Idaho's children and their families deserve real leadership from our legislators

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Mon, 02/07/2022 - 11:56
Children coloring

By Beth Oppenheimer | Opinion on Idaho Statesman

Last year, Idaho was the recipient a $6 million annual grant for three years with a focus to improve Idaho’s early childhood education system. This grant was a follow-on to a previously successfully administered grant that allowed local communities to set up their own strategic plans related to early learning. U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch were strong proponents of the grant because it would have directly benefitted Idaho communities.

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Idaho Statesman

Treasure Valley parents struggling to secure child care amid daycare staffing shortages

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 12:04
child holding teddy bear

Struggling to find affordable child care? You're not alone.

Finding and securing child care in the Treasure Valley is a lot easier said than done. Many parents are on year-long waitlists, in part, due to staffing shortages.

Read the entire article on KIVI Channel 6.

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KIVI

Federal Aid is Propping Up Child Care. It Isn't a Long Term Fix.

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Wed, 01/12/2022 - 12:09
Children eating lunch at day care

By Sophie Quinton | Updated January 12, 2022 | Stateline Pew Trusts
Photo:  Elaine Thompson | Associated Press

Federal COVID-19 relief dollars for child care providers will continue to flow through the states this year, cheered by both Republican and Democratic governors who say parents need affordable child care to get back to work. 

But child care providers and advocates warn that the federal money, which expires in 2024, won’t solve the industry’s fundamental, long-term challenge: how to provide quality services and pay workers a competitive wage while keeping prices affordable.

Boise explores changes to childcare worker licensing to relieve worker shortage

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 12:13
Children playing together

By Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr Reporter

Boise is hoping to bring a little relief to the struggling childcare industry.

This fall, the city council gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to a series of three proposals to relieve some of the regulatory hoops childcare workers have jump through to get licensed in city limits. These suggestions were proposed by a childcare task force made up of local business leaders, childcare providers and industry experts convened by Mayor Lauren McLean earlier this year.

The changes include the possibility of a temporary license that would allow childcare workers who have passed local and state background checks to start work while they are waiting on their federal check to clear. The task force also suggested waiving fees for new and renewed licenses and covering the cost of required CPR training for childcare workers.

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BoiseDev

Lee Pesky Learning Center Receives Funding to Continue Early Childhood Programming

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Mon, 11/29/2021 - 11:47
child and woman playing with blocks

Read the entire article on the Idaho Press.

Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) recently received support in the amount of $600,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to increase high quality childcare through training and coaching early childcare providers using research-based best practices to support whole child development.

 

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Idaho Press

Idaho child care shortage straining not only families, but businesses

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Mon, 10/25/2021 - 12:00
woman reading book to children

Image courtesy of Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

Listen to the interview on Idaho Matters.

Child care resources across our state have been shrinking—which has led to fewer options for working families. And many childhood experts say we are now at a point of crisis in Idaho.

Beth Oppenheimer, Executive Director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, and Alex Labeau, Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, join Idaho Matters today to discuss how these shortages are impacting Idaho businesses.

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NPR
Idaho Matters

A big deal': Boise task force recommends changes to child care licensing process

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:12
children in preschool

IF APPROVED, LOCAL PROVIDERS HOPE IT LOWERS ONE BARRIER TO HIRING NEW TEACHERS

Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Idaho Capital Sun

For child care providers in Boise, finding a potential employee who already has a license to care for children is like finding a unicorn. They are special, rare and competitive.

In nearly every city surrounding Boise, including Meridian and Eagle, an employee needs only to pass a background check with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, have proper training in CPR and first aid and commit to four hours of training per year to be able to start working.

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Idaho Capital Sun
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