The four-day school week is a growing trend during this recession. This controversial format is something to keep an eye on.
Hawaii is one of the most recent states to change to a four-day school week due to budget woes. Children are now off every Friday. Hawaii is already at the bottom when it comes to state test scores, according to an ABC news report. At least 17 other states have districts that have 4-day school weeks, according to an MSNBC report.
Proponents of this format site the ability to salvage more extra curricular and academic programs, avoiding teacher and staff layoffs, and the ability to save on transportation and energy bills.
However, many parents face challenges with this new format including concerns about maintaining academic excellence, additional child care costs, adjusting work schedules, and paying for Friday meals that might have otherwise been covered under free or reduced lunch programs.
It will be interesting to see how this affects the children long-term and how many other cash-strapped states will follow suit. It will also be interesting to see how this affects parents with special needs children who will have a harder time finding adequate child care for one-day a week.
Another related trend to keep an eye out for is the 4-day government work week. Utah, Iowa, Hawaii and many other states have been toying with this concept. How will the four-day government work week affect the welfare of children? The workers in the state departments of education, health and human services, children and families, etc., will have to get everything done with 20 percent less time to do it in. Source: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=446862
Comprehensive studies needs to be done. If you aware of any such study, please inform the Parentspotlight blog.
What do you think? Feel free to post a comment to this blog posting.
sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/hawaii-day-school-week-ease-recession-woes/story?id=8894574
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29664981/
http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Education/SchoolCalendarExtendedDayYearFourDaySchoo/tabid/12934/Default.aspx
http://www.radioiowa.com/2009/12/25/a-four-day-work-week-for-state-government/
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=446862
Showing posts with label child care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child care. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
NACCRRA State of Care Study (child care and senior care) available
The National Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) recently released the second edition of the State of Care Index- this study outlines the annual cost of child care and senior care,
details families' efforts to save money on care arrangements, and reports on the tie between employment and caregiving. This study can be dowloaded for free and takes a closer look at the pressures facing parents caring for children in the current recession.
State of Care Index - Cost of Child Care and Senior Care on Families -
http://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/parents-and-the-high-price-of-child-care-2009
Thank you to Care.com for informing Parentspotlight of this study. Care.com is a fee-based service that helps families to find child care and senior care. Search listings of child care centers, special needs care, babysitters and nannies.
Parents and the High Price of Child Care: 2009 Update presents 2008 data on child care costs collected through a January 2009 survey of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) State Networks, which asked for the average prices charged for child care for infants, 4-year-olds, and school-age children in centers and family child care homes in every state. This year's report reveals that child care costs continue to rise with costs often times exceeding monthly food and other household expenses.
According to the report, in 2008, the average price of full-time care for an infant in a center was as high as $15,895 a year. For a 4-year-old in a center, parents paid up to $11,680 a year for full-time care. Parents of school-age children paid up to $10,720 a year for part-time care in a center. Average prices for full-time care in a family child care home were as much as $10,324 for infants, $9,805 for a 4-year-old, and $7,124 for a school-age child. Additionally, the report found that average monthly child care fees for an infant were higher than the amount that families spent on food each month. In every state, monthly child care fees for two children at any age exceeded the median rent cost, and were nearly as high, or even higher than, the average monthly mortgage payment.
To improve access to affordable, high-quality child care for all families, NACCRRA is calling on Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the primary public source of child care funds to states to help pay for child care and improve the quality of care. Additionally, NACCRRA recommends providing resources for planning and developing child care capacity to increase
the availability of child care options for working families; reducing barriers in the subsidy administration process that prevent families from accessing assistance; ensuring that public pre-kindergarten programs are designed to meet the child care needs of working families, and improving federal and state tax codes to help families at all income levels pay for care.
details families' efforts to save money on care arrangements, and reports on the tie between employment and caregiving. This study can be dowloaded for free and takes a closer look at the pressures facing parents caring for children in the current recession.
State of Care Index - Cost of Child Care and Senior Care on Families -
http://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/parents-and-the-high-price-of-child-care-2009
Thank you to Care.com for informing Parentspotlight of this study. Care.com is a fee-based service that helps families to find child care and senior care. Search listings of child care centers, special needs care, babysitters and nannies.
Parents and the High Price of Child Care: 2009 Update
Parents and the High Price of Child Care: 2009 Update presents 2008 data on child care costs collected through a January 2009 survey of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) State Networks, which asked for the average prices charged for child care for infants, 4-year-olds, and school-age children in centers and family child care homes in every state. This year's report reveals that child care costs continue to rise with costs often times exceeding monthly food and other household expenses.According to the report, in 2008, the average price of full-time care for an infant in a center was as high as $15,895 a year. For a 4-year-old in a center, parents paid up to $11,680 a year for full-time care. Parents of school-age children paid up to $10,720 a year for part-time care in a center. Average prices for full-time care in a family child care home were as much as $10,324 for infants, $9,805 for a 4-year-old, and $7,124 for a school-age child. Additionally, the report found that average monthly child care fees for an infant were higher than the amount that families spent on food each month. In every state, monthly child care fees for two children at any age exceeded the median rent cost, and were nearly as high, or even higher than, the average monthly mortgage payment.
To improve access to affordable, high-quality child care for all families, NACCRRA is calling on Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the primary public source of child care funds to states to help pay for child care and improve the quality of care. Additionally, NACCRRA recommends providing resources for planning and developing child care capacity to increase
the availability of child care options for working families; reducing barriers in the subsidy administration process that prevent families from accessing assistance; ensuring that public pre-kindergarten programs are designed to meet the child care needs of working families, and improving federal and state tax codes to help families at all income levels pay for care.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Early Childhood Resources (Tri-State and National)
main source of links: http://www.newjerseychildcarecenters.com/
Mother and More Chapters in New Jersey - Mothers & More is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy.
Matching Moms in New Jersey- Meet other moms in New Jersey for playdates, friendship, and support.
Mom To Mom Chat.com - A site for Moms, by Moms - Find support, encouragement, articles, discussion boards, business opportunities, resources, chat room, link and flyer exchanges. A friendly place to meet for ALL Moms. StepMoms, GrandMoms, Work-At-Home Moms, Divorced Moms, Charitable Moms, Moms of Special Needs Kids, and more can find other Moms to chat with, meet new friends, find work-at-home ideas, recipes, places for Moms to shop, share ideas and more!
MOPS Mothers of Preschoolers - MOPS helps moms through relationships established in the context of local groups that provide a caring atmosphere for today's mother of young children.
Newborn Baby Checklist - Preparing your baby is easy with TinyTotLots.com, the most comprehensive newborn checklist for your new baby.
New Jersey Newcomers and Mom's Club Directory - A directory of Newcomers and Moms clubs in New Jersey, which are designed to give people new to the area the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with others who live in the area. Many of these groups have general meetings and interest groups which encourage members to learn about their new city, its culture, activities, lifestyle, and to develop friendships by sharing interests and hobbies with each other.
The New Parents Guide . com - Parenting Information, Shopping and Family Travel. Lists of baby names and meanings; lists of the most popular names; buying guides; convenient shopping for baby products and gifts; family travel & vacation guides; family resorts and much more!
Visually Impaired Preschool Students - Offers appropriate services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are visually impaired from birth to school age and to their families; to maximize each child's developmental potential through direct services, advocacy, and community education.
New Jersey's School for the DeafKatzenbach Campus Ewing New Jersey
Mother and More Chapters in New Jersey - Mothers & More is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy.
Matching Moms in New Jersey- Meet other moms in New Jersey for playdates, friendship, and support.
Mom To Mom Chat.com - A site for Moms, by Moms - Find support, encouragement, articles, discussion boards, business opportunities, resources, chat room, link and flyer exchanges. A friendly place to meet for ALL Moms. StepMoms, GrandMoms, Work-At-Home Moms, Divorced Moms, Charitable Moms, Moms of Special Needs Kids, and more can find other Moms to chat with, meet new friends, find work-at-home ideas, recipes, places for Moms to shop, share ideas and more!
MOPS Mothers of Preschoolers - MOPS helps moms through relationships established in the context of local groups that provide a caring atmosphere for today's mother of young children.
Newborn Baby Checklist - Preparing your baby is easy with TinyTotLots.com, the most comprehensive newborn checklist for your new baby.
New Jersey Newcomers and Mom's Club Directory - A directory of Newcomers and Moms clubs in New Jersey, which are designed to give people new to the area the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with others who live in the area. Many of these groups have general meetings and interest groups which encourage members to learn about their new city, its culture, activities, lifestyle, and to develop friendships by sharing interests and hobbies with each other.
The New Parents Guide . com - Parenting Information, Shopping and Family Travel. Lists of baby names and meanings; lists of the most popular names; buying guides; convenient shopping for baby products and gifts; family travel & vacation guides; family resorts and much more!
Visually Impaired Preschool Students - Offers appropriate services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are visually impaired from birth to school age and to their families; to maximize each child's developmental potential through direct services, advocacy, and community education.
New Jersey's School for the DeafKatzenbach Campus Ewing New Jersey
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Strengthening Family Child Care In Low-Income Communities
Blog Editor's note:
This is an extensive 42 page article that would be of interest to child care providers, parents, and parents who provide care care in their homes.
http://www.surdna.org/usr_doc/childcare.pdf
Summary source: Surdna Foundation
Community-based organizations, especially community development corporations, are playing a significant role in family child care. This report shows how community-based nonprofits are key to the emergence of an infrastructure of support for family-based care through networks and systems. The family child care systems and networks serve to support, organize and increase the supply and quality of family child care providers. We see the most successful strategies implemented through community-based institutions offering a combination of services and supports in both business and child development to address the multi-layered needs of providers.
This is an extensive 42 page article that would be of interest to child care providers, parents, and parents who provide care care in their homes.
http://www.surdna.org/usr_doc/childcare.pdf
Summary source: Surdna Foundation
Community-based organizations, especially community development corporations, are playing a significant role in family child care. This report shows how community-based nonprofits are key to the emergence of an infrastructure of support for family-based care through networks and systems. The family child care systems and networks serve to support, organize and increase the supply and quality of family child care providers. We see the most successful strategies implemented through community-based institutions offering a combination of services and supports in both business and child development to address the multi-layered needs of providers.
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