DOCUMENT RESUME ED 430 716 PS 027 668 TITLE Caring for Our Children: Our Most Precious Investment. INSTITUTION Little Hoover Commission, Sacramento, CA. PUB DATE 1998-09-00 NOTE 116p. AVAILABLE FROM Little Hoover Commission, 925 L Street, Suite 805, Sacramento, CA 95814; Tel: 916-445-2125; Fax: 916-322-7709; Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov; e-mail: [email protected] ($5). PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Child Welfare; *Children; *Day Care; Early Childhood Education; Government Role; Legislation; *Public Policy; State Action; State Government; State Programs IDENTIFIERS Affordability; Availability (Programs and Services); California; Child Care Costs; *Child Care Legislation; *Child Care Needs; Day Care Quality; Day Care Regulations ABSTRACT Child care has become a central issue to most Californians and is increasingly important to policymakers. The Little Hoover Commission examined child care in California, focusing on the long-standing competition between the quantity of services available and the quality of services provided. Information was obtained from an advisory committee of over 100 child care experts, from witnesses at two public hearings, numerous studies on child care issues, material gathered from think tanks, and interviews of child care experts. Four major conclusions and recommendations were drawn from the data. First, California lacks and needs an effective strategy to supply the high-quality child care that working families need. The state should adopt a child care master plan to guide its efforts to help families and communities meet child care needs. Second, shortages of licensed child care extend statewide and are especially severe in low-income, rural, and minority communities. The state should set a goal of expanding child care capacity so all Californians have access to services. Third, the subsidized child care system serves a fraction of eligible families and services are not well-matched to community needs. There should be sufficient funding for subsidized child care and the system should be fundamentally reformed. Fourth, state policies and other factors subvert the goal of assuring all children high-quality care and early education opportunities. The state should undertake a broad-based effort to improve the quality of child care and expand early education opportunities. (Two appendices list advisory committee members and public hearing witnesses. Contains approximately 50 references.) (KB) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) ,LThis document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to LITTLEHOOVER COMMISSION improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN: OUR MOST PRECIOUS INVESTMENT PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 September 1998 9 Little Hoover Commission + + + Richard R. Terzian Chairman To Promote Economy and Efficiency Michael E. Alpert Vice Chairman The Little Hoover Commission, formally knownas the Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commissionon California Marjorie M. Berte State Government Organization and Economy, isan Carl D. Covitz independent state oversight agency. Daniel W. Hancock Bystatute,the Commissionis a bipartisanboard composed of five citizen members appointed by the The Honorable Sally Havice Governor,fourcitizen Assemblymember members appointedby the Legislature, two Senators and two Assemblymembers. Gary H. Hunt In creating the Commission in1962, the Legislature The Honorable Quentin L. Kopp declared its purpose: Senator Gwen Moore ...to secure assistance for the Governor and itself in promoting economy, efficiency and improved services in Angie Papadakis the transaction of the public business in the various departments,agencies and instrumentalitiesof the The Honorable Charles Poochigian executive branch of the state government, and in making A ssemblymember the operation of all state departments, agencies and The Honorable John Vasconcellos instrumentalities, and all expenditures of public funds, Senator more directly responsive to the wishes of the people as expressed by their elected representatives... Stanley R. Zax Child Care Subcommittee The Commission fulfills this charge by listening to the + + + + + + public, consulting with the experts and conferring with the wise. In the course of its investigations, the Commission Sen. John Vasconcellos typically empanels advisory committees, conducts public Chairman hearings and visits government operations in action. Michael E. Alpert Its conclusions are submitted to the Governor and the Daniel W. Hancock Legislature for their consideration. Recommendations often take the form of legislation, which the Commission Angie Papadakis supports through the legislative process. Stanley R. Zax Commission Staff Contacting the Commission and Copies of Reports + + + + All correspondence should be addressed to the Commission at: Jeannine L. English Executive Director 925 L St., Suite 805, Sacramento CA 95814. E-mail: [email protected] James P. Mayer Telephone: (916) 445-2125Fax: (916) 322-7709 Deputy Executive Director 3 Worldwide Web: www.lhc.ca.gov Anne Jackson Additional Copies of this report may be purchased for $5 Project Manager per copy. The report also is available on the Commission's website. State of California LITTLE HOOVER COMMISSION September 18, 1998 The Honorable Pete Wilson Governor of California The Honorable John Burton The Honorable Ross Johnson President Pro Tempore of the Senate Senate Republican Leader and members of the Senate The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa The Honorable Bill Leonard Speaker of the Assembly Assembly Republican Leader and members of the Assembly Dear Governor and Members of the Legislature: This is a time of great change for California's families anda moment for which we will be judged by history. If we make the right choices, the right investments, we will nurture a new generation of successful and productive Californians.If we surrender to the status quo, we will have squandered our children's future. Welfare reform is our new imperative.Child care is an essential ingredient in the successful transition from public assistance to financial independence.The vast majority of newly working and low-waged parents simply cannot afford childcare, let alone the quality of care that could give their children an early advantage toescape poverty. As a society, we are now requiring poor parents to find jobs. As a society, we must hold up our end of the bargain by providing the child care that makes sustained employment possible. In addition, demographic and economic trends are spreading across the social spectrum, affecting lower-class families and middle-class families-- urban, suburban and rural families.As more mothers move into the workforce, more children are spending more hours in the care of another adult, often outside their home. Finally, our precious and pressing opportunity is defined by unequivocal evidence that children's earliest experiences fundamentally shape their capacities for well-beingas adults. Better day care produces better students, better workers, better parents. One long-term evaluation of an early child development program demonstrated that for every dollar invested in the effort, society gains a seven-fold return. Milton Marks Commission on California State Government Organizilion and Economy 4-http://www1hccagovi1hclitrnl 925 L Street, Suite 805+Sacramento, CA 95814+916-445-2125+fax 916-322-7709+e-mad jeannine.englishalhc.ca.gov During its examination of the State's child care programs and policies, the Little Hoover Commission found many dedicated professionals caring for thousands of children. Their successes, however, are too limited in scope, suggesting the enormous potentialthat a comprehensive child care strategy has to improve the lives of so many more children and families. With this report, the Commission hopes to lead state and local policy makers to realize that child care is more than a handful of government programs, or one more work-related expense for employed parents. Child care is the opportunity of a lifetime whether that child is from a welfare or a two- employed-parent family, whether the government or another source is paying for the care. Research, fiscal prudence and our own moral compass compel us to make the most of this opportunity for each child's development. Altogether, the costs associated with our failing to seize this opportunity are too high to tally or to tolerate abuse and neglect, academic failure and unemployment, broken families and poverty, crime and delinquency. Those costs drain public coffers, and leave pain that cannot be healed. We urge you to join us in making the issue of universal, accessible and affordable child care a personal one, a public one, a societal commitment to demand progress and to expect excellence, for the sake of a healthy future for our children. As a Commission and as individuals, we will help you seize this opportunity. Sincerely, Richard R.