SRES137MAY13

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending May 13, 2005

Senate Resolution 137 designating May 1, 2005 as “National Child Care Worth Wage Day.”

BRIEF

The Resolution draws a correlation between day care for children and the low wages paid to those who provide that care.

13 million children attend day care and 6 million of them are infants and toddlers. Because children begin to learn at birth, the bill’s sponsor Sen. Corzine (D-NJ) said, the quality of care is important. Such is the work of childcare workers but the Resolution preamble concludes that their pay is far from commiserate with the importance of the work performed. “Unfortunately,” Sen Corzine explained “despite the importance of their work, the committed individuals who nurture and teach our Nation's young children are undervalued. The average salary of a childcare worker is just under $18,000 annually. In 1998, the middle 50 percent of child care workers and preschool teachers earned between $5.82 and $8.13 an hour, according to the Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent of childcare workers were paid an hourly rate of $5.49 or less. Only one third of our Nation's childcare workers have health insurance and even fewer have pension plans. This grossly inadequate level of wages and benefits for childcare staff has led to difficulties in attracting and retaining quality caretakers and educators. As a result, the turnover rate for childcare providers is 30 percent a year. This high turnover rate interrupts consistent and stable relationships that children need to have with their caregivers.”

Sponsor: Senator Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (May 12, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 137

Whereas approximately 14,000,000 children are in out-of-home care during part or all of the day so that their parents may work;

Whereas the turnover rate of early-childhood educators is approximately 30 percent per year because low wages and a lack of benefits make it difficult to retain high-quality educators;

Whereas research has demonstrated that young children require caring relationships and a consistent presence in their lives for their positive development;

Whereas the compensation of early-childhood educators should be commensurate with the important job of helping the young children of the United States develop the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual skills they need to be ready for school; and

Whereas resources may be reallocated to improve the compensation of early-childhood educators to ensure that quality care and education are accessible for all families;

Whereas the Center for the Child Care Workforce and other early childhood education organizations recognize May 1st as National Child Care Worthy wage Day: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates May 1, 2005, as ``National Child Care Worthy Wage Day''; and

(2) calls on the people of the United States to observe National Child Care Worthy Wage Day by--

(A) honoring early-childhood educators and programs in their communities; and

(B) working together to resolve the early-childhood educator compensation crisis.

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