Frequently Asked Questions - MN Parents for Early Learning

FAQs

Why do parents need a voice at the Capitol?
Businesses have the Chamber of Commerce to give them a voice. Workers have unions to give them a voice. Others have groups that give them a voice. However, parents of children under age five haven’t had an organizational voice like that. As a result, their needs have been too often under-prioritized by politicians. This initiative is all about giving Minnesota parents of young children a louder and clearer voice at the capitol.
Aren’t there already groups working on child care issues?
Why can’t child care providers just charge parents less?
Given the critically important work that child care providers do, they’re currently underpaid. In fact, many are making wages that put them below the poverty level. Scores of programs are closing because they can’t attract workers at the current low wages. For that reason, child care providers can’t charge less and maintain the program quality our kids need. At the same time, many struggling parents can’t afford to pay more to increase early educators’ wages. Therefore, public investment is needed to ensure that 1) child care providers are paid adequately and 2) parents can afford quality programs.
Aren’t state subsidy programs only for low-income families?
Does this organization work on issues other than child care quality and affordability?
I understand the need for affordability, but why should parents about child care quality?
Child care programs with inadequate quality can inadvertently leave children endangered and/or unprepared for school and life. The first five years are a critical time for children to be in safe, healthy, caring, and stimulating learning environments. Therefore, babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers need and deserve quality care. Building and maintaining quality programs necessitates adequately funded quality oversight, incentives, assistance, and accountability measures.
Why is the 7% of household income standard used to gauge child care affordability?
What is a “sliding scale” for financial assistance?
A sliding scale means that the amount of financial assistance a family gets varies according to its income. For instance, using a “sliding scale” a family currently spending 50% of its household income on quality child care will receive more financial assistance than a family spending 8%. A sliding scale is a way of ensuring that limited public resources get to the families who are most in need. The more assistance that is funded by the Legislature, the more families that can receive assistance.
What area of the state does this organization represent?
Are you a partisan organization?