Child Care Action Campaign Foundation for Their Future: Building a Better Early Education System for America Child Care Action Campaign Faith Wohl President

Child Care Today: The Market Doesn’t Work More than 10 million children are in care every day. More than 80 percent of care is rated “mediocre to poor.” Too expensive for young families to afford. Teachers earn poverty-level wages, without benefits.

Child Care Today: System Built on Shifting Sands Children experience inconsistent care, broken relationships. Working parents miss 7,000,000 days of work/year. Employers face unexpected, expensive absences. Potential loss of valuable work skills, productivity, concentration.

$3 billion in lost time every year due to child care absences

What I Learned at DuPont: Breaking the Silence Child care is a mainstream employment issue. Be guided by employees’ needs: don’t be afraid to ask! It takes more than one child care center.

What I Learned in France: “Welcome and Awaken” Quality costs more than families can afford. “It takes a village” ...and a comprehensive system. Child care is preparation for life. Combine a large vision with attention to detail.

What I Learned at GSA: Balancing Quality and Cost If quality standards are set, they can be achieved. The economics of child care are fragile and difficult. Good spaces are needed to support good programs.

What I Learned from the Military: America’s Best Care High standards firmly enforced, supported by training. Money doesn’t guarantee good care – but it helps. Driven by readiness – and family’s role in reenlistment.

What I’ve Learned at Child Care Action Campaign Child care affects the bottom line. Child care makes critical connection with education. Child care is really “early learning.” U.S. faces a crisis of quality, affordability, and access.

Crisis in Care Affects School Readiness One third of children are not ready for kindergarten. By fourth grade, 40 percent cannot read at basic grade level. Many graduate from high school without literacy skills. Fifteen percent of college graduates are functionally illiterate.

Crisis in Care Affects College and Work Readiness Half of Fortune 500 companies spend $300 million per year to teach basic skills. 67 percent are high school graduates Forty percent of students entering community colleges are unprepared in math, reading and writing. 23 percent of expenditures for remediation

Resolving Crisis Demands Earlier Start Three-quarters of brain develops after birth. Children learn in context of important relationships. Human brain can change – but timing is crucial. Early care has long-lasting impact.

The Construction Industry Can Make A Difference Commit space in new buildings for child care. Change the national dialogue on education reform. Raise powerful voice in Washington and state capitals. Teach community construction financing techniques.

Transform Thinking Among Builders and Managers Child care is more than a service to working parents. Child care is more than an amenity to your customers. Child care is more than infrastructure. Child care can meet the needs of stakeholders and stockholders.

Child care is the cornerstone of the education of a whole generation of children!