Why Is This Important?
Child care is vital for the growth and development
of children and its contributions to our economy.
A child’s experience in his or her early
years influences future mental development,
social adaptation, school readiness, and academic
performance. A high quality early education
experience is linked to a greater likelihood
of children completing high school and a decreased
likelihood of repeating a grade or being charged
in juvenile court. 17, 18
What is the measure?
The child care data presented here are compiled
from the California Child Care Resource & Referral
Network’s Child Care Portfolio. 19 The
data offer a picture of the supply, demand
and gaps in the child care supply in our county
between 2005 and 2007.
How are we doing?
The complexion of child care in Tuolumne County
dramatically changed in three years. New child
care centers opened, an unprecedented number
of family child care homes closed, and the
total number of children ages birth to 13 decreased.
These changes reduced the gap between the
supply of and demand for childcare, most importantly
for infant care. However, parents still have
location, schedule and preference needs that
do not match the increased supply. For example,
the availability of weekend and night care
decreased with the loss of family child care
providers.
Since 2005, the number of four-year olds
attending some form of school-readiness/ preschool
program increased by 12%. However, kindergarten
enrollment continues to decline.
|
