Policy & Practice April 2015

legislative update

By Rashida Brown

Next Steps for Child Care: Robust Reforms Mark Two Decades to Reach Reauthorization

I n the past 20 years, a heightened recognition of the vital role that child care plays in the nation’s economy has contributed to a larger public policy dialogue and significant reform. On November 19, 2014, President Obama signed the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) of 2014 into law. This action reauthorized the federal child care program, adding a new set of requirements for state agencies to improve children’s school readiness and enforce minimum health and safety standards for child-care settings. In order to fully grasp the concept of these new reforms and understand the direction that child care is headed, it is important to take a step back to review the history of two decades of child care policy. Prior to the most recent reauthorization, CCDBG was a part of the comprehensive 1996 Welfare Reform Act, passed during the Clinton Administration. The primary focus was on transitioning people from welfare to work. During that time, the public’s attention was fueled by the unprecedented rise of mothers in the workforce. Yet, there was a shortage of child-care providers and high demand for a competent early childhood workforce. Increasing federal support for child care was critical to helping families achieve gainful employ- ment and re-energizing the nation’s economic well-being. Policymakers began to recognize the child care indus- try’s importance in job creation, its contribution to the growth of local busi- nesses, and the human capital benefits of investing in quality child care. Child care was no longer considered merely as a work support, but rather

to support initiatives that encourage innovation and strengthen early care and education programs. State child care agencies are the primary driver of quality improvement, which involves supporting a vast array of quality initiatives such as consumer educa- tion campaigns, teacher training and education, tiered reimbursement, and QRIS models. The 1996 reauthorization also ensured that families had access to consumer education to help them make informed decisions about their child’s education and care. Families were becoming more aware that these settings provide a safe place for young children to develop and acquire

as an opportunity to make a positive impact on the growth and development of children. At that time, research on high-quality child care showed a strong connection between quality pro- viders and children’s ability for school readiness prior to kindergarten. Levels of quality are typically based on a set of indicators often used within a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) or other, alternative method. As the level of quality increases, the impact on children’s developmental, social, emotional, and educational outcomes is increasingly positive. The flexibly within CCDBG has given states the ability to maximize their use of federal dollars to improve the quality of child care—essential

See Legislative Update on page 36

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