CT increases early childhood care ratios for 2-year-olds

Connecticut Child Care Centers Increase Ratios for Toddlers

Introduction

Connecticut child care centers will soon be able to have more 2-year-olds in classrooms, after Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday gave the nod of approval to a regulation change that increases child care ratios for toddlers.

The Regulation Change

The Regulation Review Committee approved the change that allows an early childhood educator to take care of five 2-year-olds rather than four. It also increases the number of 2-year-olds allowed in one classroom to 10, provided there are at least two caregivers.

Background

The change, which has been years in the making, applies to center-based care. For lawmakers, it was a complicated decision, with advocates saying it would help fill the dearth of child care slots and financially benefit centers but opponents arguing it could cut down on the quality of care for young kids and make them less safe.

Impact on Child Care Slots

Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye told lawmakers that the change would mean there are fewer children in unregulated, unlicensed care in the state. She said she estimates it would add between 650 and 1,000 new child care slots for 2-year-olds.

Sustainable Development Goals

This regulation change aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Benefits and Concerns

“In a perfect world, we’d have perfect ratios, and everyone would be more than happy,” said committee co-chair Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield. “But we don’t live in a perfect world.”

According to Bye, the change will help child care centers at the start and end of the day, particularly when the workforce tends to be short because workers have to leave early or arrive late. The change will also be a boon to Connecticut’s economy because more people will be able to go to work while someone is caring for their children.

However, a group of pediatricians and child development experts have argued that the change could lead to weakened connections between children and caregivers, more spread of disease, and less-safe settings.

Comparison to Other States

Committee co-chair Rep. Lucy Dathan, D-New Canaan, asked how Connecticut’s regulations compare to other states. Connecticut’s ratios for children under 3 have been among the lowest in the nation, and pediatricians have argued it should stay that way. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends ratios of no more than one caregiver to four kids aged 13 months to 35 months.

Conclusion

All the lawmakers present for the initial vote approved of the regulation change, although Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, offered a caveat. Osten said she’s particularly concerned about the lack of child care in eastern Connecticut and wants to see improvements to that. She also said that lawmakers are able to change their minds if they think the new ratios aren’t working.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
• SDG 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
• SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of child care slots for 2-year-olds: This can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 4.2, as it reflects the availability of quality early childhood development and care.
• Number of children in unregulated, unlicensed care: This can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 4.2, as it reflects the extent to which children have access to regulated and licensed child care services.
• Number of child care centers with improved staff ratios: This can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 8.5, as it reflects the provision of decent work and improved employment opportunities in the child care sector.
• Number of families able to enter the workforce: This can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 8.5, as it reflects the impact of improved child care ratios on parents’ ability to participate in the labor market.
• Number of child care centers in high-need communities benefiting from the ratio change: This can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 10.2, as it reflects the promotion of social and economic inclusion in disadvantaged communities.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ctmirror.org