2021-22 Public Policy Priorities
Date postedJanuary 1, 2021
EveryChild California provides and develops leadership and education that supports publicly funded early care and education programs for children from birth to age 13 and their families. The vital importance of early care and education programs has never been as obvious as during 2020. All families need access to high quality early care and education programs, regardless of income level. Increased funding and critical supports and investments of the industry are vitally needed to fully support this field for all the important work they do.
FUNDING
Increase funding to provide resources and training for staff, support ongoing rate reform.
FUNDING
Increase funding to provide resources and training for staff, support ongoing rate reform.
QUALITY
Improve systems to increase quality standards, and increase efficiencies in health and safety for children.
ACCESS
Increase access for families who need quality ECE for all ages by adding spaces and increasing eligibility.
WORKFORCE
Professionalize the field by prioritizing a respected, effective, well compensated, and supported workforce.
PARTNERSHIP
Actively provide guidance to government and other organizations to narrow gaps between policies.
EveryChild California was formed in 1943 for technical and community support for administrators of children’s programs. We strive to provide leadership and advocacy to the early education field through the following priorities:
FUNDING
- Increase funding account for true cost of care reflecting competitive wages and continued professional development, recognizing the value and dire need of our field
- Support the rate reform workgroup and ensure all subsidized ECE programs have additional funding allowing increased access to quality programs
- Provide grant funding for internet connectivity and technology equipment for ECE
QUALITY
- Maximize existing ECE quality supports, utilizing programs which maximize developmentally appropriate activities for children
- Facilitate Title 5/22 changes to maintain basic health and quality standards for all children, while maintaining integrity for all contract types with the shift to CDSS
- Enhance funding and services to provide professional development opportunities for all contractors, to increase quality
ACCESS
- Ensure no wrong door for families or providers by minimizing contract restrictions, to allow diverse agencies to apply for expansion funding and allow funding flexibility for agencies to serve multiple age-groups (infant/toddler, preschool and school-age) to meet the needs within their communities, while ensuring families do not pay more than 7% of their income to child care programs
- Increase slots to serve children focussing on unmet needs, reducing child care deserts and unserved families by raising the income eligibility levels
- Increase funding for facility development grants targeting early childhood programs
PARTNERSHIP
- Ensure that any proposed changes to the Teacher Permit Matrix meet the needs of subsidized ECE programs supporting practicum for providers in all settings
- Actively provide policy guidance to the Child Care Providers United, the California Department of Social Services, California Department of Education, Health and Human Services, Department of Finance, Legislative Analyst’s Office, First 5’s, and other partnering organizations to narrow gaps between state and federal policies, including regulations and clarifying standards and requirements for programs
WORKFORCE
- Advocate for appropriate compensation levels and benefits for ECE professionals to adequately meet the needs of the children in their care while allowing for work/life balance
- Work conditions that facilitate ECE teachers to adequately meet the needs of the children in their care while allowing for healthy work/life balance
- Provide pathways for career advancement and quality improvement