October 9, 2020
Women are leaving the workforce in droves due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of child care available to allow them to continue working. This is just one reason why early learning and care is a major issue this election cycle.
The states continue to address the ongoing child care crisis through CARES Act funding and a variety of grants. These have had mixed results as states like Vermont have mitigated the issue while other states still struggle.
New data suggests that parents are keeping their kids out of kindergarten but what could this mean for early learning and care providers who already have more demand on them than ever before? A separate study in Ohio suggests that quality ECE could stem the tide of racial and economic inequality.
| NATIONAL NEWS Women are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis. They must lead our recovery plans. Washington Post | 10/8/20 In the “she-cession” of this economic crisis, women have been laid off at higher rates than men; women hold a larger share of low-wage, front-line jobs as nurses, teachers, child-care workers and caregivers; and women bear a disproportionate burden of child-care responsibilities. The pandemic is causing women to drop out of the workforce — here’s what it will take to get them back MarketWatch | 10/9/20 One in five working adults said the reason they stopped working “was because COVID-19 disrupted their childcare arrangements,” according to an August report published by the Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve. |
| IN THE STATES ILLINOIS After pandemic slowed progress, Mayor Lightfoot creates group to improve Chicago’s early education system Chalkbeat | 10/8/20 Eighteen months after taking office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is making a move to unify the city’s fragmented early childhood system, which has been pummeled by funding changes, leadership departures, and the pandemic. KENTUCKY Kentucky providing more help to child care providers Hoptown Chronicle | 10/8/20 Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander announced Wednesday additional financial assistance for child care providers. Friedlander said the state will make a one-time grant to licensed day cares and certified homes in the amount of $130 per child. MINNESOTA Daycare provider expresses challenges they’re facing during COVID-19 ABC 6 News | 10/8/20 COVID-19 is affecting so many families. Some parents are working full-time jobs and balancing distance learning for their kids. So the issue of child care is critical. MISSOURI Child care providers receive assistance from state, CARES Act funds KRCG | 10/8/20 On October 7th, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced $10 million dollars in CARES Act funding was authorized for the state’s child care providers. NORTH CAROLINA Head Start program helps individuals, families achieve success and get ahead of the class WRAL | 10/8/20 For families in the United States, access to resources and opportunities is not created equal, especially for the 34 million Americans living in poverty. This is why Head Start is such an important program. OHIO COLUMN: Women voters understand benefits of early childhood education Columbus Dispatch | 10/9/20 According to a new statewide survey commissioned by Groundwork Ohio, voters know the importance of early care and education — a full 89% of voters think it’s important to help provide child care for working parents. OHIO Early-childhood race and rural equity report offers blueprint for change in Ohio Cleveland.com | 10/8/20 Ohio has longstanding geographic and racial inequities that are rooted in systemic racism and unfairness. Too many children are dying before their first birthday. Particularly our Black and Appalachian children suffer from poor access to health care. VERMONT Despite the pandemic, Vermont has lost few child care providers VT Digger | 10/8/20 Topline numbers suggest Vermont’s child care sector has emerged largely intact from the height of the coronavirus crisis. But providers and advocates warn the industry remains on rocky footing as families hesitate to return and staffing shortages remain… WASHINGTON Washington State Kindergarten Teachers Ask: Where Are the Children? Education Week | 10/8/20 Thousands of Washington’s kindergartners haven’t shown up or logged in to their public schools this year—and state officials don’t yet know where they’re going, if they’re getting any sort of instruction at all, or if they’ll return to the public school system… |
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