For a century, Americas early childhood policy has been premised on a myth. This falsehoodwhich dictates that child care and education are somehow separate and distinctnot only suboptimizes the most important window in all of human development but costs American taxpayers an untold fortune. Its time to think differently. Written in plain yet provocative language by one of the fields most respected bipartisan policy experts, The Daycare Myth makes the case for why the early years matter; why Americas longstanding early childhood policy approach sacrifices the needs of young children in favor of promoting adult employment; and why fixing the problem makes good sense, regardless of your place on the political spectrum. With straightforward guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and parents, this incredibly timely book is a wakeup call for a nation that aspires to nothing less than the wholesale transformation of Americas early childhood landscape.
Book Features:
- Invites readers to rethink their very understanding of the early years by outlining a bipartisan case for change.
- Addresses the needs of policymakers, practitioners, and parents individually with practical implications and action steps for each.
- Melds policy with what the current science of brain development tells us about the importance of childrens early years and the critical role they play in future success.
- Challenges longstanding assumptions, calls out ineffective approaches, and outlines a new path beneficial to children and families, employers, state and federal economies, and society as a whole.
Contents
Foreword by Dana Suskind ix
Acknowledgments xi
1. Daycare Doesnt Exist 1
A Crisis of Understanding 4
The Bipartisan Blueprint for Change 13
2. Something for Everyone: The Bipartisan Case for Early Childhood
Investment 19
The Long-Term Economic Case for Investment in Young Children 20
The Short-Term Economic Case for Investment in Young Children 26
The Bipartisan Blueprint for Change 36
3. Americas Failing Child Care Market 41
Child Care as a Broken Economic Market 42
The Bipartisan Blueprint for Change 59
4. How Not to Solve the Child Care Crisis: Imperfect Solutions and Policy
Pitfalls 67
Public Policy Pitfalls 68
The Bipartisan Blueprint for Change 82
5. A Wholesale Transformation of Americas Early Childhood Landscape 87
The Current Early Childhood Policy Pyramid 88
The New Early Childhood Policy Pyramid 91
Promising Practices in the States 96
Appendix A: Interpreting Claims About Early Childhood Research 103
Appendix B: Reaching Out to Your Elected Leaders: A How-To for Parents and
Professionals 105
References 113
Index 121
About the Author 125
Dan Wuori is founder and president of Early Childhood Policy Solutions LLC. He serves as Strategic Advisor on Early Childhood at The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation and was the founding Director of Early Learning at The Hunt Institute in Cary, North Carolina, where he continues to support the nation's governors and state lawmakers as a Senior Advisor. He is a former kindergarten teacher, school district administrator, and state agency administrator.
