This study investigated the association between the nature of parent-caregiver relationships and child behavior and examined the parent-caregiver relationship as a social support. A total of 120 parents of 2-year-olds who used child care at least 20 hours a week were randomly selected. Participants were asked to complete a survey that included a…

In the United States, the family is regarded as primarily responsible for financing the education and care of children under age 5 as well as the education of offspring in postsecondary education, with the intervening years of education publicly funded and considered the responsibility of society at large. This paper describes the student…

Noting that the quality of child care and early education available to lower-income families has received considerable attention over the past decade, this study explored variability in the quality of California day care centers and preschools. Participating in the study were 170 centers and preschools situated among 20 California zip codes,…

Raises issues for public debate on the quality of child care services. Argues for immediate closure of harmful centers, state licensing laws, expanding present child care services in the public schools, and a comprehensive child development act that puts early childhood education programs into public schools. (AS)

Discusses a book by James E. Levine on "Day Care and the Public Schools, Profiles of Five Communities." Criticizes Levine's approach as emphasizing quantity and low cost and giving little attention to quality. (GC)

Presents revised version of 1987 statement, which emphasized that the provision of high-quality early childhood programs depends upon three basic needs being met: high-quality programming for children, equitable compensation for staff, and affordable services for families or other consumers. (HTH)

Examined the efficacy of assessing proximal factors in day care, such as children's experiences, and distal factors, such as caregiver characteristics, in predicting children's development. Proximal and distal quality were equally effective predictors. The validity of the National Association for the Education of Young Children's guidelines on…

Argues that the national debate on early education cannot be separated from needs of working families, nor be pitted against the belief of the importance of parents to children's lives. Maintains that it is necessary to promote early education of young children at home, in child care, and in other early childhood programs and that such issues…

This book presents a comprehensive collection of information concerning different forms of child care, the quality and availability of care, the functioning of the child care market, and programs that the government uses to support this market. Following an introduction that outlines the negative consequences of splitting education and child care,…

Despite the growing need for child day care, the absence of federal regulation of child care centers gives individual states great authority in licensing care. Since states are the final authority concerning day care licensing, the quality of care varies from state to state. This study determined the extent to which current child care standards in…

This brief document summarizes the content of a paper by Sharon L. Kagan, entitled "Excellence in Early Childhood Education: Defining Characteristics and Next-Decade Strategies," that analyzes the field of early childhood education and defines excellence in terms of quality, equality, and integrity. The critical component of quality is discussed…

The League of Women Voters of Richardson, Texas, studied child care in their community. The focus of the 3-year study was three-fold: availability, quality, and affordability. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, all licensed child care centers and preschools in the city were visited by trained teams of observers who…

Raises issues for public debate and discussion about the child's right to learn. Suggestions include immediate closure of harmful centers, state licensing laws, expanding present child care services in the public schools, and federal legislation of a Comprehensive Child Development Act that puts early childhood education programs into the public…

The Preschool Teacher Survey was designed to gather information on the experience of preschool teachers in the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and their perceptions of program effectiveness regarding student cognitive development, school readiness, parent involvement, and stability of classroom enrollment. The 12-item survey was distributed,…