Search

In light of increasing evidence that good early childhood programs lead to school success, reduced delinquency and crime, and better job opportunities and productivity, state legislators are developing policies to improve these services. This report is designed to provide state lawmakers and their staff with research and state examples of policy options to advance child care quality. The report outlines selected elements of quality early childhood systems that go beyond minimal regulatory standards. The report also discusses research findings, provides state policies, including legislative initiatives, and results of some of these initiatives. Following the introduction, the four sections of the report highlight four quality issues that legislators can affect and that are above and beyond state regulation: (1) an effective work force--policies that promote training, education, career development, and better compensation for providers; (2) program quality and accreditation--providers who meet certain standards in addition to and above minimum regulatory requirements; (3) reimbursement rates--policies and levels of funding to child care providers who care for children who are subsidized by the state; and (4) comprehensive services--enriching the support services in child care programs, including health and education linkages and outreach to parents and providers. The report notes that, in the past few years, there have been innovative advancements in several key areas, including greater professional opportunities for providers, a focus on voluntary accreditation, fiscal incentives in the form of variable reimbursement rates to high-quality programs, and establishment of early childhood initiatives that are enriched with comprehensive health and social services. (Contains 30 references.) (KB)

This document outlines the basic federal, state, and local financing structure for child support programs. The main components of program financing are discussed, including: (1) the federal government currently pays 68 percent of state and local costs of program administration and rewards states and localities based on their collections and cost effectiveness; (2) child support enforcement can increase state revenues by offsetting welfare costs since child support can remove children from poverty and reduce Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) growth rates and parent's health insurance can save Medicaid funds; and (3) federal incentive money and the state share of collections on behalf of AFDC recipients can be used as the state chooses. Highlighted are creative state initiatives that incorporate performance-based models into the administration and financing of state programs for child support enforcement. Known enforcement tools and management techniques which can increase effectiveness and efficiency are discussed, including placing greater emphasis on the establishment of paternity, assuring adequate levels of child support through review and modification of child support orders, and providing automatic income withholding from an absent parent's paycheck. Case studies provide examples of successful state initiatives. The report concludes that child support is no longer solely considered to be a "welfare" program; it is a socially beneficial program that can be implemented at minimal state cost. (ABL)

Since 1976 the U.S. Department of Education has helped fund 60 education policies by state legislatures. These competitive matching grants, or cost-sharing awards, have laid the groundwork for significant education reforms. This report seeks to advance information-sharing among state legislatures and between policy makers and researchers. The report contains a list of 27 cost-sharing awards funded between 1983-86 and presents 4 case studies highlighting important issues confronting state legislatures today and illustrating the different methods that legislatures use to define issues and employ research in making changes in state education policies. In 1983, Tennessee's General Assembly was stalemated over the controversial issue of rewarding teachers with higher salaries. Finally, a Select Committee on Education used a cost-sharing award to commission papers from education researchers and provide expert testimony. The committee then drafted a bill underlying the state's landmark career ladder law. In 1985, the Maine Legislature used a cost-sharing award to conduct its own field research project on teachers' decisions to stay in the classroom or leave teaching. As a result, the legislature can deal realistically with teacher supply and demand by relying on state data. The two other case studies involve a Washington State higher education funding formula research project and a South Carolina project to monitor the progress of recent educational reform efforts. (MLH)

This report highlights recent state legislative efforts to expand early care and education, promote the development of young children, and meet a variety of state policy goals. Chapter 1, "The Role of Early Childhood Care and Education in State Public Policy," presents the rationale for policymakers from a range of policy jurisdictions to consider early care and education and summarizes program characteristics associated with effectiveness. Subsequent chapters discuss effects of early care and policy on various policy areas and describe state legislative approaches that integrate early childhood services. Chapter 2, "Economic and Labor Implications of Early Childhood Care and Education," examines benefits to current and future employers from early childhood services. Chapter 3,"The Implications of Early Childhood Services and School-Age Child Care for Public Education," examines the impact of these services on academic success. Chapter 4, "The Implications of the Early Childhood Services for Juvenile Justice," considers the role of early childhood services in preventing later delinquency, crime, and child abuse. Chapter 5, "The Role of Early Childhood Care in Health Policy," highlights state efforts to link health and early care needs. Chapter 6, "Child Care Regulations and Quality of Care," focuses on state regulations in enhancing quality. Chapter 7, "Early Childhood Services and Welfare Reform," describes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and opportunities to consolidate child care services under one administration. Chapter 8, "Early Care and Family Support," identifies several state programs experimenting with multigenerational family support and education programs. Each chapter has references. (Contains appendix with references for further information.) (KB)

This book is a compilation of summaries of newly enacted state legislation affecting children and families. It documents legislative activity, emerging trends, and innovative policies in the states, providing information essential to effective policymaking. Part 1 describes the National Conference of State Legislatures' Children and Families Program. The bulk of the book provides summaries of state legislation in the following areas: (1) abuse and neglect, including background checks, prevention and treatment, registries and records, and sexual offender registries; (2) child care and early childhood education, including regulation and licensing, child care in public schools, and support for providers; (3) child mental health; (4) child support enforcement, including court procedures, enforcement techniques, interstate enforcement, and paternity; (5) child welfare, including adoption, family preservation services and permanency plans, foster care, and termination of parental rights; (6) family law, focusing on custody and visitation and domestic law; (7) general legislation related to children, youth, and families; (8) juvenile justice, including financing, jurisdiction, procedures, and weapons offenses; (9) substance abuse and control, including prevention, education, and tobacco use control; (10) welfare reform and public assistance, including eligibility, employment-related policies, family caps, child exclusion, fraud, teen parents, and time limits; and (11) youth at risk, including missing and homeless children, school drop-outs, suspension, school safety, and truancy. Within each category, legislation is listed alphabetically according to state. (KB)

Recognizing the broad social and economic implications of child care and early childhood policies, more state legislatures are taking a leadership role in developing early childhood programs. This book presents an in-depth look at how state legislatures are applying the lessons of early childhood research to a broad range of state legislative jurisdictions. Also it creates a framework for considering early care and education within the context of education, economic development, human services, public health, program regulation, and juvenile justice legislative jurisdictions. Separate chapters present the latest relevant program research and outline the range of state legislation related to each of these policy areas. The chapters are: (1) "The Role of Early Childhood Care and Education in State Public Policy"; (2) "Economic and Labor implications of Early Childhood Care and Education"; (3) "The Implications of Early Childhood Services and School-Age Child Care for Public Education"; (4) "The Implications of Early Childhood Services for Juvenile Justice"; (5) "The Role of Early Childhood Care in Health Policy"; (6) "Child Care Regulations and Quality of Care"; (7) "Early Childhood Services and Welfare Reform"; and (8) "Early Care and Family Support." The book also encourages further cross-jurisdictional consideration of early care and education policies across all these boundaries. This approach is discussed in more depth in the chapter on family support initiatives. Each chapter contains extensive notes. A list of additional resources is appended. (HTH)