Adapted from a speech given at the 1985 conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, this discussion addresses issues concerning the formation of a national child care policy and describes factors contributing to "child carelessness" in the conception and delivery of child care services. (KS)

Drawing on longitudinal followups of Head Start children, cross-cultural data from Denmark, and studies of gifted and talented persons, this article advises parents that out-of-home care need not be harmful to their children. However, a high-pressure academic program might have long-lasting negative effects. Cites 14 references. (MLH)

The article reviews state child care licensing legislation in light of reported child abuse and neglect in some such facilities. Recommended are licensing of all facilities of any size or religious affiliation, criminal record screening, at least annual inspections, unannounced inspections, and required notice to parents when abuse has been…

The development of a high quality system of early care and education requires the attention, investment, and action of several groups, including parents, business leaders and philanthropists, teachers, media, and policymakers. This report, produced by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) as part of its Early Learning: Improving Results for…

This collection of essays by child advocates explores three interconnected facets of the child care and education field: the broad sociocultural contexts influencing the development of young children and their families, the evolution of specific settings or programs where care and education occur, and the emerging consciousness of early childhood…

These hearing transcripts present testimony before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the 105th Congress on early childhood education and related services. Participants provided different perspectives on early education, focusing on the academic achievement of American students, especially in comparison to students in other countries;…

This report of an 18-month planning study presents recommendations concerning the development and promotion of improved child care services for Texas children with and without disabilities. A mail survey of child care centers (588 programs surveyed) and a telephone survey of 495 family day care providers found a need for on-site training and…

Two surveys, one qualitative and one quantitative, were conducted of the opinions and experiences of New York State parents of children with learning delays and disabilities regarding parental labor force participation, child care options, and preferences in state policies. A total of 141 parents responded to the quantitative survey and 210 to the…

This publication is part of a package of three booklets that synthesize current knowledge about the preconditions for learning in children and discuss ways of fostering these conditions. (The other two booklets are an executive summary of this report and a collection of five vignettes on services for infants, toddlers, and families). This report…

Prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, this report projects the level of care very young children and very elderly adults will require in the coming decades and analyzes some ways the nation might respond to these needs. Section 1 documents significant increases in the demand for care that will occur by 1990. Attention is given to factors…

This report examines effects of the Self-Sufficiency Project (SSP) for three age groups of children (younger cohort aged 3-5, middle cohort aged 6-11, and older cohort aged 12-18) at the 36-month interview. A companion report on effects of the SSP on adults is available separately. Chapter 1 describes the SSP incentive, project design, and SSP…