Early Education Commission Research Report Children and Early Care and Education in Georgia and Metropolitan Atlanta June 2009 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc., in consultation with the Early Education Commission s Research Subcommittee
Table of Contents Page Executive Summary.................................................. 4 Introduction........................................................ 7 Metro Atlanta and Georgia Population Trends............................ 9 UW Metro Area Population Trends.......................... 11 Child Care and Early Education Providers in Georgia....................... 22 Types of Child Care Providers............................. 22 Licensed and Registered Child Care Providers................. 24 Georgia Pre-K.......................................... 27 Head Start/Early Head Start............................... 32 Child Care Quality.................................................. 33 Accreditation........................................... 33 Support for Quality and Accreditation....................... 38 Georgia Early Care Teacher Education....................... 39 Georgia Pre-K Teacher Credentials and Degrees............... 42 Head Start Teacher Education.............................. 46 Support for Teacher Education............................. 48 Examples of Early Interventions............................ 53 Child Care Costs.................................................... 55 Educational Indicators................................................ 58 Georgia s Scorecard...................................... 59 State Achievement Tests.................................. 60 High School Indicators................................... 64 Need for Learning Supports................................ 67 In Closing......................................................... 69 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 2
List of Appendices Map: Licensed Child Care Centers and Group Homes and Capacity by County, 2008 Map: Differences in Licensed Child Care Centers and Group Homes and Capacity by County, 2006 to 2008 Map: Registered Family Child Care Homes by County, 2008 Map: Differences in Family Child Care Homes by County, 2006 to 2008 Map: Informal Child Care Providers Identified to the State by County, 2009 Map: Differences in Informal Child Care Providers Identified to the State, 2007-2009 Map: Accredited Child Care Centers and Homes in Georgia by County, 2009 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 3
Executive Summary This report presents information and trends regarding population, demographics, and child care providers and services as well as student achievement in the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta's 13-county service area and the state of Georgia, particularly as they relate to children ages zero to five. These targeted data were compiled from a variety of sources federal and state government online and program databases, state government agencies, websites of national organizations related to early care and education, and research articles. The purpose of the report is to assist members of the Early Education Commission including leaders from Atlanta's business, foundation, government, criminal justice, education, media, entertainment, and faith communities as they develop both a broad directional agenda and concrete action recommendations to improve early childhood education in metro Atlanta. This report is designed as a reference tool, and does not include analysis or evaluation. Selected findings from each of the five major areas of research are presented below. Population Georgia had an estimated population of 9,685,744 as of July 2008; 47 percent resided in the UW 13-county metro area. Six of the 13 UW metro area counties ranked in the top 100 fastest-growing counties in the nation in 2008; two Paulding and Henry were in the top ten. Children ages 0-4 make up eight percent of the UW metro area population. In 2008, there were an estimated 740,521 children under five statewide, with 351,693 (48 percent) in the UW metro area. In the metro UW metro area over the past five years, the percentage of children under age five who are black and the percentage who are Hispanic have increased steadily over the past five years. The percentage of children under five who are Hispanic is 21 percent for Atlanta metro, compared to 16 percent statewide. Early Care and Education Providers Child Care Early care and education providers in Georgia include child care centers, family child care providers, informal child care providers (unlicensed/unregistered family, friend, and neighbor care, which may not be known to the state), preschools, and Georgia Pre-K programs. Many of the state s licensed and registered child care providers are located in the UW metro area, which has 44 percent of the state's licensed centers and 54 percent of its registered family child care providers. The estimated licensed capacity of licensed and registered child care providers in the UW metro area is 190,513. The numbers of licensed and registered providers has declined slightly over the past two years, although capacity increased slightly during the same period. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 4
It is estimated nationally that as many as one-third to one-half of children under age five are in family member, friend, or neighbor informal care. Georgia Pre-K There are more than 79,000 lottery-funded Georgia Pre-K slots statewide; 43 percent of these slots are in the UW metro area. More than 4,000 children in the UW metro area and more than 7,000 statewide are on the Georgia Pre-K waiting list. Nearly half (47 percent) of the children served in Georgia Pre-K are economically disadvantaged. Head Start There are more than 23,000 children enrolled in more than 300 Head Start programs statewide in Georgia; just over 1,500 are enrolled in Early Head Start (metro data was not available). Some Georgia Pre-K program classrooms are blended with Head Start. Early Interventions The UWMA has federally and privately funded grants to improve early care and education in its metro service area: o Early Reading First, a program that supports literacy in early learning classrooms o Get Ready to Read!, a tool that allows parents and teachers to screen children for early literacy skills and provide literacy development activities o SPARK Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids, a school readiness and transition program that operates out of existing community-based organizations o Community-Based Partnerships, a locally funded program based on the SPARK model Child Care Quality Accreditation Fewer than ten percent of the state s licensed child care centers and fewer than two percent of registered family child care providers are nationally accredited. More than 65 percent of the state s nationally-accredited centers and homes are in the UW metro area. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) and Smart Start, the Early Learning Division of the UW of Metropolitan Atlanta, provide/fund training and technical assistance to support providers seeking to improve quality and obtain accreditation. Teacher Credentials In Georgia, forty percent of teachers in child care centers have a technical college diploma or college degree; 62 percent have received training in a specific early education curriculum or in early care and education generally. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 5
Most Georgia Pre-K lead teachers (81 percent) have at least a bachelor s degree and/or a teaching certificate; those in public school settings are more likely to have a bachelor s degree than are those in private centers. Bright from the Start supports increasing teacher credentials through improved standards and the following programs: o The Professional Development Registry, which lists and tracks training for early education teachers o SCHOLARSHIPS and INCENTIVES, which support and reward teachers for pursuing and completing early care and education credentials and degrees Child Care Costs Market rates for child care are higher in metro Atlanta than they are in other parts of the state. Quality child care, as provided by nationally accredited child care centers, is more expensive to supply/purchase based on a comparison of accredited center rates to market rates. Educational Indicators Georgia s high school graduation rate has increased from 65 to 75 percent over the past five years. Thirty-nine percent of the high school graduate transcripts evaluated for the state s HOPE Scholarship met the requirements for participation. Fewer than 10 percent of third grade students did not meet state reading achievement test standards; more than a quarter of third grade students did not meet math achievement standards. Performance varies by county. General Findings Demographic data provide a picture of a growing and an increasingly diverse population, with variations among the metro area counties; Information and data on early care and education providers describe the current landscape in the metro area as well as the state, showing a wide variety of options in the metro area and decreases in the number of licensed and registered providers between 2006 and 2008 statewide; Information and data on accreditation, as a proxy for overall quality, and on teacher credentials and education, a key factor in quality, indicate there is room for increasing quality in early care and education, with Georgia Pre-K and Head Start moving in that direction by increasing standards; Data on child care costs suggest that it costs more to provide/purchase accredited quality child care; and Data on student achievement and student participation in learning support and compensatory programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels indicate there is room for improvement, especially when comparing Georgia to the nation as a whole. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 6
Introduction United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta (UWMA) convened an Early Education Commission comprised of leaders of Atlanta s business, foundation, government, criminal justice, education, media, entertainment, and faith communities in Fall 2008. The purpose was to develop a broad directional agenda and concrete action recommendations for stakeholders in the early childhood community to improve early childhood education in metro Atlanta. The commission approached early childhood education as an economic development issue as well as an education and social policy issue. The commission s research included focused presentations and discussions led by renowned specialists in the area of early education, tours of early education facilities, and meetings with local early education professionals. This report is a compilation of information and data related to early care and education, and to children ages zero to five, in the state of Georgia and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta's 13-county service area (UW metro area). United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta 13-County Service Area Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 7
This report was designed to serve as a reference tool for Early Education Commission members during their deliberation process, and is not intended as an analysis or evaluation. It is divided into five major sections, each of which plays a role in planning for early care and education: Metro Atlanta and Georgia Population Trends this section describes metro area growth in terms of overall population as well as demographic characteristics of children ages 0-4; these are relevant to the number and capacity of facilities as well as the nature of programs and specialized interventions Child Care and Early Education Providers in Georgia this section describes the existing early care and education landscape, which varies by county and region Child Care Quality this section discusses meaningful definitions of quality and provides data on early childhood teacher education and credentials Child Care Costs this section provides cost data for early childhood providers across the region as well as individual providers Educational Indicators this section provides data on key educational progress indicators, including achievement tests, high school graduation, and SAT scores; it also provides some data on remedial program participation at different educational levels Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 8
Metro Atlanta and Georgia Population Trends 1 Population trends bear on planning for early care and education in two primary ways. First, population growth affects the demand for early care and education capacity, including child care and preschool, Georgia Pre-K, and early intervention programs such as Head Start. Second, the population characteristics affect the nature of early care and education programs and interventions. According to U.S. Census population estimates for 2008, Georgia had a total population of 9,685,744, and 47 percent of that population 4,516,395 individuals resided in the 13- county UW metro area. There were an estimated 740,521 children under five statewide, with 351,693 (48 percent) in the UW metro area in 2008. The Atlanta metro area is home to some of the largest counties and fastest-growing counties in the United States in terms of population. Four Georgia counties all in the metro area rank in the top 100 for size of population in 2008: Fulton (39th), Gwinnett (66th), DeKalb (75th), and Cobb (85th), according to U.S. Census population estimates for July 2008. Georgia Counties in 100 Largest Counties in the U.S., 2008 National Rank - Largest Counties Georgia Counties Population Estimates July 1, 2008 39 th Fulton 1,014,932 66 th Gwinnett 789,499 75 th DeKalb 739,956 85th Cobb 698,158 Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 1 All population data are based on U.S. Census population estimates from the website www.census.gov, accessed May and June, 2009, unless otherwise specified. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 9
Six of the 17 Georgia counties on the U.S. Census list of the 100 fastest-growing counties between 2000 and 2008 are in the Atlanta metro area: Cherokee, Coweta, Douglas, Gwinnett, Henry, and Paulding; two (Henry and Paulding) are within the top ten. Georgia Counties in Fastest Growing Counties with 10K+ Population in the U.S., 2000-2008 Georgia County Population Estimate Percent Change National Rank July 1, 2008 2000-2008 6 Forsyth 168,060 70.8% 8 Paulding 133,135 63.2% 9 Henry 191,502 60.5% 11 Newton 98,542 58.9% 19 Barrow 70,073 51.9% 22 Cherokee 210,529 48.4% 23 Jackson 61,620 48.2% 36 Walton 85,813 41.4% 45 Effingham 52,060 38.7% 46 Douglas 127,932 38.7% 52 Coweta 122,924 37.8% 55 Dawson 22,006 37.5% 60 Lee 33,761 36.4% 65 Pickens 31,176 35.6% 76 Gwinnett 789,499 34.2% 79 Bryan 31,173 33.1% 85 Hall 184,814 32.7% Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 10
UW Metro Area Population Trends Growth All of the 13 metro counties have increased in population since 2000, with Cherokee, Henry, and Paulding counties having the largest increases, and Clayton, Cobb, and DeKalb counties having the smallest increases. UW Metro County Population 5-year (2003-2008) and 8-Year (2000-2008) Population Increases 70% 60% 50% 5-year change 8-year change 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Butts Cherokee Clayton Cobb Coweta DeKalb Douglas Fayette Fulton Gwinnett Henry Paulding Rockdale UWMA area Georgia US Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 11
Gender and Age While the proportion of males and females in the population is nearly equal, there are slightly more males in the 0-4 age group and slightly more females in the total population. UW Metro Population by Gender, Total and Ages 0-4 Age Male Female All Ages 49.4% 50.6% 0 to 4 51.3% 48.7% Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Children under age 20 make up 30 percent of the UW metro area population, and children under age five make up eight percent of the UW metro area population. There were an estimated 351,693 children under age five in the UW metro area in 2008. UW Metro Population by Age 2008 50-59 13% 60-69 7% 70-79 3% 80+ 2% 10-14 7% 40-49 16% Children 30% 5-9 7% 15-19 7% 30-39 17% 20-29 13% 0-4 8% Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 12
Diversity The metro and state populations are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of race/ethnicity. The proportion of whites has decreased and the proportions of other races and of Hispanics have increased over time, with proportions of Hispanics higher among children ages zero to four. 2 While whites remain the largest racial group, the percentage of whites is decreasing in the UW metro area, with the numbers of blacks and other races increasing in all age groups, including children ages birth to four. UW Metro Area: Race by Year, Ages 0-4, 2004-2008 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% White Black Asian Other 20% 10% 0% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 2 The U.S. Census categorizes race separately from Hispanic origin; an individual may be of Hispanic origin and any race (for example, black and Hispanic or white and non-hispanic). Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 13
The racial proportions are similar for children ages zero to four and the population in general, although the younger population is slightly more diverse. UW Metro Area: Race, All Ages and Ages 0-4, 2008 60% 50% 58.8% 55.9% All ages Ages 0-4 40% 30% 34.5% 35.3% 20% 10% 4.7% 4.8% 2.0% 4.0% 0% White Black Asian Other Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 14
Racial proportions among children ages 0-4 (as well as the total population) vary widely among the UW metro area counties: Clayton and DeKalb have the highest proportions of blacks and the lowest proportions of whites. Gwinnett has the highest proportion of Asians. The UW metro area as a whole has a higher proportion of Asians and blacks compared to the state. Cherokee, Paulding and Coweta counties have the highest proportions of whites. UW Metro Area: Race by County, Ages 0-4, 2008 US Georgia UW Metro Clayton DeKalb Rockdale Fulton Douglas Henry Gwinnett Cobb White Black Asian Other Fayette Butts Coweta Paulding Cherokee 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 15
Whereas children ages zero to four show racial proportions similar to the total population, the picture for Hispanic origin is quite different. The proportion of Hispanics is significantly greater for children ages zero to four than for the population as a whole in the UW metro area, the state, and the nation. Nationwide, an estimated 25 percent of the children under age five are of Hispanic origin, although Hispanics make up less than 16 percent of the total population. In both Georgia and the UW metro area, Hispanics are roughly twice as prevalent in the population ages zero to four as in the total population. UW Metro Area, Georgia and the U.S. Hispanic Population, All Ages and Ages 0-4, 2008 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 10.6% 20.9% All Ages Ages 0-4 8.0% 16.1% 15.4% 25.2% 0% UW metro Georgia U.S. Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 16
The proportion of Hispanics in the UW metro area has steadily increased over the past five years, with more than 20 percent of the under five population being Hispanic in 2008. 25% UW Metro Area: Hispanic Population by Year, All Ages and Ages 0-4 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% All Ages Ages 0-4 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 17
Although Georgia as a whole has a lower proportion of Hispanics among children ages zero to four than the nation, the UW metro area has a higher percentage of Hispanic children in that age range than the rest of the state. The proportion of Hispanics also varies from county to county. Gwinnett County has the highest Hispanic percentage, followed by Cobb, Clayton, and Rockdale counties. Butts and Paulding counties have the smallest proportion of Hispanics among children ages zero to four. UW Metro Area: Hispanic Population by County, Ages 0-4, 2008 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Gwinnett Clayton Cobb Rockdale DeKalb Fulton Cherokee Douglas Fayette Henry Coweta Paulding Butts UW metro Georgia US Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 18
The U.S. Census categorizes race separately from Hispanic origin; an individual may be of Hispanic origin and any race (for example, black and Hispanic or white and non-hispanic). In the UW metro area, most of the Hispanic population is white. The following chart shows the proportion of Hispanics within each of the major race categories for the UW metro area. UW Metro Area: Race with Hispanic/Non-Hispanic Proportions, All Ages and Ages 0-4, 2008 Percent of Total UW Metro Population 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Hispanic Non-Hispanic 0% All 0-4 All 0-4 All 0-4 All 0-4 White Black Asian Other Source: U.S. Census Population Estimates, July 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 19
Parent Work Status Based on the U.S. Census Bureau s national American Community Survey (ACS) for 2007, an estimated 522,063 children under six in families and subfamilies (families that do not maintain their own household, but live in the home of someone else) are in need of child care, either because they are living with two parents who both work or living with one parent who works. The following chart shows the percentage of children in each category for both the state and for the ACS s 28-county Atlanta metro area. Parent Work Status for Children Under Age Six Living in Families and Subfamilies, 2007 70% Georgia 60% 50% 64.5% 68.6% ACS 28-County Atlanta Metro Area 63.5% 63.4% 40% 30% 20% 10% 36.2% 38.4% 35.5% 31.4% 27.3% 25.0% 0% Living with 2 parents Both parents in labor force Living with 1 parent Parent living with in labor force Total needing child care Source: U.S. Census American Community Survey, 2007 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 20
Poverty In Georgia, 20 percent of children under age 18 are living below the poverty level, compared to 14 percent of the state s total population. In the UW metro area, the percentages in poverty vary by county, with Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties each having 21 percent of children in poverty, followed by Butts County, with 18 percent. UW Metro Area, Georgia and United States: Poverty Estimates, 2007 25% 20% Under 18 All Ages 15% 10% 5% 0% Butts Cherokee Clayton Cobb Coweta Dekalb Douglas Fayette Fulton Gwinnett Henry Paulding Rockdale Georgia US Source: U.S. Census American Community Survey, 2007 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 21
Child Care and Early Education Providers in Georgia Types of Early Childhood (0-5) Care and Education Providers Regulation of child care providers varies from state to state. Georgia child care falls into three basic sectors: Regulated: licensed centers and group child care homes and registered family child care providers Exempt: certain school-based programs, faith-based programs, and others legally exempt from licensing Informal, or unregulated: family, friend, and neighbor caregivers who care for three or fewer children (not their own) in their home or in the child s home; these caregivers are not required to be licensed or registered, although some informal caregivers choose to meet state requirements in order to receive child care subsidy payments Regulated Child Care 3 Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (BFTS) is responsible for licensing/registering child care providers and determines the number of children that can be served (capacity): Licensed child care center a facility operated by a person, society, agency, corporation, institution, or group that charges for child care, for fewer than 24 hours per day for 19 or more children under 18 years of age (may include Head Start Centers) Group child care home a place or home operated by a person, partnership, association, or corporation that charges for child care for fewer than 24 hours per day for seven to 18 children under age 18 Registered family child care home a private residence operated by a person who charges for child care for fewer than 24 hours per day for three to six children under age 18 who are not related to him or her and whose parents or guardians are not residents in the same private residence Georgia Pre-K programs in public schools or private centers; limited to 20 students per class For accredited centers, the class size/ratio of children to teachers that is required for accreditation may be lower than licensing ratios, resulting in an actual capacity lower than the licensed capacity. 3 Information on regulated providers based on definitions on the Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning website, www.decal.ga.gov, accessed May 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 22
Exempt Child Care Some early education and child care providers may be granted an exemption from state child care licensing but may be monitored and regulated by the state; they may also choose to be licensed. These include: Half-day (no more than four hours per day) programs Programs that do not charge for child care Faith-based child care and preschool programs Military child care centers Approved, specialized day care centers for mentally handicapped individuals Informal/Unregulated Child Care (Family, Friend and Neighbor Care) A caregiver who cares for fewer than three children unrelated (or six children related) to himself/herself is exempt from licensing. Care may be provided in the caregiver s home, the child s home, or the home of a relative, friend, or neighbor. These caregivers are not known to the state unless they are receiving subsidized child care or food program payments; therefore, there are no verifiable totals for this type of care within Georgia or the UW metro area. According to Susman-Stillman and Banghart (2008), family, friend, and neighbor care is the most common form of non-parental care in the U.S., with estimates of the proportion of children with employed parents using this care ranging from one-third to over one-half (33-53 percent for children under 5, and 48-59 percent for school-age children). 4 At the lowest end of that range (33 percent), more than 100,000 children ages 0-5 in the UW metro area would be expected to be receiving this type of care; at the highest end (53 percent), the estimated number of children in this type of care would be over 180,000. 4 Susman-Stillman and Patti Banghart, Demographics of Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care in the United States, Child Care and Early Education Research Connections, August 2008. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 23
Licensed and Registered Child Care Providers A significant proportion of the state s child care providers and child care capacity are in the UW metro area: 54 percent of registered family child care providers 44 percent of licensed centers and 54 percent of center capacity In contrast, 31 percent of the state s identified informal child care providers (those receiving child care subsidy payments) are in the UW metro area. Following is a data snapshot of child care providers in the UW metro area and state. Number and Capacity of Child Care Providers, 2008 Informal Child Care Providers (providing subsidized child care)* Registered Family Child Care Homes Licensed Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes County Number Capacity Number Capacity Number Capacity Total Licensed/ Registered Capacity Butts 3 6 5 30 8 935 965 Cherokee 15 30 60 360 49 7,287 7,647 Clayton 223 446 369 2,214 93 10,876 13,090 Cobb 33 66 339 2,034 183 22,817 24,851 Coweta 26 52 28 168 28 3,898 4,066 DeKalb 447 894 689 4,134 233 25,460 29,594 Douglas 62 124 91 546 42 5,876 6,422 Fayette 20 40 24 144 29 4,658 4,802 Fulton 486 972 464 2,784 329 41,150 43,934 Gwinnett 165 330 467 2,802 203 32,874 35,676 Henry 77 154 157 942 57 9,482 10,424 Paulding 5 10 53 318 27 4,033 4,351 Rockdale 33 66 56 336 32 4,355 4,691 UW metro area 1,595 3,190 2,802 16,812 1,313 173,701 190,513 Georgia 5,099 10,198 5,146 30,876 2,998 324,272 355,148 * The total informal child care sector is, of course, much larger than those receiving subsidy payments. Source: Informal providers list provided by DHR Child Care Unit March 2009; licensed and registered providers lists provided by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, December 2008 As noted previously, as many as one-third to one-half of children under age five are in informal care, frequently with providers not known to the state, making it an important but difficult target for quality improvement. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 24
Overall, the number of licensed and registered child care providers declined slightly from December 2006 to December 2008, although child care center capacity increased by four percent. However, the number of informal child care providers receiving child care subsidy payments increased by half during that two-year period. (See following chart as well as provider maps included in appendices.) Changes in Number and Capacity of Child Care Providers, 2006-2008 2006 2008 Percent Change Licensed child care centers and group homes 3,028 2,998-1.0% Licensed center capacity 311,616 324,272 4.1% Registered family child care homes 5,340 5,146-3.6% Informal child care providers receiving subsidy payments 3,306 5,099 54.2% Source: Informal providers list provided by DHR Child Care Unit, March 2009; licensed and registered providers lists provided by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, December 2006 and December 2008 Changes may be due in part to the weakened economy and/or the increased efforts of Bright from the Start to ensure providers are meeting state standards and requirements. A January 2009 survey of licensed and regulated providers in 36 counties in northwest and central Georgia, including metro Atlanta, suggests some support for the economic downturn reasoning. The survey found that among the 133 centers and 228 family child care homes responding, enrollments were down for most (86 percent of centers and 68 percent of family providers). Many (38 percent of centers and 24 percent of family providers) were worried about having to close, and six percent of family providers were making preparations to close. 5 5 Quality Care for Children, The Impact of the Economic Downturn on Child Care in Georgia on the Child and Adult Food Care website, http://www.cacfpforum.org/docs/impactga.pdf, accessed May 2009. The article did not report the number of surveys distributed or the response rate, so results may or may not be representative of the population surveyed. In the 13-county UW metro area there were 1,313 licensed centers and 2,802 registered family child care providers, suggesting response rates of less than ten percent. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 25
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) CACFP is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program that reimburses child care providers, including center-based, home-based, and school-based providers, for nutritious meals served to children in their care. Providers may be public, private non-profit, or private for-profit. Private for-profit centers must have at least 25 percent children in subsidized care or have at least 25 percent of the children enrolled meeting the income eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. 6 In Georgia, this nutrition program is administered by Bright from the Start. The following chart shows the numbers of providers participating in the state s nutrition program in March 2008. Early Care and Education Provider Participation in the Child and Adult Food Care Program, 2009 County BFTS Licensed Centers Head Start Licensed Group Home Registered Family Child Care Home Informal Department of Defense BFTS BFTS N/A Butts 6 0 0 0 4 0 Cherokee 5 0 0 3 40 0 Clayton 84 2 0 5 253 5 Cobb 156 0 0 10 402 2 Coweta 14 0 0 0 17 0 DeKalb 352 6 0 22 990 8 Douglas 23 0 0 1 47 0 Fayette 13 0 0 1 8 0 Fulton 516 4 2 22 488 2 Gwinnett 188 0 0 8 608 2 Henry 30 0 0 0 73 0 Paulding 11 1 0 0 36 0 Rockdale 20 0 0 0 37 2 UW metro area 1,418 13 2 72 3,003 21 Georgia 1,794 114 28 291 3,441 53 Source: Lists from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, March 2009 6 Information obtained from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning website, www.decal.ga.gov, accessed May 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 26
Georgia Pre-K Georgia has lottery-funded, voluntary, universal full-day Pre-K for four-year-olds throughout the state. Classes are located in a variety of public and private (for-profit as well as nonprofit) settings, including public, private, and charter schools, child care centers, military bases, and Head Start Centers. The state has established comprehensive classroom standards, and family support is provided, including school transition and referrals. Some Pre-K sites also have the support of a resource coordinator, provided under a separate grant to enhance the family support provided by the Pre-K program. The resource coordinators provide information and referral services for parents on workshops (job skills, kindergarten readiness, and other topics), literacy, education, employment, community resources, and services, including helping parents find assessment and treatment providers to address issues that might affect a child s learning in school. 7 For the 2007-2008 academic year, 502 resource coordinators were employed in the Georgia Pre-K program; these resource coordinators served 48,840 children (62 percent of the Pre-K enrollment) at 1,030 sites. 8 Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of the children served by resource coordinators were Category I children, who are considered at-risk or economically disadvantaged. These are children whose families qualify for some form of assistance, such as free or reduced lunch or child care subsidies; they reflect a range of incomes and do not necessarily meet federal poverty guidelines. 9 Resource coordination was six percent of the Pre-K budget for the year. 7 Information from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning website, www.decal.ga.gov, accessed May 2009. 8 Data provided by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, May 2009. 9 Bright from the Start defines Category I child eligibility as the child's participation in one of the following: Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Child and Parent Services (CAPS) program, or PeachCare for Kids. Documentation of the child's participation must be verified and kept on file for review. Children who participate in the free and reduced meal program through the center/school that they attend may also be counted if income eligibility is verified on each child and kept on file for review. From 2008-2009 Georgia s Pre-K Program Operating Guidelines, on website, www.decal.ga.gov, accessed June 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 27
Georgia had a total of 79,660 Pre-K slots for the 2008-2009 school year. The Georgia Pre-K program is universal, in that there are no income eligibility requirements for the Pre-K slots; however, at the current time demand exceeds capacity, and there are waiting lists of more than 4,000 in the UW metro area and 7,000 statewide. Forty-three percent of the state s Pre-K slots are in the UW metro area, which contains 48 percent of the state's children ages zero to five. Georgia Pre-K 2008-2009 County Providers Sites Classes Slots Percent of Georgia Slots Number on Waiting List, May 2009 Butts 6 6 10 200 0.3% 2 Cherokee 28 36 81 1,620 2.0% 149 Clayton 42 69 124 2,480 3.1% 465 Cobb 77 98 214 4,280 5.4% 388 Coweta 15 28 55 1,100 1.4% 98 DeKalb 67 158 267 5,340 6.7% 1,271 Douglas 23 24 53 1,060 1.3% 104 Fayette 10 18 30 600 0.8% 45 Fulton 91 183 324 6,480 8.1% 522 Gwinnett 113 144 381 7,620 9.6% 649 Henry 27 31 74 1,480 1.9% 95 Paulding 21 24 59 1,180 1.5% 176 Rockdale 15 25 41 820 1.0% 56 UW metro area 535 844 1,713 34,260 43.0% 4,020 Georgia 945 1,845 3,983 79,660 100.0% 7,103 Source: Pre-K data by county provided by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, March 2009; waiting list counts provided May, 2009 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 28
Georgia Pre-K settings include local public schools and other public settings as well as private settings (typically child care centers). In the UW metro area, 81 percent of the Pre-K slots are in private settings; statewide, 56 percent are in private settings. County Georgia Pre-K Slots by Type of Setting, 2009 Local School System Other Public Setting Private Setting Total Slots Butts 20 0 180 200 Cherokee 100 0 1,520 1,620 Clayton 560 0 1,920 2,480 Cobb 0 0 4,280 4,280 Coweta 520 0 580 1,100 DeKalb 2,280 0 3,060 5,340 Douglas 0 0 1,060 1,060 Fayette 180 0 420 600 Fulton 2,360 80 4,040 6,480 Gwinnett 20 60 7,540 7,620 Henry 0 0 1,480 1,480 Paulding 0 20 1,160 1,180 Rockdale 180 0 640 820 UW metro area 6,220 160 27,880 34,260 Georgia 34,020 840 44,780 79,640 Source: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning data provided May 2009 (20 slots, or one classroom, less than indicated in March 2009 data). Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 29
Georgia Pre-K serves a significant number of children who are considered at risk (Category I, or economically disadvantaged), and the proportion of children served who are at risk has grown over the past five years, from nearly one-third to nearly half of the children served. UW Metro Area: Percent of Children Served in Georgia Pre-K Who Are Economically Disadvantaged, 2003-2009 50% 45% 40% 35% 41% 45% 47% 49% 47% 47% 30% 25% 32% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Source: Governor s Office of Student Achievement Education Report Cards for 2003-2008, and data provided by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning for 2009 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 30
The proportion of children served who are economically disadvantaged varies greatly from county to county within the UW metro area. For the 2007-2008 academic year: In Clayton and DeKalb counties, more than three-fifths of the children served are economically disadvantaged. In Cherokee, Fayette and Coweta counties, less than a third are economically disadvantaged. The following chart shows, for the UW metro counties and the state, the percentage of estimated four-year-olds served and proportion of those served who are economically disadvantaged. County Georgia Pre-K Report Card, 2007-2008 10 Estimated Population of 4-Year- Olds Total Number 4- Year-Olds Enrolled in GA Pre-K Percentage of Estimated 4-Year-Olds Served Number of At- Risk Children Served * Percentage of Children Served Who Are At-Risk * Butts 269 216 80% 106 49% Cherokee 2,907 1,506 52% 366 24% Clayton 4,638 2,364 51% 1,496 63% Cobb 9,945 4,229 43% 1,808 43% Coweta 1,668 1,114 67% 360 32% DeKalb 9,674 4,926 51% 2,986 61% Douglas 1,542 1,032 67% 371 36% Fayette 1,172 591 50% 158 27% Fulton 13,176 6,248 47% 3,425 55% Gwinnett 12,443 7,353 59% 3,156 43% Henry 2,735 1,469 54% 576 39% Paulding 2,159 1,189 55% 404 34% Rockdale 1,210 747 62% 375 50% UW metro area 63,538 32,984 52% 15,587 47% Georgia 134,247 76,491 57% 40,836 53% * At-risk children are those who are economically disadvantaged; no estimates are provided for the percentage of the population that is at-risk/economically disadvantaged or the percentage of the atrisk/economically disadvantaged that is served. Source: Governor s Office of Student Achievement Education Report Card, 2007-2008 10 Education Report Card Data are from the Georgia Governor s Office of Student Achievement website (www.gaosa.org), accessed May and June, 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 31
Head Start/Early Head Start Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) are federally-funded early care and education programs targeting disadvantaged families and young children. Head Start Half or full-day preschool education Comprehensive, center-based services: Child medical, dental, mental health Nutrition and social services Parent involvement Targets disadvantaged children ages 3-4 Approximately 5,500 slots in metro Atlanta (March 2008) Early Head Start Extension of Head Start Center and home-based services: Pre-natal health Infant-toddler social/emotional development and well-being Cognitive and language development Targets low-income pregnant women and families with children under age 3 Approximately 500 slots in metro Atlanta (March 2008) Head Start and Early Head Start data for 2009: 337 programs, including programs in 198 licensed centers, with 129 being accredited 11 The following chart provides statewide Head Start and Early Head Start enrollment data. HS-Funded Enrollment in Georgia Early HS- Funded Enrollment Georgia Head Start Enrollment, 2009 12 4-Year- Olds Enrolled Blended Head Start/Pre-K Classrooms * 4-Year-Olds in Blended Classrooms 3-Year-Old Classrooms 3-Year- Olds Enrolled 23,144 1,548 10,149 169 1,897 380 9,885 * Blended programs with braided funding. 13 Source: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, March 2009 11 Head Start is exempt from required licensing; however, some programs choose to seek licensing, as that is a requirement for accreditation. 12 Enrollment data were not available by county. 13 In braided funding, funding sources remain visible while they are used in common to produce greater strength, efficiency, and/or effectiveness. The key difference between braided funds and blended funds is that braided funds are tracked both collectively and separately. Blended and Braided Funding, National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (PACT Financing Module 3 handout), on website www.nccic.acf.hhs.gov, accessed May 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 32
Child Care Quality There is much discussion in the literature on what constitutes quality child care and early education, and its impact on child outcomes. In research literature a variety of factors are recognized as contributing to the quality of care and child outcomes. According to Espinosa (2002): Preschool programs are typically rated on two dimensions of quality process and structure. The interactions, activities, materials, learning opportunities, and health and safety routines are observed and rated as a measure of process quality. The second dimension, structural quality, includes the size of each group of children, the adult-child ratio, and the education and training of the teachers and staff. 14 In this section of the report, two indicators of quality are addressed: national accreditation and teacher qualifications. National accreditation for child care providers is a strong indicator of quality, as the accreditation process takes all of the above factors into account. Teacher credentials are another commonly-cited indicator of quality: In general, higher levels of teacher education are associated with higher overall classroom quality, more positive teacher behaviors in the classroom, and greater gains in cognitive and social development in children. 15 Accreditation The primary accrediting bodies for early care & education include: National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Others include: National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) Montessori 14 Espinosa, Linda M., High Quality Preschool and What it Looks Like, Preschool Policy Matters, National Institute for Early Education Research, Issue 1, November 2002. 15 Kelley, Pamela, and Gregory Camilli, The Impact of Teacher Education on Outcomes in Center-Based Early Childhood Education Programs: A Meta-Analysis, report partially sponsored by National Institute for Early Education Research and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2007. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 33
In early 2009, NAEYC had more than 9,000 accredited centers nationwide. 16 Nationally, there were 73,755 child care establishments in 2006. 17 In the previous two years, there was one to two percent growth per year. Assuming conservatively one percent per year growth since 2006, there would be an estimated 75,990 such establishments in 2009, suggesting a national accreditation rate of approximately 12 percent. As of May 2009, there were 255 NAEYC-accredited child care centers in Georgia fewer than 10 percent of the state s licensed child care centers. Accreditation of registered family child care providers is even lower, with fewer than two percent accredited. 18 Of Georgia s 225 NAEYC-accredited centers, 167 (65 percent) were in the UW metro area. Of the 65 NAFCC accredited homes, 44 (68 percent) were in the UW metro area. Georgia: Accreditation of Licensed Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes, October 2008 (3,291 licensed providers) NAEYC 9% NECPA <1% SACS <1% Montessori <1% NAC 0% None 91% Source: Accrediting organization websites, accessed October 2008 16 Presentation by Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., NAEYC, at UW of Metropolitan Atlanta Early Education meeting, February 2009. 17 Most recent data released at time report was written; U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2006 on website, www.census.gov, accessed June 2009. 18 Lists of licensed and registered child care providers were obtained from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Accreditation counts were obtained from the websites or offices of the respective accrediting organizations. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 34
An even smaller proportion of registered family child care homes is nationally accredited. Georgia: Accreditation of Registered Family Child Care Homes October 2008 (5,326 family child care homes) NAFCC 1% None 99% Source: Accrediting organization websites, accessed October 2008 Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 35
The number of licensed centers in Georgia accredited by NAEYC rose between 2003 and 2006; this rise coincided with increased technical assistance and training to support providers in seeking national accreditation provided under the Georgia Early Learning Initiative, subsequently named Smart Start, of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. The number of participating centers peaked in 2006 and then fell, following implementation of increased accreditation standards and costs. 19 450 Georgia Child Care Programs Accredited by NAEYC 1999-2009 421 400 350 300 264 343 353 290 274 250 200 150 149 179 182 193 194 100 June 1999 June 2000 June 2001 July 2002 June 2003 July 2004 September 2005 August 2006 July 2007 July 2008 February 2009 Note: Increased accreditation standards and costs became effective September 2006. Source: Lists acquired from NAEYC s website and emails from NAEYC staff collected over time 19 Historical counts provided by the National Association on the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC accreditation is for a period of 5 years, based on the month and year accreditation was awarded, so the number of accredited centers varies somewhat from month-to-month as well as from year-to-year. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 36
The majority of the accredited centers and homes approximately two-thirds are located in the UW metro area. Nationally-Accredited Child Care Providers in Georgia and the UW Metro Area, 2008 NAEYC- or NAFCC- Accredited May 2008 Georgia Licensed Centers/ Registered Homes March 2008 NAEYC- or NAFCC- Accredited May 2008 UW Metro Area Licensed Centers/ Registered Homes March 2008 Percent of Georgia s Accredited Providers Located in UW Metro Area Child Care Centers 304 3,153 205 1,499 67% Family Child Care Homes 72 5,410 47 2,911 65% Source: Accreditation counts accrediting body websites; licensing/registration counts: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 37
Support for Quality and National Accreditation Child care providers may receive training and technical assistance as well as financial support to improve quality and pursue accreditation. The primary technical assistance providers include: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning o Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Smart Start, the Early Learning Division of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Bright from the Start provides funding for training and for the Georgia Professional Development Registry, which includes a calendar of upcoming training events. In addition, Bright from the Start funds the SCHOLARSHIPS and INCENTIVES programs, which provide financial support and incentives for early education teachers to pursue and complete a credential or degree in the field. Through a competitive bid process, Bright from the Start awards and manages contracts with resource and referral agencies. These agencies provide technical assistance, teacher education, and parent resources for specific geographic areas. Beginning July 2009 there will be six resource and referral agencies across the state. Quality Care for Children, Inc., is the resource and referral agency providing services in metro Atlanta; it also operates the statewide call center and website where consumers can access information online. The statewide referral center assists parents who are seeking child care for typically developing children as well as inclusive environments for children with special needs. Bright from the Start also awards grants to organizations to provide accreditation facilitation services to help child care programs meet national standards of quality, including NAEYC and other comparable national accrediting organizations. Accreditation facilitation services include site visits to assess the program's readiness to participate; assistance to help each program develop an improvement plan; on-site technical assistance; and coaching to guide program staff in developing skills to achieve and sustain program improvement goals. Bright from the Start has awarded grants to the following organizations to provide accreditation facilitation services: Black Child Development Institute, Inc., Atlanta affiliate; Georgia Association on Young Children; and organizations that serve as child care resource and referral agencies. 20 For the past eight years, Smart Start (formerly the Georgia Early Learning Initiative) has worked in partnership with both public and private organizations to fund and provide training and technical assistance to licensed centers and registered family child care homes seeking accreditation. In that time, approximately 280 child care centers and 40 family child care homes achieved national accreditation with Smart Start support. Smart Start currently partners with Quality Assist, Inc.; Black Child Development Institute, Inc., Atlanta affiliate; and Quality Care for Children, Inc., to provide training and technical assistance to child care providers. 21 20 Information obtained from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning staff and website, www.decal.ga.gov, accessed May and June, 2009. 21 Information obtained from Smart Start, May 2009. Prepared by Care Solutions, Inc. June 2009 Page 38