Texas Needs a Child Care Quality Rating System

Last week many Texans watched on their smartphones, Facebook feeds or local news a video of a Plano child care worker carelessly tossing and pushing toddlers. We gasped here in North Texas, and the rest of the country did too, as the video went viral via the Today Show and other national outlets. How on earth could this happen at a licensed child care center? One thing is clear. Parents as consumers need and deserve a guide on how to recognize and find quality child care.Decades ago, child care became a national need, and licensed child care businesses flourished, as did women in the workforce. Child care may have begun as a support for working parents, but today, early care and education is much more. Brain scientists, researchers, educators and even economists agree: The first five years of children's lives have tremendous impact.  Continue reading...