Need help before going to a brainstorming meeting!!

[daycare]

We have let the state of education change by letting the kids be in charge (my opinion)

I never went to preschool/kindergarten and graduated just fine.

I went anywhere from a nursery school-adding on a private small college school to a four room school house, to a regular public schools. I came out just fine and I think if we left the teaching to the teachers like it use to be the kids are going to be fine.

I love how all the heat is on the childcare providers and not the parents. What about kids that have SAHM's. Who's regulating their early childhood?

My mom didn't to anything special with me when I was little. She read to me alot and I played, played, played all the time. I was an only so I had all the toys a girl can need. Of course looking back most would be considered educational but I picked most of them out myself, not my parents.
Go figure I would end up doing this profession and not the one I went to college for!

I was not living here when I was a child, but what I have seen since my time here is the education system really try to change for the better and things are like they used to be any more.

I know for a fact that there are a lot of kids in this world that without some form of early intervention with education, would continue life so helpless and hopeless.

Most of these kids are at-risk youths and they do make up a very large population of our children.

I think that thing that scares me is what I deal with now. I teach the kids here and I am more impressed with them, however, the parents are not on board in supporting their children's success.

I goal is to not only prep the kids, but the parents as well. In the first years of school, it is up to the parent to set the tone for their child. They will need to hold their hand through it and help guide them to becoming a successful student. Unfortunately, parents leave it on the school, thinking that they don't have a part in it.

Remember the reading log challenge I am doing?? All kids in my care all 16 needed to read 250 books in 30 days. That meant that each kid had to read 15 book over the course of the month. Guess how many kids have participated? 4.....and only 1 has completed the assignment every week. This is not the kids fault, but the parents fault.....

Uggghh ok I am getting off topic here.....

[Willow]

We have let the state of education change by letting the kids be in charge (my opinion)

I never went to preschool/kindergarten and graduated just fine.

I went anywhere from a nursery school-adding on a private small college school to a four room school house, to a regular public schools. I came out just fine and I think if we left the teaching to the teachers like it use to be the kids are going to be fine.

I love how all the heat is on the childcare providers and not the parents. What about kids that have SAHM's. Who's regulating their early childhood?

Tis a slippery slope.....give it 20 years and the government will be telling parents they are unqualified to raise their own children and much get specific college degrees to do so as well

Heck, they're already telling parents they are too stupid to pick out a reasonable licensed daycare on their own - hence the perceived necessity of these new programs

[Blackcat31]

I will have to look at where the oney initially came from....I do beleive it is from taxes on something.

The kids are not going to be okay if the state of education does not change, and it starts in early childhood.

I absolutely 100% unequivocally agree with the bolded part buuuuuuuuut the changes "our" children today need isn't earlier and earlier education.

The changes our kids need is good solid sound quality care. Good rest, good food, good social interactions. Children need parents who will have consistent routines and healthy home lives. It won't matter one bit if little Jimmy is exposed to early education and his provider had an approved curriculum if his mom takes him home and plops him oin front of the TV with his super sized extra value McDonald's meal

Why not take these dollars and give child care providers bonuses or benefits or some sort of monetary compensation for seeing that the children's basic needs are met.

I couldn't give a rat's behind if my child care provider put the toothpaste in a single serve cup vs making sure my child had a healthy lunch and a lot of outdoor time.

Why not go back to the basics and encourage and support providers who really do offer quality and substance in their programs?

I think what would have helped the kids in Jessica Tata's care would have been a better connection between her and the agency that oversees her. I think I read in one of the articles about her that she hadn't had a visit from licensing in over 6 months.

I know providers who haven't seen hide nor hair of their licensor since their initial application process.

I agree that there needs to be something done about the state of our children but I think the start should be at home. Take the money and provide paid maternity leave, provide child care providers access to education/training for free in their homes if necessary, provide child care workers in homes and centers some paid time off, incentives to do better and provide more.

This QRIS thing is being marketed to parents and providers in the wrong ways and focusing on things that ultimately make the government be the ultimate authority rather than people who really know what it is like in the ECE field.

Just like most people who write the rules and regs for licensing, few, if any, have ever actually worked in the field or really know what it is like in the trenches.

Like the welfare program, I think the intent is admirable but the implementation is way out in left field... :confused:

[Country Kids]

I absolutely 100% unequivocally agree with the bolded part buuuuuuuuut the changes "our" children today need isn't earlier and earlier education.

The changes our kids need is good solid sound quality care. Good rest, good food, good social interactions. Children need parents who will have consistent routines and healthy home lives. It won't matter one bit if little Jimmy is exposed to early education and his provider had an approved curriculum if his mom takes him home and plops him oin front of the TV with his super sized extra value McDonald's meal

Why not take these dollars and give child care providers bonuses or benefits or some sort of monetary compensation for seeing that the children's basic needs are met.

I couldn't give a rat's behind if my child care provider put the toothpaste in a single serve cup vs making sure my child had a healthy lunch and a lot of outdoor time.

Why not go back to the basics and encourage and support providers who really do offer quality and substance in their programs?

I think what would have helped the kids in Jessica Tata's care would have been a better connection between her and the agency that oversees her. I think I read in one of the articles about her that she hadn't had a visit from licensing in over 6 months.

I know providers who haven't seen hide nor hair of their licensor since their initial application process.

I agree that there needs to be something done about the state of our children but I think the start should be at home. Take the money and provide paid maternity leave, provide child care providers access to education/training for free in their homes if necessary, provide child care workers in homes and centers some paid time off, incentives to do better and provide more.

This QRIS thing is being marketed to parents and providers in the wrong ways and focusing on things that ultimately make the government be the ultimate authority rather than people who really know what it is like in the ECE field.

Just like most people who write the rules and regs for licensing, few, if any, have ever actually worked in the field or really know what it is like in the trenches.

Like the welfare program, I think the intent is admirable but the implementation is way out in left field... :confused:

Bravo, Bravo! happyface

I wish we had clappy hands but a cheerleader will do.

[Heidi]

I absolutely 100% unequivocally agree with the bolded part buuuuuuuuut the changes "our" children today need isn't earlier and earlier education.

The changes our kids need is good solid sound quality care. Good rest, good food, good social interactions. Children need parents who will have consistent routines and healthy home lives. It won't matter one bit if little Jimmy is exposed to early education and his provider had an approved curriculum if his mom takes him home and plops him oin front of the TV with his super sized extra value McDonald's meal

Why not take these dollars and give child care providers bonuses or benefits or some sort of monetary compensation for seeing that the children's basic needs are met.

I couldn't give a rat's behind if my child care provider put the toothpaste in a single serve cup vs making sure my child had a healthy lunch and a lot of outdoor time.

Why not go back to the basics and encourage and support providers who really do offer quality and substance in their programs?

I think what would have helped the kids in Jessica Tata's care would have been a better connection between her and the agency that oversees her. I think I read in one of the articles about her that she hadn't had a visit from licensing in over 6 months.

I know providers who haven't seen hide nor hair of their licensor since their initial application process.

I agree that there needs to be something done about the state of our children but I think the start should be at home. Take the money and provide paid maternity leave, provide child care providers access to education/training for free in their homes if necessary, provide child care workers in homes and centers some paid time off, incentives to do better and provide more.

This QRIS thing is being marketed to parents and providers in the wrong ways and focusing on things that ultimately make the government be the ultimate authority rather than people who really know what it is like in the ECE field.

Just like most people who write the rules and regs for licensing, few, if any, have ever actually worked in the field or really know what it is like in the trenches.

Like the welfare program, I think the intent is admirable but the implementation is way out in left field... :confused:

These star-ratings are the early childhood equivalent of "No Child Left Behind". I have yet to meet a single teacher who finds THAT helpful=teaching to a test, then getting feedback 9 months later. How does that serve anyone? Our teachers, for the most part, already KNEW which children needed extra help and which ones were gifted. I'd much rather see NCLB money go to G&T programs and engaging at-risk kids into staying in school.

My kids attended a fantastic open-classroom program in the mid 90s (gradeschool). They were engaged and learned tons and tons of stuff, not just the RRR's but hands-on science and world culture (complemented by a contingent of musicans from Guatemala). The teachers were interesting and interested. My niece is in the same program now, and it is completely, sadly, mainstream. blahh...!

[Meeko]

Heck, they're already telling parents they are too stupid to pick out a reasonable licensed daycare on their own - hence the perceived necessity of these new programs

Exactly

[Country Kids]

Chrystal,

I have enjoyed reading your posts and why you are so involved in this program. I think you are the only one really for it on the forum!

Anyway, I am curious about it and hoping to learn more. Doesn't mean I buy into the whole thing but I'm willing to learn. It would be nice it all 50 states had the same guidelines but as we all know in the food program that probably won't be happening.

I kind of atribute it to the "paid time off" thread. Both sides are very voiced of why the do it the way they do. I bet though if the government came in and said You have to take time paid/not take time paid, the roof would rise.

I started this business for me and developed it for children to be loved, learn and have fun. Now the government is coming in saying your not doing it right, do it our way. Like I said before, I guess I'm becoming more of a govenment employee as they are slowly taking my business over to suit them.

[Blackcat31]

These star-ratings are the early childhood equivalent of "No Child Left Behind". I have yet to meet a single teacher who finds THAT helpful=teaching to a test, then getting feedback 9 months later. How does that serve anyone?

My kids attended a fantastic open-classroom program in the mid 90s (gradeschool). They were engaged and learned tons and tons of stuff, not just the RRR's but hands-on science and world culture (complemented by a contingent of musicans from Guatemala). The teachers were interesting and interested. My niece is in the same program now, and it is completely, sadly, mainstream. blahh...!

I agree about the No Child Left Behind comparison. My DS wasn't left behind but he should have been. As a matter of fact, I begged the teachers to hold him back. I even tried to enroll him in a different school to repeat a grade and they wouldn't let me. He suffered from it, I can tell you that.

fwiw~ He is ok now...after a ton of work/therapy and other interventions. He ended up in a Charter school and did much better but still the whole experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I have several teacher parents as DCM's right now and NONE of them like or approve of the NCLB concept either.

NannyDe asked a looong time ago for anyone with actual proof of the benefits of Early Childhood Education/preschool for kids that were not in poverty or underpriviledged to post it here and as of yet, no one has provided that or shown any actual study that preschool is beneficial.

[Heidi]

In Wisconsin, the idea of Youngstar was introduced under 2 premises:

-That providers receiving public money for children should be held accountable for providing quality care.

-That well-educated, well-trained providers with more oversight would be less likely to commit fraud.

I get the first part, I really do. However, it's going from one extreme to the other-the people who were providing the crap care in the first place should have been being monitored more to start. If you're interested, use this link and look up 1-star providers once. These are the people that have been providing low-quality care for years, and yet were not shut down. WHY? Now, they are 1-star providers, which means they cannot take state-funded kids (they are banned), and they are still in business. huh?

http://childcarefinder.wisconsin.gov/Search/BasicSearch.aspx?YoungStarProviders=true

You have to do this as an advanced search, then take out anything above 1 star, and it will search for only the 1 stars. Please note, most of the results are poor, socio-economically disadvantaged, minority providers in Milwaukee.

BTW, people who meet licensing regs with only minor or no violations and choose not to go through a formal rating (perhaps because they do not have the 18 college credits needed to be a 3 star program), are automatically a 2-star.


I have to agree with Crystal in that our star-rating, at least, doesnt "push down" a kindergarten curriculum into early childhood. It's not really about teaching ABC's, etc. It's about providing opportunities INTENTIONALLY to help the children learn. I just think that could be accomplished by more free training and more financial incentives to providers who take that training. Then, if they really want to spend more money, hire more licensers...like I said before, to shut down crappy care..illegal care and providers who do not meet health and safety standards.

[daycare]

In Wisconsin, the idea of Youngstar was introduced under 2 premises:

-That providers receiving public money for children should be held accountable for providing quality care.

-That well-educated, well-trained providers with more oversight would be less likely to commit fraud.

I get the first part, I really do. However, it's going from one extreme to the other-the people who were providing the crap care in the first place should have been being monitored more to start. If you're interested, use this link and look up 1-star providers once. These are the people that have been providing low-quality care for years, and yet were not shut down. WHY? Now, they are 1-star providers, which means they cannot take state-funded kids (they are banned), and they are still in business. huh?

http://childcarefinder.wisconsin.gov/Search/BasicSearch.aspx?YoungStarProviders=true

You have to do this as an advanced search, then take out anything above 1 star, and it will search for only the 1 stars. Please note, most of the results are poor, socio-economically disadvantaged, minority providers in Milwaukee.

BTW, people who meet licensing regs with only minor or no violations and choose not to go through a formal rating (perhaps because they do not have the 18 college credits needed to be a 3 star program), are automatically a 2-star.


I have to agree with Crystal in that our star-rating, at least, doesnt "push down" a kindergarten curriculum into early childhood. It's not really about teaching ABC's, etc. It's about providing opportunities INTENTIONALLY to help the children learn. I just think that could be accomplished by more free training and more financial incentives to providers who take that training. Then, if they really want to spend more money, hire more licensers...like I said before, to shut down crappy care..illegal care and providers who do not meet health and safety standards.

I am very very shocked to see the YMCA only a two start rating in some areas.....wow
and their list of violations is nuts

[mom2many]

This has been very enlightening reading this thread. Since I received my license in 1986, there have been many changes, but this has me shaking my head on so many different levels. There were so many pps that I could relate & agree with that I couldn't begin to quote them all.

I am almost 52 and at this point of my life, I'm definitely NOT going to go back to school to get a degree...I'd probably finish about the time I am ready to retire and the only thing I would gain from this is more debt! (Maybe if I'm lucky, I can skate through without it being to detrimental to my business!)

I just became a grama and an empty nester this past year. I don't want to work that hard at this point in my life. I absolutely LOVE and ADORE what I do and feel I give the children in my care a wonderful, safe, nurturing and fun learning environment and it has been an extremely rewarding career.

If I was in my 30's or even early 40's, maybe I would look at this with a different perspective...but I'm not prepared to go back to school after working a 12 hour day at my age. I earned my business degree while working f/t when I was 20, but I cannot fathom doing that now!

[Country Kids]

I am very very shocked to see the YMCA only a two start rating in some areas.....wow
and their list of violations is nuts

Our YMCA has some pretty serious violations and they still let them keep running! I was very, very shocked to see this. I think if it was me I would have been shut down on the spot! Alot of it had to do with the pool which is pretty scary.

[Meeko]

This has been very enlightening reading this thread. Since I received my license in 1986, there have been many changes, but this has me shaking my head on so many different levels. There were so many pps that I could relate & agree with that I couldn't begin to quote them all.

I am almost 52 and at this point of my life, I'm definitely NOT going to go back to school to get a degree...I'd probably finish about the time I am ready to retire and the only thing I would gain from this is more debt! (Maybe if I'm lucky, I can skate through without it being to detrimental to my business!)

I just became a grama and an empty nester this past year. I don't want to work that hard at this point in my life. I absolutely LOVE and ADORE what I do and feel I give the children in my care a wonderful, safe, nurturing and fun learning environment and it has been an extremely rewarding career.

If I was in my 30's or even early 40's, maybe I would look at this with a different perspective...but I'm not prepared to go back to school after working a 12 hour day at my age. I earned my business degree while working f/t when I was 20, but I cannot fathom doing that now!

I'm the same age exactly and just like you, I don't want to go back to school to be able to do what I have already been doing successfully for the past 27 years!

[Crystal]

This has been very enlightening reading this thread. Since I received my license in 1986, there have been many changes, but this has me shaking my head on so many different levels. There were so many pps that I could relate & agree with that I couldn't begin to quote them all.

I am almost 52 and at this point of my life, I'm definitely NOT going to go back to school to get a degree...I'd probably finish about the time I am ready to retire and the only thing I would gain from this is more debt! (Maybe if I'm lucky, I can skate through without it being to detrimental to my business!)

I just became a grama and an empty nester this past year. I don't want to work that hard at this point in my life. I absolutely LOVE and ADORE what I do and feel I give the children in my care a wonderful, safe, nurturing and fun learning environment and it has been an extremely rewarding career.

If I was in my 30's or even early 40's, maybe I would look at this with a different perspective...but I'm not prepared to go back to school after working a 12 hour day at my age. I earned my business degree while working f/t when I was 20, but I cannot fathom doing that now!

I am sorry I forgot to answer your PM! I will later, I promise!

For California providers, I say do not start worrying about this right now. It is completely voluntary, a pilot program through December 2015 and only in the counties that are currently funded for it. I am going to try to get a list of those counties for you all.

That being said, even once it is no longer a pilot, it will still be voluntary. You do not HAVE to participate!

[daycare]

I am sorry I forgot to answer your PM! I will later, I promise!

For California providers, I say do not start worrying about this right now. It is completely voluntary, a pilot program through December 2015 and only in the counties that are currently funded for it. I am going to try to get a list of those counties for you all.

That being said, even once it is no longer a pilot, it will still be voluntary. You do not HAVE to participate!

but if you don't then you are basically a big fat ZERO right???