Opting Out of "Stars" Program Because....

[momofsix]

money.

federal and state money can be put into play in centers micro-managed (regulated) by the government.

There is no money to be made off of self-employed family child care providers that aren't micromanaged by the government.

I agree it's about the money, but I also think there's something else at play here. I think the govt really wants its hands in everything because ordinary citizens aren't smart enough to do anything without their "help'. Child care in some form has gone on since the beginning of time without the govt regulating it. Suddenly children are being harmed by not being in the "right" environment from birth-5-even if that environment is home with mom or dad! (which IMHO is the best place for most children)
I'm not really getting the words for what I want to say right now-maybe I'm too hungry for my lunch Anyway-there's something else going on too.

[Annalee]

I agree it's about the money, but I also think there's something else at play here. I think the govt really wants its hands in everything because ordinary citizens aren't smart enough to do anything without their "help'. Child care in some form has gone on since the beginning of time without the govt regulating it. Suddenly children are being harmed by not being in the "right" environment from birth-5-even if that environment is home with mom or dad! (which IMHO is the best place for most children)
I'm not really getting the words for what I want to say right now-maybe I'm too hungry for my lunch Anyway-there's something else going on too.

YEP!!!!!

[melilley]

I agree it's about the money, but I also think there's something else at play here. Suddenly children are being harmed by not being in the "right" environment from birth-5-even if that environment is home with mom or dad! (which IMHO is the best place for most children)
I'm not really getting the words for what I want to say right now-maybe I'm too hungry for my lunch Anyway-there's something else going on too.

My sister's 3 kids never went to daycare or preschool, they were home with either mom or dad. My nephew is in HS and is in honors classes, and my niece is also in honors classes in Jr. HIgh.

My own dd went to daycare, only because I was basically a single mom and worked there so she went with me, but then there wasn't any of this stuff that they had to do and my dd is also smart as a whip-she always was in a reading group a grade above.

[Play Care]

I agree it's about the money, but I also think there's something else at play here. I think the govt really wants its hands in everything because ordinary citizens aren't smart enough to do anything without their "help'. Child care in some form has gone on since the beginning of time without the govt regulating it. Suddenly children are being harmed by not being in the "right" environment from birth-5-even if that environment is home with mom or dad! (which IMHO is the best place for most children)
I'm not really getting the words for what I want to say right now-maybe I'm too hungry for my lunch Anyway-there's something else going on too.

I think some of it has to do with the US rankings in education. We are waaaaay behind most countries and the gov't is looking at ways to be closer to the top. Many of the countries ahead of the US offer things like state funded child care, universal preschools (I'm thinking of Sweden, Findland, etc.) I wonder if the US gov't think they can get kids into "institutions" as soon as possible that might help them be tops. Which is why the environments have to be just so - so that every second is a learning opportunity and teachable moment

I think what our government fails to understand is that many of those countries also have strong family friendly policies such as long PAID mat/family leaves, 4 weeks of PAID vacations standard, excellent health care, world class education, etc. I think it's the whole package that makes these countries tops, not just the bits and pieces are lawmakers think they can get past the taxpayers

[craftymissbeth]

What states are these programs in? Hopefully at least your states have funding for subsidies for families that need them...Kansas is wiping out all social programs thanks to our recklessly idiotic governor. No medicaid, no subsidies, insane university tuition hikes, and now our state supreme court has to decide whether our public schools are being underfunded to the point that it's unconstitutional (lower courts have already decided this!).

Kansas ****s! But the stars thing sounds like a real pain! Here we just sign a contract with DCF and you're good to go. All you need is a state license.

What?! Is there any way you can link an article or something regarding this issue in Kansas? I'm having trouble searching for this info.

[craftymissbeth]

What states are these programs in? Hopefully at least your states have funding for subsidies for families that need them...Kansas is wiping out all social programs thanks to our recklessly idiotic governor. No medicaid, no subsidies, insane university tuition hikes, and now our state supreme court has to decide whether our public schools are being underfunded to the point that it's unconstitutional (lower courts have already decided this!).

Kansas ****s! But the stars thing sounds like a real pain! Here we just sign a contract with DCF and you're good to go. All you need is a state license.

Oh, and there are some counties in Kansas already participating in this Stars thing.

http://www.ks.childcareaware.org/provider_kqris.html

It has creeped into my county on a trial basis, but I'm absolutely positive no one in my town (and probably in this county) care. The thing is, if they make it mandatory to participate in order to accept state assistance most providers here will have to do it. This is a very low income community and I'm one of the only providers not taking state pay... everyone else seems to rely heavily on it.

[Annalee]

I think some of it has to do with the US rankings in education. We are waaaaay behind most countries and the gov't is looking at ways to be closer to the top. Many of the countries ahead of the US offer things like state funded child care, universal preschools (I'm thinking of Sweden, Findland, etc.) I wonder if the US gov't think they can get kids into "institutions" as soon as possible that might help them be tops. Which is why the environments have to be just so - so that every second is a learning opportunity and teachable moment

I think what our government fails to understand is that many of those countries also have strong family friendly policies such as long PAID mat/family leaves, 4 weeks of PAID vacations standard, excellent health care, world class education, etc. I think it's the whole package that makes these countries tops, not just the bits and pieces are lawmakers think they can get past the taxpayers

I agree with you. I believe universal pre-k is coming soon. We already have them here for income eligible first, but if spaces do not fill up then any child may enroll. Also, daycares now have a new early learning standard based on the core standards for 4 yr olds. That is not set in place without something behind it, This started last year. I took the training and was livid after learning what was taking place. Core standards in education is down to 4 yr olds now. The "let's find out" I get from Scholastic is even aligned with core standards. I feel the core standards will keep dwindling down where we do become like other countries where someone dictates what children know from birth. Not sure it will happen in my child care lifetime but I do see it in the future. I got to get off my soapbox and move on because I allow issues like these to affect my attitude negatively.

[Annalee]

Oh, The thing is, if they make it mandatory to participate in order to accept state assistance most providers here will have to do it. This is a very low income community and I'm one of the only providers not taking state pay... everyone else seems to rely heavily on it.

I do not have a state-subsidy paid child in care, and reap NO benefits from the highest star rating.....BUT the state still mandates an annual assessment with other report card components. :confused:

[craftymissbeth]

Last fall I was going to participate in my first grant. The woman told me it was super easy and that there were only a few small requirements. She finally went over the specifics and I had to have two FCCER-S assessments and agree to take state pay for two years. After I got to looking at the FCCER-S requirements ( after I searched and searched online because she wouldn't give me any info on it) I realized that it was a huge PITA and I'd basically have to change 90% of my program. I dropped that grant like a hot potato!

I have a good feeling the stars program is pretty close to the PITA-ness of that grant.

[Blackcat31]

I agree with you. I believe universal pre-k is coming soon. We already have them here for income eligible first, but if spaces do not fill up then any child may enroll. Also, daycares now have a new early learning standard based on the core standards for 4 yr olds. That is not set in place without something behind it, This started last year. I took the training and was livid after learning what was taking place. Core standards in education is down to 4 yr olds now. The "let's find out" I get from Scholastic is even aligned with core standards. I feel the core standards will keep dwindling down where we do become like other countries where someone dictates what children know from birth. Not sure it will happen in my child care lifetime but I do see it in the future. I got to get off my soapbox and move on because I allow issues like these to affect my attitude negatively.

Universal Preschool is coming.... we've already heard a ton about it...which I do NOT understand because there is NO PROOF that early education has any benefit to these kids.

The money spent on micro-managing family child cares would be much better spent improving the educational practices we have now for regular aged school children.

WHY drag even more kids into the mess we already have?

It makes zero sense to me.

The very foundation of raising a child is to create a secure attachment between caregiver and child. How in the world are we suppose to do that when we are suppose to be teaching the kids ABC's & 123's straight from the womb??????

"I'm sorry baby Billy...I know you have emotional needs but until we memorize this periodic table of elements so you score high on the state standards test, I just can't stop and play with you or even hug you....ain't nobody got time for that."

[Annalee]

Universal Preschool is coming.... we've already heard a ton about it...which I do NOT understand because there is NO PROOF that early education has any benefit to these kids.

The money spent on micro-managing family child cares would be much better spent improving the educational practices we have now for regular aged school children.

WHY drag even more kids into the mess we already have?

It makes zero sense to me.

The very foundation of raising a child is to create a secure attachment between caregiver and child. How in the world are we suppose to do that when we are suppose to be teaching the kids ABC's & 123's straight from the womb??????

"I'm sorry baby Billy...I know you have emotional needs but until we memorize this periodic table of elements so you score high on the state standards test, I just can't stop and play with you or even hug you....ain't nobody got time for that."

We are headed toward a generation that develops IT-tech robots with no social skills! :confused:

[Heidi]

I agree with you. I believe universal pre-k is coming soon. We already have them here for income eligible first, but if spaces do not fill up then any child may enroll. Also, daycares now have a new early learning standard based on the core standards for 4 yr olds. That is not set in place without something behind it, This started last year. I took the training and was livid after learning what was taking place. Core standards in education is down to 4 yr olds now. The "let's find out" I get from Scholastic is even aligned with core standards. I feel the core standards will keep dwindling down where we do become like other countries where someone dictates what children know from birth. Not sure it will happen in my child care lifetime but I do see it in the future. I got to get off my soapbox and move on because I allow issues like these to affect my attitude negatively.

But, if you look at Finland, for example, the EARLY years (Birth-3) core standards are things like social skills, modeling table manners (yes, table manners!), caregiving routines, fresh air, etc. They are not in any way academic.

Kindergarten in most of Europe is what we call preschool in the US. 3-6 year olds. Usually, a part-day program that often follows a Montessori, Waldorf, or similar curriculum, and a large part of the day is still play-based. Teacher led activities are songs, story telling, gardening, handiwork, dance or movement, and class chores. Only in 1st grade are academics really started. Their approach is much more setting the stage early by making sure children are READY to learn, THEN hit the books.

[Blackcat31]

Their approach is much more setting the stage early by making sure children are READY to learn, THEN hit the books.

THIS!!!!! This ^^^^ is what we, as parent, as providers, as teachers, as a country should be aiming for!

A lot of good it does to have a bicycle if we don't know how to ride it.

[Heidi]

Universal Preschool is coming.... we've already heard a ton about it...which I do NOT understand because there is NO PROOF that early education has any benefit to these kids.

The money spent on micro-managing family child cares would be much better spent improving the educational practices we have now for regular aged school children. That, and give the money to enforce the regulations we already have vs. adding more. Reinventing the wheel yet again!

WHY drag even more kids into the mess we already have?

It makes zero sense to me.

The very foundation of raising a child is to create a secure attachment between caregiver and child. How in the world are we suppose to do that when we are suppose to be teaching the kids ABC's & 123's straight from the womb??????

"I'm sorry baby Billy...I know you have emotional needs but until we memorize this periodic table of elements so you score high on the state standards test, I just can't stop and play with you or even hug you....ain't nobody got time for that."

You crack me up, BC!

Pretty much everyone here knows I'm a freakin' liberal, but I'm with the right on this one. Universal anything is NOT going to solve the problem. I'd much prefer they do as you suggest above, and also put money back in to food stamps and nutrition programs. That includes school nutrition programs, for that matter.

[Play Care]

But, if you look at Finland, for example, the EARLY years (Birth-3) core standards are things like social skills, modeling table manners (yes, table manners!), caregiving routines, fresh air, etc. They are not in any way academic.

Kindergarten in most of Europe is what we call preschool in the US. 3-6 year olds. Usually, a part-day program that often follows a Montessori, Waldorf, or similar curriculum, and a large part of the day is still play-based. Teacher led activities are songs, story telling, gardening, handiwork, dance or movement, and class chores. Only in 1st grade are academics really started. Their approach is much more setting the stage early by making sure children are READY to learn, THEN hit the books.

I know, it kills me!