Including Family Child Care in Public Pre-Kindergarten Systems: Opportunities and Challenges for Advancing Equity

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Inclusion of family child care (FCC) in mixed-delivery pre-kindergarten (PreK) systems is a promising strategy for advancing equity for children, families, and educators (Melvin et al., 2022). Research indicates that FCC settings are responsive to the needs of low-income, working families, and families of color because of their convenient location, non-traditional, flexible hours, and cultural and linguistic continuity (NSECE, 2015). FCC educators are estimated to care for over 300,000 preschool-aged children nationwide yet are often overlooked in the design and implementation of policy initiatives (NCECQA, 2020; Datta et al, 2021). Centering FCC in policymaking has been identified as a top priority for dismantling systemic racism and building more equitable early childhood (EC) systems, particularly during COVID-19 recovery (Meek et al., 2020). Many core principles related to PreK implementation in FCC are similar to those being addressed across birth-to-five EC systems that seek to achieve equity for children, families, educators, and communities. This session will outline key issues around FCC inclusion in PreK and share findings from recent data collection on state and local mixed-delivery PreK systems. Caroline Ebanks from Institute of Education Sciences will serve as moderator and engage panelists and participants in discussion of key implementation issues faced by states, localities, and educators in mixed-delivery PreK programs. Researchers across four institutions will comprise the panel: Juliet Bromer (Erikson Institute), Georgenne Weisenfeld (National Institute for Early Education Research), Jenille Morgan (Equity Research Action Coalition, UNC), and Rena Hallam (Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, University of Delaware).

Sub Unit

• Social Policy

Moderator

• Caroline M Ebanks, Institute of Education Sciences

Panelists

• Juliet Sara Bromer, Erikson Institute

• GG Weisenfeld, Rutgers University - New Brunswick

• Jenille Adams Morgan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Rena Hallam, University of Delaware