Professional Goals, Hopes and Dreams

In my immediate community there is an ongoing discussion and issue with affordability.  As of March of 2018 75% of my new student enrolling families listed their reason for choosing my facility was price related.  Second was reputation, however even in reputation the conversation is about the quality of care and opportunities available for the price of tuition.   The accessibility of quality programs lies in the ability to afford such programs. 

Many Georgia parents trying to save for their kids' college tuition may be having a tough time because they're already shelling out a bigger dollar amount every month for childcare.  Georgia is one of 33 states where typical childcare costs more than college, says a new study from the Economic Policy Institute. According to the study, the average annual cost of daycare for an infant in Georgia is $7,644 and the cost for a 4 year old is $6,500. By comparison, average college tuition in the state is $6,614 -- well below the price of infant care and only a shade higher than care for a toddler. Researchers from the policy institute say infant care for one child takes up 13.8% of the typical Georgia family's income.

Because affordability leads families to centers that are of poor quality children are faced with subpar care.  There is not much we can do to increase the income of the families so it is my opinion that we enforce standards upon the childcare facilities that are subpar.  Georgia requires that all of its ECE worker receive mandatory training.   Each professional is required to use the GaPDS (Georgia Professional Development System for Early Childhood Educators) to maintain and track their training.  This ensures that all individuals maintain a basic qualification necessary to work with children.  The more trainings or the higher level of education will increase your rating in the system.  This makes the individual teacher a commodity and eligible to receive a higher and competitive wage.
In the community that I work there are limited opportunity for minority and low income students to receive quality care.  The numbers are increasingly disproportionate.  Of course there are federally funded programs like Head Start and locally funded Georgia Lottery Pre-K which provides quality care for low income families.  However, those available spots are limited and are a first come first serve basis.  There are a multitude of families who do not qualify or subsidies.  Their children are the ones vulnerable and fall victim to their family's finances.  It is my goal to provide an affordable program that is comparable to the high quality programs that wealthy families have access to as well as the programs that are federally and locally funded. 
I have worked diligently finding outside funding sources and investors in order to maintain a price points that families can afford.  It takes more work on my part and there are many fundraisers that have to be organized. There are many nights that I only receive 2 hours of sleep and I am often very tired.  However, the results of my hard work is I can provide a quality program for a fraction of the price.  The appreciation and support I get from my students, their families, and my staff is reward enough.  The challenge is maintaining the momentum.  So far I am doing well.
My hope is that I can provide as inspiration to other childcare programs.  That I motivate other owners and directors to do justice by their community by helping ALL families receive quality early childcare services.  To many of my colleagues, ECE is an easy pay day.  I network with many of my neighboring center directors or owners.  Our priorities are different.  Though we all want to care for the children.  My focus is on the children who go the most overlooked in my community.  I hope to be a part of the conversation that will lead to the changes of policy that will make all ECE affordable to every child in need.