Early Care and Education Fact Sheet The evidence is in! “When we increase the time, income and resources for parents and caregivers of young children, we help build a sound foundation for lifelong development, better learning, earning and physical and mental health.” http://www.raisingofamerica.org/ “While 85% of the brain’s core structure (size, growth and much of its hard wiring) is formed by age four, less than 4% of public investments in education and development are made by that time. “ http://www.voices.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ELLO.pdf Children grow and thrive in the context of close and dependable relationships that provide love and nurturance, security, responsive interaction, and encouragement for exploration. -Neurons to Neighborhoods (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309069882) “You can modify behavior later, but you can’t rewire disrupted brain circuits,” -Jack Shonkoff, MD. Director, National Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglass “Nothing brings more money to the economy than the education of children,” Congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi. (http://www.seiu1021.org/2013/03/29/pelosi-visits-sf-day-care-calls-for-more-fundingfor-early-education-programs/ ) But our resources keep shrinking! “California’s child care and development system has been subject to consistent and significant decreases in funding since the 2008-2009 fiscal year- with over $1 billion and over 111,000 subsidized spaces lost. That represents about a 25% reduction to subsidized child care in a span of about 5 years.” ~Linda Asato, executive director of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network Locally: Since 2010, San Francisco has had $13.8 million in state cuts to subsidies for early care and education, which translates to losing funding for over quarter of subsidized ECE slots in our city. Though the city has stepped up with support to help keep classrooms open, to keep children learning, and to keep teachers employed, we need to STOP THE CUTS, and INVEST IN Early Childhood Education! As of March 2013, there are at least 3812 children waiting for child care in San Francisco! The vision of the SFCCPA is that the early childhood education workforce will have all of the support, compensation, and other resources necessary to provide the highest quality education and care to all children and families in San Francisco. Join the conversation www.facebook.com:SanFranciscoChildCareProvidersAssociation Early Care and Education Fact Sheet WE NEED TO INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY EDUCTORS! “Teacher wages are directly related to the quality of child care that is provided.” (Cost, Quality and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers, Helburn,1995) Staff salaries, training, and turnover correlate strongly to language and social gains in young children. The findings are straightforward -- the more teachers are paid, the more training they receive, and the longer they stay employed by the program, the better the outcomes are for children. (National Child Care Staffing Study, Whitebook et al., 1992; Cost and Quality Study, Helburn, 1995). …but the median hourly wage for child care teachers in the us is only $11.14. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ca.htm - 39-0000 Parents can’t afford to pay, teachers can’t afford to stay! “Studies that have followed children through their adult lives confirm enormous payoffs for these investments, whether measured in improved success in college, higher income or even lower incarceration rates. The costs of not making these investments are also clear. … more than half of poor 5-year-olds don’t have the math, reading or behavioral skills needed to profitably start kindergarten. If children keep arriving in school with these deficits, no amount of money or teacher evaluations may be enough to improve their lot later in life.” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/business/studies-highlight-benefits-of-early-education.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y&_r=0 STOP THE CUTS and INVEST in Early Care and Education!!!!! The good news: the most socially just and equitable solution is also the most economically efficient solution! Learn more at http://www.raisingofamerica.org/ The vision of the SFCCPA is that the early childhood education workforce will have all of the support, compensation, and other resources necessary to provide the highest quality education and care to all children and families in San Francisco. Join the conversation www.facebook.com:SanFranciscoChildCareProvidersAssociation