Subsidies go to low-quality child care
UPI
(Note: adv 6:30 p.m. EST)
Subsidies go to low-quality child care
CHICAGO, April 2 (UPI) - A study finds the likelihood that a child
care program receives state or federal subsidies is more dependent on
the quality of the program than whether the program is in a poor
neighborhood.
In a study to be released Friday at the Population Association of
America conference in Chicago, researchers Carlena Ficano of Hartwick
College and Lisa Gennetian of Cornell University in New York conclude
because subsidized centers make less money than their competitors, they
are unable to offer high quality care.
Gennetian said voucher and Head Start programs appear to offer better
alternatives.
The two economists rated child care quality by determining the number
of children per teacher and assistants, the number of children at the
center, the average number of years of education completed by personnel
and whether a random teacher had any training in early childhood
education.
The study concludes that ``despite the implicit belief that subsidies
will increase choice and thus the quality of options faced by low-income
parents, very little mixing of children who are and are not subsidized
is actually observed.''
The study found that child care centers with teachers who have fewer
years of education or less training on average were more likely to
contract with the state or federal government for subsidized slots.
The authors said recent federal legislation should change the
situation for the better.
--
Copyright 1998 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
--
bc-us-childcare
--------
This article remains the property of United Press International and is not
to be modified or redistributed in any way. It is provided as information
through license arrangement between UPI and Pathlink Technology Corporation.
UPI
Subsidies go to low-quality child care
CHICAGO, April 2 (UPI) - A study finds the likelihood that a child
care program receives state or federal subsidies is more dependent on
the quality of the program than whether the program is in a poor
neighborhood. In a study to be released Friday, a pair of New York
researchers conclude because subsidized centers make less money than
their competitors, they are unable to offer high quality care.
bc-us-childcare