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Nine Million Licensed Child Care Slots in U.S.
February 20, 2007
Each moment is a place you've never been.
-Mark Strand
-Mark Strand
The long-awaited "2005 Child Care Licensing Study" has been released by the National Association for Regulatory Administration, an Exchange Strategic Partner. This comprehensive report compares licensing policies and practices in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Among the key findings:
- There are more than nine million licensed child care slots in the United States.
- More than 70% of these slots (6,634,247) are in centers.
- There are 105,444 licensed child care centers and 213,966 licensed family child care homes in the United States.
- The average licensed capacity for centers in the U.S. is 63 slots.
- 19 states exempt preschools operated by the public schools from licensing; 12 states exempt centers operated by religious organizations.
- In some states (not identified), a 14 year old can serve as a teacher and a 16 year old can serve as a center director.
- Only three states require a director to have an associate's degree or higher.
- No states require a teacher to have any training beyond a CDA credential.
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Google Children's Center Is Opening in 2007!
Google is expanding its employee child development program by opening a high quality center in Mountain View, CA. The center will offer an integrated approach to curriculum and plans. To see detailed job descriptions or to apply for these exciting job opportunities please go to www.google.com/jobs/childrenscenter
Comments (4)
Displaying All 4 CommentsDenver, CO, United States
Whoops! That should have been "farther from" not "father". Hey, but fathers have just as an important role to play in early childhood too!:)
Denver, CO, United States
When we begin to value the healthy development and well-being of ALL of our young children (not just those who take part in community early childhood care and education settings) we begin to value the education of the people who help foster their healthy social and emotional development.
As Leslie says, when we pay those who care for our youngest a livable wage we will attract an educated demographic. What the licensing report does not highlight is the concerted efforts of many states who continuously champion the professionalism of the early childhood care and education field and who help build messaging around the unique opportunities of our children 0-5. Caring for these children couldn't be anything father than "babysitting". And enhancing the professionalism of this field will help us also give parents quality choices of optimal environments for their young children when they are outside of family care.
Our society HAS to begin to value a commitment to young children. They don't begin to grow and develop at the age 5, contrary to what our national funding streams tell us.
Our country puts the LEAST amount of money into a demographic where the MOST brain development is happening (early childhood) and the MOST amount of money into a demographic where the LEAST amount of brain development is occurring (early adulthood). Is this rocket science? You wouldn't think.
United States
The degree requirements are so low because there is not enough money to pay someone with lots of credentials! Something is VERY VERY wrong! How can helping to raise children, develop brains, toilet train, teach social skills and manners for an average of 8-10 hours a day...more than some kids spend with their families...be worth so LITTLE to so MANY! If we want to be able to serve all the kids that need our help and be afordable to parents and families, we need help from the state or federal government!! Something has to change instead of just talking about change. We all do so much for our communities and families and should be able to make a living wage to do so.....not a millionaire's wage...a LIVING wage.
Evangel University
Springfield, MO, United States
I accessed the link to naralicensing but could not find the 2005 licensing study. Am I looking in the wrong place?
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