SB 820 was signed on Friday!The main areas for child care are included in Section 111. Changes include:
Language to fund family child care homes and centers as well as CalWORKs Stages 1, 2 & 3 with assistance to address hardships including decreased enrollment, ratios, etc.
Reduction from $62.5 million to $31.250 for one-time stipends for alternative payment and migrant payment programs
An addition of up to 14 paid nonoperational days in addition to the existing allowable 10 nonoperational days
From September 1 - June 30, 2021 family fees for families where ALL children in the family enrolled in subsidized early learning and care remain at home, either for distance learning or for families sheltering in place are waived. NOTE: If additional federal dollars are not received, direct service contractors, family childcare home providers participating in a family childcare home education network, and alternative payment provider will absorb the cost.
Contingent on receipt of additional federal funds:
$30 million for covering extension of the above noted family fees
$35 million to support alternative and migrant payment programs to reimburse providers for providing short-term childcare to eligible children when a provider is closed
Reduction from $50 - $30 million for state preschool programs to increase capacity for two years as follows:
1st priority - existing general childcare and development program contractors to expand new childcare services for children from 0-3
2nd priority to existing CSPP contractors to expand new capacity for full-day programs
3rd priority for general childcare and development programs or California state preschool programs
Reduction from $25 to $15 million in stipends for licensed childcare providers
Reduction from $125 million to $90 million for subsidized childcare provider stipends to assist all subsidized childcare providers with increased cost-of-care expensed incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic
Clarifies that a program that operates on the campus of a local educational agency that is closed by local or state public health guidance or order shall be reimbursed 100 percent of the contract maximum reimbursable amount or net reimbursable costs whichever is less
To communicate a position to Governor Newsom on any of the below or on any other legislation, click here. Fill in the required information, then click on the down arrow on Please choose your subject. Scroll down until you find the legislation you are communicating.
Below are bills that have been enrolled and are pending action by Governor Newsom:
AB 1835 (Weber & Quirk-Silva): Education finance: local control funding formula: supplemental and concentration grants. (See request below from The Children's Movement of California)
Proposition 15 - Increases Funding Sources for Public Schools, Community Colleges and Local Government Services by Changing Tax Assessment of Commercial and Industrial Property.
Proposition 16 - Allows Diversity as a Factor in Public Employment, Education and Contracting Decisions.
Proposition 17 - Restores Right to Vote After Completion of a Prison Term.
Proposition 18 - Amends California Constitution to Permit 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primary and Special Election If They Will Turn 18 by Next General Election.
Californians for Quality Early Learning (CQEL) has partnered in a study to look at the issues owners and directors of child care facilities must grapple with and the financial challenges facing them in an industry that already ran on razor-thin margins. The benefits of reopening for parents, workers, and students are clear. But what does this process look like on the ground, and what has been the impact of COVID-19 at a program level in child care?
CQEL and Curacubby surveyed 353 child care facilities across 13 states, who collectively serve 26,990 students. The median capacity for each facility is 60 students, 17 percent of whom are subsidized attendees. All survey responses were recorded in July 2020.
Key Takeaways:
Child care programs are operating at 27 percent capacity.
Most programs have lost over a third of their revenue.
The average child care would be financially insolvent in three months if they had to close for COVID.
The average child care has had to lay off a little less than half of its staff to survive the decrease in enrollment.
Current Operating & Attendance Levels
As of July, 71 percent of all facilities surveyed were open, while 29 percent had closed due to the pandemic. However, those operating are only able to fill less than a third of their enrollment capacity, and close to 50 percent of non-attendees have cited COVID-19 as the reason for not enrolling.
In raw numbers, this means that enrollment has dwindled from 26,990 to 7,197 students, leaving a gap of 19,793 attendees. Of these nearly 20,000 students who have opted to stay home, at least 9,100 have directly cited COVID as the reason for the decision. At the facility level, this results in 26 students (out of the median enrollment of 60) canceling due to COVID.
What This Survey Says About the State of Child Care
Child care is a core function of our national economy: it contributes $99 billion to our GDP annually and generates employment for nearly two million workers, but it is also a critical enabler of working parents, allowing them – and especially women – to work and raise a family at the same time. And an already limited child care market pre-pandemic kept at least two million parents home annually.
Now, in the face of COVID-19, the future of child care is in flux, which means so is the future of our recovery. We are left to contend with questions like:
If child care facilities shut down from economic troubles, what does this mean for working parents; and how would this change the dynamics of our workforce?
What can we do to keep an industry employing two million people afloat, especially as it sustains more marginalized workers?
And how do we support children in the critical years of cognitive development, when access and equity are our goals?
These are big questions with complicated answers, but this survey gives us the tools to begin to grapple with this dire situation – to turn anecdotal evidence into data. If we can quantify the struggle, we can commit to addressing it.
The Cost of Child Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite some additional funding appropriated by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, providers are facing increased costs and decreased revenue. This calculator quantifies the additional costs that licensed child care providers are facing as they provide safe and developmentally appropriate child care during the pandemic.
It is, unfortunately, looking less and less likely that a COVID-19 relief package will be passed before the end of the year. Though Speaker Pelosi has vowed to keep the House in session until there is a package, it is unclear what this means exactly. Even if the House passes another package, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by the president. This week the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members, released their relief package framework. According to the Caucus’ framework, it would meet the nation’s needs for the next 6 to 12 months. It presents several problems and solutions by way of relief funding for things like testing and health care, food and nutrition assistance, direct assistance, unemployment assistance, small businesses, schools and child care, and state and local aid. This framework recommends ONLY $15 billion for child care—$10 billion for provider relief and $5 billion for CCDBG, which is the same as what we saw in the most recent Senate Republican bill. However, this proposal does not have the support of leadership on either side of the aisle. McConnell has not made the same vow to remain in session until a relief package is passed, and it is unclear what the Senate plans to do next. Some reports have shown that Senate Republicans remain hopeful that a deal could be reached by the end of September building off of the Problem Solvers’ framework.
The priority on the Hill is currently passing a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open through the end of the year. The contours of a CR have not yet been released, but we have heard that it may fund the government through mid-December. We will continue to keep you all updated as we learn more or if things change. In the meantime, if we want a robust relief bill passed, we need to STAY LOUD on the need for Congress to pass a relief bill with at least $50 billion in child care funding, which would sustain the sector for about the next 5-6 months.
As we shared earlier this week based on a helpful summary created by Danielle Ewen, a number of national organizations are pulling together united days of action. To ensure that Members of Congress, especially Congressional leadership, hear the need for at least $50 billion for child care in any coronavirus relief package, we are asking advocates to take on a day of action each Wednesday through the end of September.
For Wednesday, September 23, we will focus on the proliferation of child care deserts as more programs close without dedicated federal investment. We will send out a toolkit for the day of action on Tuesday, September 22. #SaveChildCare
On a different note, there was some very exciting and good newson the Hill this week. Yesterday, the House passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by an incredible vote margin of 329-73! This legislation is critical to ensuring that pregnant workers don’t have to choose between their paycheck and a healthy pregnancy.
COVID-19 Pandemic & She-cession Causing Disproportionate Harm for Black Women & Latinas
The NWLC’s Research team analyzed some of the Census Household Pulse Survey race and gender data for Weeks 1-12. Our fact sheet shares how COVID-19 is making women’s economic situation even worse, especially for Black, non-Hispanic women and Latinas.
Top Line Data:
40.8% of Black, non-Hispanic women and 44.6% of Latinas faced housing insecurity in mid-July compared to 15.4% of white, non-Hispanic men. These rates were higher for households with children (45.2% for Black, non-Hispanic women with children and 48.8% for Latinas with children).
Black, non-Hispanic women and Latinas have consistently reported not making last month’s rent or mortgage payment at double-digit rates that have been consistently higher than their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. This demonstrates the importance of Congress passing $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and $75 billion in mortgage assistance to help families with back rent/mortgage payments and fees.
More than half of Black, non-Hispanic women (54.5%), Asian, non-Hispanic women (56.3%), and Latinas (63.7%) reported a loss of income since March, compared to 45.1% of white, non-Hispanic men and 46.0% of white, non-Hispanic women.
More than 1 in 5 Black, non-Hispanic women (21.5%) and Latinas (21.1%) reported not having enough food in the past week, making them three times more likely than white, non-Hispanic men (7.0%) to report experiencing food scarcity.
CCDF State Plans Published in Federal Register for Public Comment
On September 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a request for public comment in the Federal Register on “Proposed Information Collection Activity; Child Care and Development Fund Plan for States/Territories for FFY 2022-2024.” Specifically, ACF requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The comment period is 60 days, so comments are due on Monday, November 9, 2020.
We, the undersigned, are writing to request your support for a recovery package that
supports the basic needs of California’s young children. From child care closures, reduced hours, and layoffs, COVID-19 is driving changes that dramatically decrease the resources families with young children have available to purchase food. When it comes to supporting our most vulnerable children and their families, this is an “all hands on deck” moment. It's imperative that the next COVID recovery package include investments in early childhood nutrition, and recognize the critical role that child care, health care, and human services play in addressing food insecurity for families. Click here to read full letter.
The Weekly Good
An uplifting way to start the week, for those of us who need a break from the chaos that is our lives.
During this time where we are all stressed, it would be great to celebrate the positive. Each week we will celebrate everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening in our field.
First 5 San Bernardino, in partnership with Child Care Resource Center San Bernardino, Community Health Action network, Listos California For All, Victory Outreach Church, and San Bernardino County Library, will be handing out 500 bags filled with 3 books and community resources during their Drive-Thru Literacy Tour ‘Talk! Read! Sing! Helping to build home-based Libraries’! There will be Live Music, Potter the Otter Pop-Up, Free Books, Free Snack, Free Resources.
Let us knowwhat your organization is doing, we would love to feature you in the coming weeks!
CDE Information & Updates
Management Bulletin 20-17: Requirements for Distance Learning Plans, Program Quality, and Distance Learning Services for Direct Service Contractors
Management Bulletin 20-17 is available at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2017.asp, and provides direct service CDE, ELCD contractors guidance regarding the requirements for distance learning plans, program quality, and the delivery of distance learning services for children and families who are not receiving in-person services.
If you have questions regarding the information in this Management Bulletin, please contact your assigned Program Quality Implementation Regional Consultant on the ELCD Consultants Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.
Management Bulletin 20-16: Continued Funding Application Fiscal Year 2021–22
Management Bulletin 20-16 is available at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2016.asp, and offers existing CDE, ELCD contractors the opportunity to request continued funding for fiscal year 2021–22.
If you have questions regarding the information in this Management Bulletin, please contact your assigned Program Quality Implementation Regional Consultant on the ELCD Consultants Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.
California Department of Public Health - Cohort Update
Released UPDATED: September 4, 2020 - This guidance applies to groups of children and youth in controlled, supervised, and indoor environments operated by local educational agencies, non profits, or other authorized providers, including, but not limited to, public and private schools; licensed and license-exempt child care settings; organized and supervised care environments, i.e., "distance learning hubs"; recreation programs; before and after school programs; youth groups; and day camps. Guidance and directives related to schools, child care, day camps, youth sports, and institutions of higher education are not superseded by this document and still apply to those specified settings.
Purpose: To provide guidance for necessary in-person child supervision and limited instruction, targeted support services, and facilitation of distance learning in small group environments for a specified subset of children and youth, and for those programs to understand the required health and safety practices needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their settings.
Definitions:
Cohort: a cohort is a stable group of no more than 14 children or youth and no more than two supervising adults (or a configuration of no more than 16 individuals total in the cohort) in a supervised environment in which supervising adults and children stay together for all activities (e.g., meals, recreation, etc.), and avoid contact with people outside of their group in the setting.
Supervising adult: an adult assigned to one cohort of children or youth, who does not physically interact with any other cohorts. This includes child care staff, certificated or classified school staff, volunteers, participating parent or caregiver, or other designated supervising adult(s).
Supervised care environment: an environment where multiple children or youth, from multiple families or households, are being supervised simultaneously by an adult. This includes, but is not limited to, licensed child care facilities, licensed exempt child care programs, supervised programs on a school site while a school is not in session or is providing curriculum in a distance-learning format, or where some educational services are being offered to a subgroup of students as identified by a local educational agency on a school campus.
Network and CAPPA Joint Annual Conference 2020 Goes Virtual!
There is a lot of interest in this year's Joint Annual Conference, on a virtual platform!
While we will certainly miss being able to come together in-person to share and gain information and to meet and connect with colleagues and workshop presenters, we want to create a conference event that meets as many of our members' needs as possible given the parameters that virtual conferences/workshops have. Now, perhaps more than ever, it is important for our community to stay connected, stand united, and meet this challenge together.
While we won't be able to meet in-person, what we hope to offer in a thoughtful, user-friendly manner, are keynote presentations, workshops, networking opportunities, and connection time with vendors. It will be different this year since we cannot be in the same physical location, but assisted by technology, we can do all that. With no travel and flexibility, we look forward to new opportunities for R&R Network and CAPPA members from across the state, as well as state partners, joining us as we collectively support our children, families and communities.
Virtual Conference Details
Workshops will be both live and on-demand, with some speakers available for live discussion during their scheduled presentation time. The Virtual Exhibit Hall will run the full conference with links to company videos, materials on the platform, and live chat and meeting opportunities. We also will be incorporating some networking opportunities to connect you with your peers. Post conference, workshop sessions will be recorded and available for viewing for 2 weeks post-conference, which will provide additional learning opportunities for conferees following the conference dates. This platform will allow you to have access to more workshops than ever before!
Workshops
A workshop program will be available soon. Here is a sample of some of the over 60 workshops that will be offered this year:
Workshop Strands:
Executives & Managers
Managers
Demanding Racial and Economic Justice/Professional Growth
Working with Parents
Working with Providers
Strengthening Families/Trauma-informed Care
Promoting Self-Care and Resilience
AP Administration
Health and Safety
Building Knowledge in the Child Care Field
Here are just a few of the 60+ Workshop Topics that will be offered:
COVID-19 Strategic Response: Reopen, Adapt and Thrive
Remote Staff Supervision, Communication and Motivation
Team Building...Virtually
The Trauma of Racism and Injustice
Supporting Providers and Parents in the use of Technology
Understanding and Overcoming Work-based Stress in a Virtual World
Remote Recertifications
Supporting Families Through Income, Need and Provider Changes During COVID-19
Supporting Child Care Providers During COVID-19
Visit theConference Web pagefor more information and updates as they become available.
We hope you can join us virtually!
Upcoming Field Events
Highlight
America Needs to Start Treating Childcare as What It Is: Vital Infrastructure
If the highway that connected the residential communities and business district of your town collapsed, the effects on the local economy would be immediate and obvious. If all public transportation were suddenly rerouted away from the office buildings in your town, business leaders and policymakers alike would respond quickly to the predictable ripple effects in the area’s workforce and revenue. It is well understood that infrastructure decisions like public roads and transportation are the foundation on which local economies grow. But an obstacle of similar magnitude is threatening the economic recovery that communities across our country are clamoring for – a shortage of safe, affordable childcare.
It may not be as obvious as a bridge or a tunnel, but ask any parent – including moms like us in Congress — and we will tell you that childcare is just as essential to the productivity of our economy. And the dual crises of pandemic and economic recession has threatened a permanent and dramatic contraction of this vital sector.
The nonprofit CocoKids serves the needs of children, families, early educators, businesses and communities. CocoKids is the trusted organization you count on for successfully proven initiatives and a wide range of free and low cost programs and services so parents can work and children are ready for success in school and life. Learn more here.
Our commitment to you is to have scheduled at least once per week a call wherein we can all connect. As questions arise, forward them to CAPPA so that we can address them on these calls. Look for a weekly email to register. Recording and Q&A will also be posted on the Member's Only page.
Best Practices
CAPPA has been working on Best Practices and policies to support you during this challenging time.
The CAPPA Board has made it a priority to support our field with a coordinated calendar to note upcoming statewide conferences, federal conferences of relevance, CDE and DSS stakeholder meetings and legislative and budget deadlines and hearings.
NOTE: If you would like to share your newsletter or items of interest with our field via the Monday morning e-Newsletter, then please email us a link. Please make sure that you have a link included to an online version or viewing.
Our Monday Morning Update supports our Early Learning & Child Care field with timely information about what is going on in California and nationally; as well as dates to be aware and upcoming events.
Our weekly (50 times per year) Monday morning distribution is to more than 6,200 federal and state local agencies, resource and referrals, contractors, legislators and their staffs', centers, parents, providers, state departments and advocates.
To help support the continuation of this resource and or advertise in the Monday Morning Update, click HERE.
You can also make a donation to CAPPA and CAPPA Children's Foundation
The Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization (501(c)3), Taxpayer Identification Number is 03-0521444. Your generous donation is tax deductible.
