..

Why should we invest in early care and education in

Estes Park?

TheThe ResearchResearch::

85 % of a person’s intellectual, emotional 85 % of a person’s intellectual, emotional and cognitive ability is developed by age and cognitive ability is developed by age 5.5.

..

The first few years are The first few years are foundational.foundational.

Children are born learning!Children are born learning! Infants’ brains are twice as active as Infants’ brains are twice as active as

adults.adults. Early learning experiences hardwire Early learning experiences hardwire

the brain for future learning.the brain for future learning. Building brains is like building houses:Building brains is like building houses:

Architecture matters; stress weakens Architecture matters; stress weakens brain architecturebrain architecture

Early Learning & School Early Learning & School SuccessSuccess

Teachers report that 1/3 of children Teachers report that 1/3 of children entering K & Grade 1 are unprepared entering K & Grade 1 are unprepared to learn.to learn.

46% of America’s kindergarteners 46% of America’s kindergarteners are behindare behind

The achievement gap starts BEFORE The achievement gap starts BEFORE school does………school does………

yet, 95% of our public yet, 95% of our public investment in education investment in education happens after age 5.happens after age 5.

Children from low wage families are Children from low wage families are 1-2 years behind in language and 1-2 years behind in language and pre-literacy skills.pre-literacy skills.

At EP Elementary School:At EP Elementary School: One-third of the students qualify for One-third of the students qualify for

free or reduced lunch. free or reduced lunch. 24% of the students are English 24% of the students are English

Language LearnersLanguage Learners

Early Years MatterEarly Years Matter

Children who receive quality care and Children who receive quality care and education in the early years experience:education in the early years experience:

~ greater success in school~ greater success in school

~ higher graduation rates ~ higher graduation rates

~ higher earning potential, AND ~ higher earning potential, AND

~ are more likely to become contributing ~ are more likely to become contributing members of the communitymembers of the community

Do communities benefit Do communities benefit economically from quality early economically from quality early

childhood care childhood care and education?and education?

YES!YES!

An investment in the early years An investment in the early years costs communities less down the costs communities less down the

road in crime, delinquency, road in crime, delinquency, welfare and remedial education.welfare and remedial education.

Other economic benefits:Other economic benefits: Parents can pursue employmentParents can pursue employment Workplace morale and retention are Workplace morale and retention are

improved; absences decreasedimproved; absences decreased Childcare businesses create jobs, pay Childcare businesses create jobs, pay

taxes, buy goods and services, and taxes, buy goods and services, and meet a community needmeet a community need

The Federal Reserve reports that The Federal Reserve reports that investing in early care and education investing in early care and education generates a 16% return.generates a 16% return.

““The ROI from early childhood The ROI from early childhood development is extraordinary…development is extraordinary…

……resulting in better working resulting in better working schools, more educated workers and schools, more educated workers and less crime”less crime”

~ Arthur J. Rolnick~ Arthur J. Rolnick

Federal Reserve BankFederal Reserve Bank

What we know about What we know about families:families:

Top considerations for families Top considerations for families when moving to an area are:when moving to an area are:

* Quality education* Quality education* Availability of human and * Availability of human and

community services community services

Parents are a child’s first and best Parents are a child’s first and best teacher, but many undervalue their teacher, but many undervalue their role in school readiness:role in school readiness:

~ don’t know what to do to ~ don’t know what to do to promote early learningpromote early learning

~ don’t think they have time to ~ don’t think they have time to do what it takesdo what it takes

~ TRENDS ~~ TRENDS ~

Young families have moved from Young families have moved from our community in recent years, our community in recent years,

as evidenced by declining school as evidenced by declining school enrollment.enrollment.

Parents and Parents and

young families young families

need support!need support!

What we know about What we know about childcare:childcare:

It’s expensive for familiesIt’s expensive for families

Quality is important to parentsQuality is important to parents

It’s not a lucrative businessIt’s not a lucrative business

It’s an essential community serviceIt’s an essential community service

What we know about What we know about childcare and early childcare and early

childhood education in childhood education in Estes Park:Estes Park:

44 Childcare CentersChildcare Centers serving serving children ages 1 – 6children ages 1 – 6

55 Licensed Home ProvidersLicensed Home Providers Serving children Serving children birth to school agebirth to school age

22 part-day only part-day only Preschool programsPreschool programs serving 3 & 4 year oldsserving 3 & 4 year olds

11 Licensed Licensed after-school careafter-school careprogramprogram

Capacity & AvailabilityCapacity & Availability

Currently, options are limited for Currently, options are limited for infants, toddlers and school-age infants, toddlers and school-age children.children.

Challenges for ProvidersChallenges for Providers

CostCost Families want flexibilityFamilies want flexibility UndervaluedUndervalued Securing space, meeting building Securing space, meeting building

codes, licensing, health regs., etc.codes, licensing, health regs., etc. StaffingStaffing Seasonal fluctuationsSeasonal fluctuations

Cost of Providing CareCost of Providing Care

Average pay for preschool teacher is Average pay for preschool teacher is $9/hour, with no benefits.$9/hour, with no benefits.

Must meet increasingly strict Must meet increasingly strict educational and experience educational and experience requirements. requirements.

On average, personnel costs account On average, personnel costs account for 65-70% of a center’s income.for 65-70% of a center’s income.

AverageAverage cost of care cost of care in Estes Park:in Estes Park:

Full-time weekly feesFull-time weekly feesCenter care:Center care:

under 2:under 2: $ 175$ 175 Boulder: Boulder: $ 241$ 2412-5:2-5: $ 150$ 150 $ 201$ 201

Home care:Home care:under 2:under 2: $ 145$ 145 $ 210$ 2102-5:2-5: $ 134$ 134 $ 207$ 207

An Estes Park family with 2 young children in full-An Estes Park family with 2 young children in full-time care pays up to $1300.00 a month for child time care pays up to $1300.00 a month for child care.care.

That’s $15,600 a yearThat’s $15,600 a year

That’s $7,800 for one childThat’s $7,800 for one child

~ That’s more than annual in-state tuition costs for a ~ That’s more than annual in-state tuition costs for a student at our colleges and universities in Colorado.student at our colleges and universities in Colorado.

A single parent working full-time at A single parent working full-time at $9/hr. in Estes Park spends everything $9/hr. in Estes Park spends everything he/she makes on childcare. he/she makes on childcare.

But…….what about assistance?But…….what about assistance?

CCAP ~ assistance to low income CCAP ~ assistance to low income families.families.

What does this mean in real life?What does this mean in real life?

A single parent, with one child, making A single parent, with one child, making just $11/hr. would not qualify.just $11/hr. would not qualify.

Two working parents, with 2 children, Two working parents, with 2 children, making $31K together, would not making $31K together, would not qualify.qualify.

EVICS Scholarship Program:EVICS Scholarship Program:

Helps families in the “gap”, but is limited Helps families in the “gap”, but is limited and and is currently only available for short term is currently only available for short term assistance.assistance.

~ $12K budget for 2007~ $12K budget for 2007

~~ Since June 2006, EVICS has granted $15,700 in Since June 2006, EVICS has granted $15,700 in

child care child care scholarships to 36 qualifying families. scholarships to 36 qualifying families.

Families’ ConcernsFamilies’ Concerns

In talking with, and surveying, In talking with, and surveying, Estes Park parents, we found ~Estes Park parents, we found ~

The biggest concerns for most parents are:The biggest concerns for most parents are:warmth & caring of providerwarmth & caring of providerquality of programquality of programcost of carecost of careavailability of careavailability of careconsistency of careconsistency of carefinding care for under 2-year oldsfinding care for under 2-year oldslack of after-school carelack of after-school carebilingual teacher or caregiverbilingual teacher or caregiver

Task Force Task Force RecommendationsRecommendations

1 - Increase care options and 1 - Increase care options and accessibility:accessibility:

Increase infant careIncrease infant care

Explore options for after-school careExplore options for after-school care

Remove barriers for families and Remove barriers for families and providersproviders

2 - Coordinate a community-2 - Coordinate a community-wide public education wide public education campaign to increase campaign to increase

awareness :awareness :

Why?Why?

How?How?

3 - The creation of a 3 - The creation of a Family Resource CenterFamily Resource Center

Provide support, information and Provide support, information and resources to families, childcare resources to families, childcare providers and preschools.providers and preschools.

Form partnerships to grow financial Form partnerships to grow financial resources and establish steady funding.resources and establish steady funding.

Provider recruitment and training, Provider recruitment and training, parent education, public parent education, public education/awarenesseducation/awareness

How? How? Partnerships are critical to Partnerships are critical to

success!success! Financial resourcesFinancial resources Shared resourcesShared resources In-kind supportIn-kind support Strengthen servicesStrengthen services Maximize resourcesMaximize resources

Who are the partners?Who are the partners?

EVICSEVICS Town of Estes ParkTown of Estes Park School DistrictSchool District Early Childhood CouncilEarly Childhood Council EPMC & Medical Comm.EPMC & Medical Comm. LibraryLibrary Senior CenterSenior Center Private BusinessPrivate Business Service AgenciesService Agencies

ChurchesChurches CrossroadsCrossroads Salud Salud Recreation DistrictRecreation District Board of RealtorsBoard of Realtors Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce YMCAYMCA Non-profit Resource CenterNon-profit Resource Center

How can our partnerships respond How can our partnerships respond to the accumulated research to the accumulated research

findings about the importance of findings about the importance of the early years?the early years?

How can our partnerships How can our partnerships respond to the everyday realities respond to the everyday realities of the needs of of the needs of today’stoday’s children children

and families?and families?