[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF FOCUS ON COMMITTED AND UNDERPAID STAFF FOR CHILDREN'S 
                                SAKE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2005

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my 
colleagues Mr. Platts, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Payne, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. 
Andrews, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. Stark, Ms. Tubbs Jones, Mr. 
Sanders, Mr. Owens, Mrs. Carolyn McCarthy, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Pallone, 
Ms. Woolsey, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Brown, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. 
Kildee, and Mr. Danny Davis in introducing the FOCUS Act. This bill 
would increase the overall quality of child care by elevating the 
skills and pay of early childhood education providers. This is a proven 
successful model, first developed in North Carolina, and critical to 
helping all children reach kindergarten ready to succeed.
  Between 1970 and 2001, the percentage of mothers in the workforce 
rose from 38 to 67 percent. The change for mothers of young children 
has been even more dramatic. According to the New America Foundation, 
the labor force participation of women with children under age 6 has 
more than doubled--from 24 percent in 1960 to 65 percent in 2000. Over 
9 million children between the ages of birth and 5 are in child care in 
this country. With so many of our children in early care and education 
settings, it is more important than ever that child care can support 
the developmental needs of children.
  High quality child care plays an important role in healthy child 
development and school readiness. Research on brain development 
demonstrates that the experiences children have early in life have a 
decisive, long-lasting impact on their development and learning. 
Unfortunately, child care program evaluations indicate that the quality 
of most care ranges from mediocre to poor. This country must make 
changes in its child care system.
  Just as it is the parents who matter at home, it is the teachers who 
matter in child care--a stable, educated and qualified teaching staff 
is one of the most critical components of quality child care. Staff 
training and experience are the most important components of child care 
quality. Research shows that children learning from more highly 
educated teachers perform better on tests of verbal and math 
achievement.
  Studies repeatedly show that one of the leading causes of poor 
quality child care is low pay and high turnover among child care staff, 
who on average make just over $17,000 annually. FOCUS improves the 
quality of child care by boosting training, reducing turnover, and 
attracting qualified staff by providing stipends of $1,000 to $3,000 to 
qualified child care providers based on their level of education. FOCUS 
also would grant funds for scholarships in early childhood development 
and education so providers can continue to improve their knowledge and 
skills. FOCUS also provides grants to States to provide better access 
to health coverage for child care workers since lack of health benefits 
also impedes retention of qualified early education teachers.
  We cannot expect children to transition to kindergarten and succeed 
in school if we do not take the necessary steps to provide quality care 
in the years prior to school entry. The average quality of child care 
is far poorer than what it should be in a country as wealthy and 
committed to our children's future as is ours. It is time we work to 
make quality child care for all children a national priority. Mr. 
Speaker, I urge Members of the House to join me and co-sponsor the 
Focus Act.

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