In speaking with Kirsten I have learned al little
bit more regarding how many early childhood centers work in Italy. While Kirsten’s
school is private there are many public options for early childhood which have
become more accessible overall. In fact she explained that from three years old
and up regulation falls under the Minister of Education who is also head of
primary schools. For children under three, regulation falls under the Ministry
of health so they face the challenge of trying to align policy form two
different departments. This seemed similar to what we studied here in regards
to trying to align ECE goals and standards with Elementary and High schools.
Like the US there is also a great amount of variance in pram quality. Low
quality programs are certainly a concern. There are also issues of availability,
many families who pay for early childhood services through payroll taxes cannot
access preschool due to limited availability of spaces. Many programs are waitlisted
in the hundreds and there is concern that while the schools are doing better in
attending to the needs of the impoverished paying families may be pushed aside.
Many of the paying families if they can afford it chose to pay higher tuition
and attend private preschools such as the one Kirsten teaches at rather than chance
a lottery type system. Generally these families will still choose public primary
school over private as they are still feeling the recent economic recession.
Thanks for sharing your post. I think it is always interesting to see how different places are alike and different around the world. I am learning that cost still affects all families access to education all around the world. Families want what is best for their child. I can not imagine having a waiting list in the hundreds for a center. In North Carolina, many centers have waiting lists but I do not feel they are that long. I know that some centers have trouble feeling spots because the children on the waiting lists have already been enrolled in another center by the time the center has an opening. Do you find this to be true in the centers in the state you live in?
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine being wait listed for a preschool for my daughter when the time comes, especially if I am already paying for it through my taxes. Are there any initiatives to open more publically funded programs so there is not a wait list that long?
ReplyDeleteCrystal, We typically are wait-listed at our center. I would say that 80% of the time when we call on an open spot the family has found other care and turn the spot down. But the other 20% will leave current care to join us, usually because the are unhappy where they are or just really like our program. Amy, I am not sure of any initiatives but with babies we wish Dr's offices would advise parents to look as soon as they are expecting. Our current wiatlist for infants is March of 2015 you almost have to look as soon as you are trying to have a baby!
ReplyDeleteJennifer it seems that Kirsten has some inequities that we studied in our application this week. I wonder if they tried some of the policy recommendations from the article what success they would have in the quality of early childhood? However with the issue of trying to work together on policy that coincides with different programs. At best this would give them a framework to build on to start a progression. I would also wonder how her private facilities quality varies from some of the public systems? I see that you stated that the parents still choose convenience or quality, which is sad they would have to make a choice of that caliber.
ReplyDelete