributed to a crisis in California’s child care facilities.

California child care system collapsing under COVID-19, Berkeley report says

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating economic and human impact on California child care centers, forcing hundreds of them to close while others remain open at the risk of illness to both children and staff, according to a new report from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sacramento-region YMCAs partner with churches to offer child care during pandemic

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Playing, learning, and socializing. Three things children can't easily get from a computer screen. Distance learning was supposed to be a temporary solution for education when coronavirus concerns first prompted school closures in the spring.

California family child care providers vote to join union

Khulood Jamil reads to children at her family child care center in Concord. For the first time ever, family child care providers in California who care for children receiving subsidized care will have a union to represent them and negotiate with the state for higher pay and training.

A Child Care Center Followed The COVID Safety Guidelines. It Still Had An Outbreak

Proyecto Pastoral has prioritized caring for children from essential worker families and those who have special needs or are in foster care. (Courtesy Proyecto Pastoral) Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter.

Some School Districts in California Are Using Virus-Closed Classrooms For Child Care

Some California school districts that have closed classrooms in favor of online instruction for the new academic year are putting those buildings to another use: child care.

With Caveats, Hopeful News for Preschools Planning Young Kids’ Return

Anna Almendrala Sabrina Lira Garcia is proud to work as a clinical assistant in the COVID-19 ward of a Los Angeles hospital, but sometimes she wishes she could just stay home with her infant son until the pandemic is over.

Child care is broken. Biden has a plan to fix it.

As Covid-19 runs rampant across California, sickening hundreds of thousands of people, Rosa Carreño’s day care in San Jose has remained open through it all.

How the Child Care Crisis Will Distort the Economy for a Generation

The economic toll of the collapse of the child system will be felt for 20-30 years, says Betsey Stevenson. Zack Stanton is digital editor of Politico Magazine.

The crisis of California’s child care: urgent action needed

California’s child care facilities, including our after-school programs, have been struggling to provide care and services for our young people for many years. For millions of Californians, returning to work will require they have safe places to send their children when they are not in school.

Education and the coronavirus crisis: What’s the latest?

Referring to announcements by Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified that they will reopen schools remotely, Gov.

California Child Care in Crisis: The Escalating Impacts of COVID-19 as California Reopens

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an unprecedented crisis in California child care.

Covid-19 lawsuits: a school district worry and Michael Drake, UC's new president

Among the reopening anxieties keeping school superintendents up at night is the fear of being sued if a student or teacher comes down with the coronavirus.

California must commit to funding coronavirus protections for child care workers

California’s efforts to reopen our economy during the pandemic created tremendous public health risks, many of which are borne by child care providers.

Big New Obstacle for Economic Recovery: Child Care Crisis

The decision to only reopen New York City’s public schools part time in September illustrates the looming threat to businesses.

Early childhood education and care professionals say coronavirus reveals need for more public funding, systemic overhauls

With the coronavirus pandemic shaking up an already-struggling early childhood education and care industry that lacks the infrastructure of the K-12 system, Massachusetts professionals, advocates and lawmakers on Tuesday called for an infusion of public funding and a reimagining of how the state and

Remembering Sherri Springer, CQEL Co-Founder & President

It’s with great sadness that we share that Sherri Springer, CQEL Co-Founder and Board President, has passed away. Sherri was a dear friend, colleague, and courageous advocate for young children. Her work in childcare and with CQEL has made a profound and lasting impact on the field of ECE.

School’s Out. Parental Burnout Isn’t Going Away.

Here in New York, there are three days left in the school year.

California Coronavirus Testing Task Force

Governor Newsom has announced a COVID-19 Testing Task Force, a public-private collaboration working group with stakeholders across the state to quickly and significantly boost California’s testing capacity.

What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns

When Arizona schools shut down in mid-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Tatiana Laimit, a nurse in Phoenix, knew she needed a backup plan. Laimit is a single mother of a 6-year-old girl, and had recently relocated to the area.

Many jobless parents could have a tougher time turning down work for lack of child care

Although it's still unclear whether schools will reopen in the fall, camps and day cares in many states are operating once again.

Apple’s lack of daycare isn’t an oversight, it’s a feature

After WIRED offered us all a peek into Apple’s new headquarters, one notable fact emerged: there’s no daycare center. Whooooopsie.  Except this was no mistake.

CQEL Event Discount Codes and Recordings

CQEL Members get massive discounts to CQEL's events and trainings.

Newsom agrees to downsize his California budget cuts in a deal with lawmakers

Gov.

Middle-income and rural families disproportionately grapple with child-care deserts, new analysis shows

When Cathy Belair was searching for child care a couple of years ago for her two young granddaughters in Fletcher, N.C., the middle school math teacher said she found only two “quality” options that had space for the girls and also opened early enough for her to drop them off before work.

Will the Pandemic Reshape Child Care for Good?

When children enter Helana Pennywell’s daycare, she scans each small forehead with a thermometer. If they’re free of fever, they’re welcomed inside, where she sanitizes their belongings and makes sure they wash their faces and hands.

Gov. Newsom agrees to nix budget cuts for child care programs, seniors’ health insurance

Facing an estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit because of the coronavirus, California lawmakers on Monday approved a state spending plan that rejects most of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed cuts to public education and health care with the hope that Congress will send the state more money by Oct.

California immunization rates drop 40% during pandemic

California’s vaccination rates for children took a nosedive just a few weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March to slow the spread of Covid-19, causing concerns among health professionals about the potential for outbreaks of other diseases during the pandemic.

How The Systemic Segregation Of Schools Is Maintained By 'Individual Choices'

Sixty-three years after the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, many schools across the country either remain segregated or have re-segregated. Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that when it comes to school segregation, separate is never truly equal.

Should I Send My Kid Back to Day Care?

Like many people who live in urban areas, I have a small front yard. But it’s painstakingly cultivated. Here is the gate that my husband welded himself, there the strawberry beds. As the weather has warmed up, my preschoolers have spent more time outside on our stoop.

What Women Need in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented public health and economic crisis. Policy solutions in response to the pandemic’s devastating impacts on health and economic security must account for the unique needs of women and families, especially women of color.

When Child Care Centers Close, Parents Scramble to Adapt

As lockdowns and quarantines stretch on, reports of child care facility closures have been coming in from coast to coast.

Most 'Pop-Up' Child Care Centers Were Already Watching Kids Before The Pandemic

Socially distant physical education at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center's pop-up child care center. (Courtesy Sharon Drobka) Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.

Day-Care Centers Are Reopening. Will Families Return?

Covid-19 restrictions on the cash-strapped child-care industry are lifting, but many parents are reluctant to send children back

New childcare solutions: Groups working to fill gaps as parents return to work

LANSING, Mich. — It's the issue on parent's minds as they begin to return to work. Who will safely be able to take care of the kids. Thousands of child care centers are at risk of going broke.

Licensing, CDE, and CDPH Guidance for Operating Through Covid-19

As programs begin to reopen and other programs transition from emergency child care for essential workers to enhanced regular operations, all providers must apply new and updated policies and requirements and must update their emergency preparedness plan.

Child care is still the missing ingredient for a fast economic recovery

After weeks at home, Ana Arroyo, 28, is ready get out of the house and back to work. Her employer, Merced County Community Action Agency, has reopened and her job is just waiting for her. But she can't return — because there's no one to watch her six-year-old son, Javier.

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (Link to Free Training)

California law requires all employers of 5 or more employees to provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training. Get the free training here.

Complex health considerations make reopening California’s schools a challenge

Schools are facing a complicated array of health considerations as they decide whether and how to reopen this fall.

Stress in child care will affect recovery from pandemic

The report on “saving Minnesota’s child care sector” during the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the middle of an already exhausting week, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the eruption of anger, grief and violence that followed.

Coronavirus: California to allow schools, gyms and bars to reopen as state moves to Phase 3

On the same day California topped 125,000 coronavirus cases, state officials released guidelines allowing individual counties to begin reopening gyms, bars, campgrounds, professional sports and a wide-range of businesses as early as next Friday.

California gives counties path to reopen campgrounds, bars, gyms and more as soon as June 12

California campgrounds, hotels, gyms, bars and museums may reopen as soon as June 12 if their home counties can prove to the state that public health safety criteria have been met, according to new guidance issued by state health officials Friday.

COVID and kids: A new inflammatory syndrome poses safety challenge for schools, day care

But now, several hundred cases of the new inflammatory syndrome have been reported in the U.S. It is marked by inflammation throughout the body, affecting blood vessels and organs such as the heart or kidneys, and could lead to coronary aneurysm and toxic shock.

The pandemic exposes US childcare for what it is: ‘a crisis within a crisis’

The coronavirus pandemic has lain bare some of the worst inequities in the US, not least the shortcomings in the US childcare system.

California lawmakers would spare K-12 schools from any budget cuts

In an unusual move to reach a consensus early, California Assembly and Senate leaders announced Wednesday they have agreed on a state budget that would rescind all cuts to K-12 and higher education that Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed.

Newsom's Proposed Cuts to Child Care Rates Have Advocates Worried

Child care provider Pat Alexander has hung onto her in-home child care center during the COVID-19 pandemic, but just barely. Alexander was caring for 13 kids in her Elk Grove home in Sacramento County, but now she's down to three. So far, she's survived the hit to her income.

Tools to Talk to Children About Race

There’s no question: talking about race can be sensitive, and yes, even a bit messy. Here are some ways to approach it.

As Day Care Centers Reopen, Will Parents Send Their Children?

Reopening requires cash, safety renovations and parental confidence — all of which are in short supply. Venice Ray was eager to return to work when Texas announced last week that child care centers, like the one she was laid off from in March, could immediately reopen.

'Children will not be wearing masks' at Bright Horizons' child-care centers, CEO says

Staff and teachers at Bright Horizons' facilities are required to wear masks, Kramer said. He said the company is encouraging parents to have conversations with their children in advance, so they are comfortable with it. The advice is to tell kids that "heroes wear masks," Kramer said.

Big cuts loom for California preschool, child care programs

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to expand free preschool and increase support for child care may be axed in the new coronavirus economy. Even the littlest Californians have not been spared in the governor’s big proposal to cut a budget decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov.

How Universal Pre-K Drives Up Families’ Infant-Care Costs

Bronx daycare owner Angela Salas suspects it’s no coincidence that ever since New York City’s fre­e preschool program for three-year-olds arrived in her borough, her popular home-based child-care program has struggled.

Should the Child Care Industry Get a Bailout?

Democrats propose $50 billion for a business that is in danger of widespread failure — and that many parents need before they can return to work. It has become agonizingly clear to parents of young children that the economy cannot fully reopen without child care.

Commentary: Why Newsom must make child care affordable for Californians

Gov. Gavin Newsom must decide this month whether California families win big, or still wait, on his signature promise: making child care affordable for all.