Early Learning Day
Each year in the Rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol, state leaders gather to learn about the impact of high-quality early learning! This year's event will be hosted by the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
Each year in the Rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol, state leaders gather to learn about the impact of high-quality early learning! This year's event will be hosted by the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
During the national Week of the Young Child™ event, communities across the country celebrate their youngest learners. In local celebrations across OUR state, Idahoans raise awareness about the unique needs of young learners and celebrate everyone who makes a difference in their lives.
In case you haven’t heard, the state of child care in Idaho is in a precarious state. If you’re a working parent of a young child, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled to find affordable, reliable child care. If you’re a child care provider, it’s likely you struggle to hire and retain the staff to operate at a capacity that keeps your business solvent. We simply don’t have enough child care openings to accommodate every family who needs care. This affects workforce participation — placing financial strain on working parents — and limiting the pool of candidates. The worst part is that child care access in Idaho is going to get much worse, before it gets better.
In case you haven’t heard, the state of child care in Idaho is in a precarious state. If you’re a working parent of a young child, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled to find affordable, reliable child care. If you’re a child care provider, it’s likely you struggle to hire and retain the staff to operate at a capacity that keeps your business solvent. We simply don’t have enough child care openings to accommodate every family who needs care. This affects workforce participation – placing financial strain on working parents – and limiting the pool of candidates.
The worst part is that child care access in Idaho is going to get much worse, before it gets better.
Kindergarten and first-grade scores in 2022 showed significant improvement from 2019. However, Idaho's scores in second and third grade dropped from three years ago.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
The Wood River Women’s Foundation has taken the next step with its early learning initiative with the appointment of Kathryn Ivers as the project director of the Wood River Early Learning Collaborative.
One of Ivers’ first tasks was to form an Advisory Council to steer the creation of an early education community for all young children in Blaine County, especially those from underserved families.
The Wood River Women’s Foundation selected early childhood education—specifically, what they called “Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education”-- to be the focus of its first ever Focus Grant. It is collaborating with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho-AEYC) on the project.
The City of Boise is partnering with three different nonprofits to distribute federal COVID-19 relief funds to community members in need.
NAMPA, Idaho — Working parents face an array of challenges in order to meet both the demands of their employer and their children -- but what if more workplaces offered on-site child care? Some industry experts say that could be a solution toward keeping working parents satisfied - and employed - long-term.
"I can speak for myself and for other moms that have said, you know, 'If we don't get a daycare in here, I might have to quit," Clark said. "Because of the cost and also just finding something out there. Right now to find a daycare you have to tell them right when you know you're pregnant. Before you tell anyone else, you have to tell your daycare so that you can get a spot."
BOISE, Idaho — Childcare is one of the biggest expenses for parents – a necessity that costs many families more and more every year.
Marina Ebrahimpour is a mom of three. Not only are Ebrahimpour and her husband trying to find affordable childcare, they are also trying to find quality childcare.