More than three million children with working parents in California cannot get access to licensed child care. The problem is exacerbated by the strong economy, which draws child care providers out of their field into better paying jobs. Many preschool teachers are leaving child care to take jobs in the public elementary school system, the high-tech industry, and other higher paying professions. Nationally, turnover in the child care profession is estimated at more than 30 percent annually, a level of instability that can create an emotionally stressful environment for children. Quality child care is unaffordable even for many middle-income parents.
Infant care is especially hard to find.
Although 33 percent of parents calling resource and referral agencies were looking for infant care, only 4 percent of licensed child care centers offer it. Parents who work nights and weekends have an even more difficult time finding care during these hours. The study examined different state licensing and enforcement activities, including background checks, timing and regularity of monitoring visits, sanctions, training for licensing staff and caseload for licensing staff. State policies were compared with recommendations from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and in the National Health and Safety Performance Standards. The majority of states were found to meet or exceed recommended monitoring practices.