What's Missing in Child Care and Early Education in America

Join the discussion on what the biggest problems and priorities that need to be addressed are in child care and early childhood education.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, The Early Education Initiative will be co-hosting an event with the Workforce and Family Program to discuss the urgent need for change in child care and early childhood education.

Over 11 million American children spend their time in a child care facility each day, and many of these families rely on publicly funded programs. In most households, even if both parents are present, they both still have to work to support their lifestyle, meaning childcare is a necessity.

However, the cost of daycares is continuing to rise, while staff salaries are still low, leading to a high staff turnover rate, ultimately affecting the quality of care . Because of the high turnover rate, student-teacher ratios are often askew, meaning children aren’t getting enough attention. Fiscal pressures on states and the federal government are deterring investments.

While the outlook may seem grim, the purpose of the event is to how best address these concerns to ensure quality early childhood education and care that supports both the learning of children and the ability of adults to go to work.

There’s still time to RSVP to the event, which will be held on Oct. 20 at 12:15 p.m. at1899 L Street NW, Suite 400 in Washington, D.C. If you’re interested, but can’t make it to D.C., there will be a live streaming.

What do you think is the most pressing issue in early child care today? Share your thoughts by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.