Advocacy

2007 Advocacy Agenda

West Virginia Childcare Centers United (WVCCU) and West Virginia Association for Young Children (WVAYC) appreciates your support and understanding of the importance of quality in early childhood education and the positive impact it has on the economic development of West Virginia.

Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) promotes Economic Development
        Early Childhood Education – Birth thru 8 years old

• ECE is a major economic driver in the WV economy.
• ECE is a major industry producing income and employment.
• ECE is a major contributor to formation of human capital.
• ECE increases the labor pool.

Continue Pre-K collaboration (50% of community partners)

Fifty percent collaboration with other providers of early childhood education and the maximization of resources through contractual agreements with existing community programs should be maintained.

We support a standard evaluation process for quality preschool called Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R).

• We want early childhood education to make a difference in the lives of all children in West Virginia no matter their setting (public pre-K, childcare, Head Start).

To insure that group-administered standardized test are not reinstated in grades kindergarten through second grade.

• Group-administered standardized tests are inappropriate prior to grade 3.
• We recognize that assessment plays a vital role in providing children with challenging and intellectually engaging curriculum and instruction. Assessment needs to be valid, reliable and useful.

Continue the work of clarifying the policy by the Department of Education stating that children K-3 grade must have 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading.

• Teachers need clarification and the policy changed to support DAP appropriate activities.

To insure that child care centers are able to continue to care for subsidized families, child care centers need to receive full tuition for that care.

• Private pay parents pay a monthly rate of care to secure their space at a child care center.
• Currently subsidized care is not a dependable source of income for child care providers.
• A child care center is a business. To pay and maintain qualified employees child care centers must depend on an adequate budget.
• Providing adequate funding is a prerequisite for high-quality early learning and care programs staffed by a well-trained, professional workforce.
• The foremost indicator of quality early learning and care is the quality of the caregiver. Equitable wages, education and benefits are key factors establishing high-quality programs for all West Virginia’s young children.

To insure that child care centers are able to continue to care for subsidized families:

Follow the guidelines of the certificate. If a subsidized child is certified to attend full time then pay the monthly rate for that space, if the child attends at least 12 days of that month.

About WVCCU and WVAYC
 West Virginia Childcare Centers United (WVCCU) is a non-profit professional childcare provider’s organization dedicated to improving the quality of childcare in West Virginia through networking, advocacy and education. We support quality, affordability and availability of childcare in West Virginia.

 The West Virginia Association for Young Children (WVAYC) is a state affiliate of the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) dedicated to ensuring the availability of high quality Early Childhood programs. Efforts are focused on supporting and expanding opportunities for early childhood professionals and being an effective leader in advocating early childhood issues.

For more information contact:
Susan Miller, Marshal University Academy 1.304.523.5803 millers@marshall.edu
Helen Post-Brown, Sunbeam Child Care Center 1.304.366.8590 www.sunbeamccc@aol.com
Jeanette Barker, Playmates Preschools and Child Development Centers; jbarkerplaymates@aol.com