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Community Plan for a
- 1. Community Plan for a Public System of Integrated Early Care and Learning
- 2. The Plan… • Partnership between the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC and the Early Childhood Educators of BC • Builds on an extensive briefing process • Concrete, Innovative, Made-in-BC Solution
- 3. The Plan… Builds on Well Established Evidence - Public spending on the early years is a wise social and economic investment - Quality child care IS early learning - High quality promotes healthy development - Children and Families have a right to quality care and learning - Current policies and approaches are not working
- 4. Responds to 2 conflicting realities On the one hand BC’s implementation of full school day Kindergarten for 5 year olds Early Learning (StrongStart, Ready Set Learn, etc) delivered by Ministry of Education and Boards of Education - reflects an international trend
- 5. On the other hand BC’s worsening child care crisis Failure of current policies reflected in • High fees • Low wages • Few spaces • Growth of commercial child care chains Municipalities, parents and communities will never be able to solve the child care crisis on their own.
- 6. How Wealthy is Canada? GDP per capita (in U.S. $) 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 $ 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 US NO IE CA DK NL AT BE AU SE UK FR FI IT DE KR PT CZ HU MX Source: OECD. (2006). Starting Strong II: Early Childhood Education and Care. Annex C, page 246.
- 7. International Public Spending Public Spending on ELCC for children 0 -6 (% of GDP) 3 2.5 2 % of GDP 1.5 1 0.5 0 DK NO SE FI FR HU AT UK US DE NL IT AU CA Source: OECD. (2006). Starting Strong II: Early Childhood Education and Care. Annex C, page 246.
- 8. International Accessibility 100 90 80 70 60 50 % 40 30 20 10 0 BE FR IT UK DE DK SE NL HU NO AT CZ PT AU MX KR FI US IE CA Source: OECD. (2006). Starting Strong II: Early Childhood Education and Care. Country Profiles. AU, CZ, FI, HU, NL, UK – Estimated (averaged across ages 3-6). DE – Estimated (averaged across ABL and NBL). CA –Children 0-6 in care including regulated family day care.
- 9. BC & Canada: Significant Public Investment in Early Care & Learning Required Denmark Sweden Norway Finland British Columbia France • Currently 0.22% of GDP Hungary • 0.28% with full school-day K Austria United Kingdom Canada (outside Quebec) United States •Few spaces •Insufficient quality Netherlands •High cost Germany •Inadequate Inclusion Italy Australia OECD UNICEF & EU Canada Canada 0.25% avg. benchmark BC 0.22% 0.7% 1.0% 0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% % of GDP Source: Adapted from Starting Strong ll: Early Childhood Education and Care, September 2006, p.11
- 10. EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE IN BC Public Investment per Unit 7 , 35 $8 BC Annual Spending ($) 6 ,47 $2 EDUCATION CHILD CARE 9 ,35 $1 2 $ 38 per pupil Total Total Operating (K-12) regulated, regulated, Funding, per child per space per FT (0-12 years) (0-12 years) group space (2011/2012 BC Provincial Budget) (ECEC in Canada 2008, Table 12) (3-5 years) http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/pdfs/ccof_rates.pdf, calculation based on $5.48/day x 248 days/year)
- 11. The Big Picture 1. Strong Family Policy Extended parental leave (18 months) Comprehensive pre/post natal health services, parent support 2. Federal and Provincial Commitments 3. First Nation and Aboriginal Community Control Aboriginal communities must have power/resources to govern their own early care and learning services All Early Childhood Educators must learn about history, cultures and practices of First Nations 4. Adequate and Stable Funding
- 12. Plan integrates the best of Public Education and Quality Child Care • Universal • Care at core • Public funding • Respect for children’s rights • Democratic control • Play-based, holistic • Public support and • Community-based respected workforce • Intimate relationship with • Infrastructure to deliver families
- 13. A “Made–in BC” Plan… Builds on international and national evidence • Integration of care and learning under 1 lead ministry • Where integration pursued – home in Education most effective • Child Care in Education in 4 provinces & 2 territories • Strong and equal partnership between care and learning The Plan builds the capacity of child care sector
- 14. 6 Highlights of the Integrated Plan
- 15. 1. Early Care and Learning Act for BC Legislated rights of: All young children to access quality services that respect their unique developmental needs All families to access quality, affordable care for their children on a voluntary basis First Nations to govern their own services
- 16. 2. New Home in Ministry of Education For all community & school-based early care & learning programs School still starts with Kindergarten at age 5 • Extends strengths of public education to younger children • Protects and welcomes in existing community delivered child care services
- 17. Ministry of Education Moved to Education • New Zealand, Spain, Slovenia, England, Scotland, Brazil, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Germany In Canada • Ontario, NB, PEI, Sask, Nunavut, NWT
- 18. 3. New Role for Boards of Education Elected Boards of Education mandated & funded to plan, develop, and govern the delivery of early care and learning services (EC&L) in their Districts. • Work with community and municipality on EC&L Plan • Create standing EC&L Committees of stakeholders • Designate a Trustee as the EC&L liaison • Dedicate staff to support EC&L • Ensure appropriate facilities on or off school sites
- 19. 4. Early Years Centre (EYC) Networks Clusters of early care and learning programs that meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and three to five year olds while their parents at work, school or home. • Alternative, more appropriate than ‘pre K’ • Evolve from existing licensed child care into integrated neighbourhood EYC networks • School districts develop new EYCs to meet demonstrated needs • Play-based, diverse approaches to early care and learning
- 20. 4. New EYC Networks… • Receive new direct operating funds from government • Staffed by ECEs and Family Child Care Providers • Existing providers supported through process • Key partners in coordinating early years services • Will not displace existing family support programs • Providers can remain independent – meet licensing requirements – but no NEW public funds
- 21. 4. To be part of an EYC Network… Accountable for NEW public funding to • Cap parent fees $10/day full-time, $7 part-time, no user fee under $40,000 annual income • Improve wages and education average $25 an hour + 20% benefits • Include ALL children • Meet demonstrated community need • Program consistent with Early Learning Frameworks
- 22. 5. Enhance Kindergarten & Grade 1 School entry remains at age 5 Enhance Kindergarten Early Childhood Educators to work with Teachers and Education Assistants as professional colleagues to: • Strengthen adult/child relationships • Cover full working day and full year • Enhance ECE practice in schools Enhance Grade 1 with same approach
- 23. 5. School Age Care – Grade 2 and up • Boards of Education responsible for school age care • Existing school age child care providers integrated into new system – with same accountability • New programs developed & delivered by Boards of Education where there is a need • Stronger support for the Middle Years
- 24. 6. Investing in the Workforce Success of new system depends on a well respected, well educated, well compensated workforce • Enhance quality • Respect expertise of Early Childhood Educators • Move towards parity with teachers Bachelor of Early Childhood Education as new educational standard for sector Diploma as minimum for group, family & school age care. Support sector to upgrade qualifications
- 25. Quebec results… • $7 a day daycare • “After 12 years, the Quebec scheme more than pays for itself through mothers’ annual income and consumption taxes” • For every dollar Quebec invests, it recoups $1.05 and Ottawa receives 44-cents • By 2008 - 70,000 more women had entered the workforce, their employment pumped an additional $5.2 billion into the economy and increased GDP by 1.7% • Dr. Pierre Fortin, Economics Professor at University of Quebec, 2011
- 26. Benefits to the BC economy An estimated: • 17,000 more working women • $500 million more in taxes collected • 23,000 Early Childhood Educators better paid • $300 million saved by business Dr. Paul Kershaw, New Deal for Families 2011
- 27. Implementation – Start Where? 1. Commitment to embrace and implement the Plan 2. Pass Legislation – Early Care and Learning Act 3. Develop a 5 year stable budget 4. Targets and Timelines – priority on programs that meet the needs of working families with young children
- 28. Questions remain BUT… Change is here The status quo is not an acceptable fall back. Integration of Care & Learning is a process. Learning from other jurisdictions. EC&L community needs to be included in change.
- 29. Support & Endorsement… Municipal Governments and Governmental Organizations • City of Burnaby, City of North Vancouver, City of Surrey, City of New Westminster, City of Williams Lake, Municipality of North Cowichan • Union of British Columbia Municipalities • Vancouver City Council, Joint Child Care Council, Parks Board, Vancouver Public Library ECD and Child Care Organizations • BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils • Campbell River Early Childhood Development Table • Canadian Child Care Federation • Cowichan Valley ECEBC Branch • First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition • Kootenay Kids Society • School Age Child Care Association of BC • Shuswap Early Childhood Development Committee • Sunshine Coast Early Childhood Development Planning Table • Williams Lake Children First Initiative
- 30. Support continues…. • Labour • BC Federation of Labour • BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) • BCTF • Canadian Labour Congress • CUPE BC • Health Sciences Association • Boards of Education • Campbell River, Kootenay Columbia, Sunshine Coast, Burnaby, Vancouver School Board • Surrey Board of Trade • Community, Service and Advocacy Tables • ACORN Canada • BC Retired Teachers’ Association • Burnaby Family Life • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – BC office • Canadian Federation of University Women – BC Council • Canadian Federation of Students – BC • Poverty Reduction Coalition • Prince Rupert Association for Community Living
- 31. Academic Support • BC Early Childhood Education Articulation Committee • UVic School of Child and Youth Care • Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) University of British Columbia • Dr. Paul Kershaw Associate Professor, University of British Columbia • Laurie Kocher, Ph.D. Early Childhood Education Program, Douglas College, BC • Charles E. Pascal, Ph.D. Author of Ontario’s early learning blueprint, With Our Best Future in Mind Professor of Human Development, University of Toronto • Susan Prentice, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Manitoba
- 32. What Can You Do? • Seek Endorsements for the Plan everywhere • Become a Plan Advocate yourself • Use Facebook & Twitter to share information about the Plan • Start a petition that asks the Premier to implement the Plan • Visit or email your MLA and MP asking them to support the Plan
- 33. Thank you!
Editor's Notes
- Introduce project co-sponsored by Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC Early Childhood Educators of BC Funding and support provided by City of Vancouver, Vancity, Vancity Community Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, BCGEU, CUPE BC and CUPE Locals First Call (in kind support) In other provinces, (Ontario and PEI) government mandated and funded high profile initiatives to develop an INTEGRATED approach – In BC – this hasn’t happened - so rather than wait for change to happen – we are using our voices to inform and influence change. We explicitly call it EARLY CARE AND LEARNING (rather than Early Learning and Care) because without care there is no learning. We deliberately use the word PUBLIC in the title as this Plan is funded by, provides service to and is accountable to the public.
- Many decades of experience in the two sponsoring organizations, well-documented evidence from around the world and in Canada, bookshelves full of evidence.
- 2. BC implementation of FULL SCHOOL DAY K Emphasize that it is NOT full day or all day K – but full school day No strategy to include existing child care OR meet the needs of working families. So - no strategy to really address INTEGRATION
- Our Emerging Plan is a response to factors in our external environment 1 – Child Care Crisis…. Use whatever examples and stories to highlight….
- Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development – even though this slide is a few years old we know Canada remains a wealthy country.
- OECD – 12 counties review. Most government pay for service for children 3 to primary school age and augment with maternity/paternity leave. Among 7 major industrialized nations, Canada has second lowest public expenditure on education oriented programs for children age 3 to school age. Out of 22 affluent countries Canada has the lowest percentage of three and four year olds accessing licensed child care or education.
- The question of demand can be addressed by looking at relationship between public funding and access to regulated care. Greater public funding = greater access. Where significant public investment occurs, significant access occurs.
- Smart family policy requires significant public investment. In particular, about $1.5 billion annually is required to build quality, affordable early learning and child care services. Expanding full school-day kindergarten is an important first step along this path. Yet, there is much more to do. BC and Canada (outside of Quebec) have the lowest public funding levels for early learning and child care among developed countries – which is why we see few spaces with relatively high parent fees, inconsistent quality and inadequate inclusion of families who need social, physical and cultural support for their participation. Even when we add in funding for full school-day kindergarten, BC’s investment will still be less than one-half of the average spent in other developed countries, and less than one-third of the generally accepted international benchmark: 1% of GDP.
- This compares the spending per student from the Ministry of education for each student in the public education system in BC. The three child care comparisons are: 1. Total provincial government spending on each child 0-12 years. 2. Total provincial government spending on each child care space 3. Total government spending on CCOF for 3 to 5 year olds
- 3.International and national trend As part of background project work – we completed Environmental Scan of ministry of education involvement in early years in every province and territory Lit Review of governance models from elsewhere Both are on our website Learned many things from International evidence but want to highlight 3 policy lessons that particularly inform our Emerging Plan #3 – acknowledge that currently child care and education are NOT equal partners – so our plan included elements to address that.
- 3.International and national trend As part of background project work – we completed Environmental Scan of ministry of education involvement in early years in every province and territory Lit Review of governance models from elsewhere Both are on our website Learned many things from International evidence but want to highlight 3 policy lessons that particularly inform our Emerging Plan #3 – acknowledge that currently child care and education are NOT equal partners – so our plan included elements to address that.
- Participants have hard copies of the Plan Hope they will read it The Powerpoint will focus on HIGHLIGHTS of the PLAN
- New Early Care and Learning Act a key way to also build on strengths of child care sector Provides the way to build in the strengths of communities in relation to services. Acknowledge concerns about downward extension of narrow, school readiness approach that separate ACT can help And – Act as way to support child care sector to be more equal partner with education ….
- ALL early care and learning programs in Ministry of Education BUT as first line makes clear this DOES NOT MEAN ALL PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS (as they will see later) We are aware of concerns (will get to later) but for us, a new home in Education offers a number of STRENGTHS that we want to build on
- Moving child care is not a new idea – builds on world wide and Canadian trend and allows us to take lessons from other jurisdictions that have made the move – what works well and what to do differently in a made in BC Plan.
- Early Care and Learning Plans – are really the way to introduce NEW role for Boards of Education Emphasize NEW MANDATE AND FUNDING - as we know that without these Boards of Education cannot take on new role First task – creation WITH STAKEHOLDERS – a plan currently NO level of government with responsibility to plan for child care development Also – highlight in last point about APPROPRIATE FACILITIES that this is NOT about using empty classrooms as a convenient way to bring younger children in - its about appropriate space for young children in schools or not.
- Early Years Centres – one of the most innovative parts of the plan that we are REALLY EXCITED about. More appropriate than pre K as per features highlighted on slide. INTEGRATION of full and part time programs from birth – school entry at 5 – rather than younger children into school (mention we support extended parental leave to 18 months but know some families will need infant care) - Evolves from existing – highlight inclusion of group, family child care and pre-schools, building on existing strengths of child care and community (not school) based - Staffed by ECEs (not teachers) - Possible hubs - family resource programs/ parent supports – we are open to their view on how they see themselves fitting with the Plan – we cannot speak for those programs but continue to welcome dialogue.
- Important to note that operators can remain outside of this Plan – they can continue to charge high fees, offer current wages, if they wish - as long as they meet licensing standards BUT will not then receive the new enhanced funding levels.
- VERY IMPORTANT SLIDE Highlights the 5 accountability measures Start by saying that EYCs will receive direct operating costs based on willingness and readiness to meet 5 key accountability measures $10 a day full time, $7 day for part-time, free for under $40,000 annual income. Improved wages and training levels – average $25 an hour Include ALL – name children with extra support needs Meet need – refer back to Early Care and Learning Plans ELF – or equivalent – in your commentary explain that this means ‘ play based and supporting holistic development ’ rather than narrow, academic focus on school readiness.
- Repeat that school entry begins at age 5 Current ‘full school day’ K enhanced to full working day/year Focus on adding ECEs to class. Review benefits - lower ratio - full working day/year - ECE practice into schools – you might say we a re confident that - rather than experience a ‘downward’ extension of a testing or narrow academic focus to younger children – we believe ECE practice can have a positive influence UP the system Grade 1 – reference international models where ECE is often birth – 8 – reflected in our plan through similar approach to Gr 1 - ECEs in class) Important to clarify that our plan is for ECEs to work as equal colleagues with teachers – even though this may take some time to achieve.
- School age care as we know it would now be from Grade 1 and up Boards of Education responsible – integrate existing – and develop NEW where demonstrated need. We know this still needs more discussion – SACCA has endorsed the Plan and we will be working with SACCA to detail this aspect of the Plan further. NOTE If you get questions about COST – in the introduction, we say that our costing (most recently updated by HELP) is an incremental public investment of $1.5 billion a year – for services for children under 6. More will be required to include school age – as our plan does.
- Workforce Development – an important highlight This part of plan addresses 3 important needs Enhance quality (make the point about relationship between quality and ECE education) MOVE TOWARDS parity with teachers WHILE respecting unique expertise ( so we are NOT calling for ECEs to become teachers) - Move towards BECE for field (acknowledge that Capilano University is already offering BECE) - Plan has built in costing for professional development
- People are curious about the Quebec experience as they had $5 a day now $7 a day child care – it now pays for itself say economists such as Pierre Fortin quoted here. Not a perfect system but one we can learn from.
- Dr. Paul Kershaw from HELP worked with Lynell Anderson to confirm these numbers based on the Plan being implemented. People may have heard of the New Deal For Families that Kershaw and Anderson have developed.
- Remind audience that our PLAN builds on strengths of both education AND child care sector Reference the ‘culture shift’ required to help providers move from seeing themselves as independent, fragmented – to part of DEMOCRATIC system Re-emphasize inclusion of group, family and pre-school We are willing and able to suggest an implementation of how to get from where we are now to where we need to be.
- We know we haven’t answered every question Change is here – we can wait for it to happen or drive it Status quo – especially for child care isn’t acceptable It’s a process – not simply about moving child care from one ministry to another Plans NO guarantee – engagement and vigilance required EC&L community needs to be included – we haven’t to date.
- We continue to look for support and endorsements – gaining momentum leading up to the 2013 provincial election. We need your support in driving the Plan as the Solution in communities across BC – with politicians, businesses, labour, and the ECD sector.
- We need to know who and where is supporting the Plan.
- Keep us connected to your efforts and successes. Have individuals go online if possible to endorse the Plan. There is sample language to use as a motion to support the Plan. Share the information widely. Use the available resources – Fact Sheets
- Are there any questions?