Saturday, June 26, 1999
Day care rated as deficient in Ky.
We're working on quality, state says
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT — Kentucky has made some strides toward bettering the quality of child care in the state but still has much room for improvement, according to a magazine.
Working Mother, in its July/August issue, gave the state poor marks for the quality and safety of child care. Kentucky received average rankings for availability and commitment to making improvements.
The report did credit the state for its broad-based pre-kindergarten program and for making child care a priority.
The magazine's annual report on child care is based on information from state agencies and national child advocacy groups.
"Cutting edge' predicted
Kentucky officials acknowledge that improvements need to be made, but they said the report doesn't fairly measure future child-care initiatives.
“I don't believe you can do a whole lot more than Kentucky is doing,” said Carey Willis, spokesman for the Cabinet for Families and Children. “We'll be on the cutting edge in child care.”
In March, Gov. Paul Patton opened the Office of Early Childhood Development, which has a task force developing a 20-year plan that is due in August. It will recommend pumping a lot of money into parenting programs, creative programs for young children and families, and training for caregivers. It also addresses high-quality and affordable child care.
“If you base the report on what's in existence now, we don't look so good, but a lot is happening to improve quality,” said Kim Townley, director of the early childhood office.
The magazine's report named the 10 best states for child care, which included Illinois. That state was recognized for expanding its caregiver training program and funding programs that boost the quality of care, such as higher salaries to workers. Kentucky did better than Tennessee, which the report said “continues to trail behind.”
Standards criticized
Kentucky was ranked poor in quality because the maximum number of children one adult can care for is higher than what the National Association for Education of Young Children recommends. The organization, based in Washington, D.C., recommends that a child-care worker not have more than six toddlers. In Kentucky, a worker is allowed to have up to 10.
Kentucky ranked poor in safety because of inadequate adult supervision and because child-care centers get only one unannounced inspection each year.
State Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, said the magazine's rankings for the state weren't unexpected.
“I'm not surprised,” Ms. Stein said. “Caring for children is such a crucial aspect of their development, yet we see it as a minimum-wage job with no longevity. We have to change that mind set.”
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