The career ladder applies only to ECE workers who work 20 hours or more a week and school age care workers who work 15 hours or more a week. For years child advocates and early childhood education specialists have witnessed the success of the military's child-care program and bemoaned the lack of comparable programs in the civilian sector. The program is paid for with unused welfare money, which is a natural fit. But this is not a welfare program. Following a press conference to review results of a first-year program evaluation, Governor Locke met with parents, child care workers, and child care center directors to discuss the Washington State Early Childhood Education Career Development Ladder.
Child care is a necessity for millions of American families.
Mothers of young children are working in far greater numbers than ever before, and many experts say the private market is not meeting the need for affordable, quality child care. Morning Edition examines the state of child care in America with a five-part series during the week of December 4, 2000. Seattle Times article about the early childhood education career ladder. Parents, Children Benefit from County Initiative Quality early childhood education creates benefits that accrue to the public. The Economic Opportunity Institute in collaboration with the King County Labor Council and Child Care Union designed and advocated for the ordinance.