5.1: The Structure of the Field of Early Learning

When looking at an overview of the field of early learning, it can be overwhelming to consider the huge variety of program approaches, settings, and models found within the field. This chapter will focus on the more common programs for children pre-birth to age 8 found currently in the United States that might be interesting to students beginning the journey to become a teacher of young children. In future sections of this text, program philosophies (sometimes called approaches or curriculum approaches) will be addressed.

NAEYC has also presented a document from the Power to the Profession work entitled Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession. This document recognized that the field in general includes a very diverse range of individuals and settings that contribute to the field. The document attempts to unify the field and discusses how the United States can make significant and sustained investments in high-quality early learning programs. Consideration of this document is the foundation for the discussion regarding how the field is structured.

Programs for Children Ages Birth to Age 8

Drop-in Programs

This is short-term care provided for a few hours at a time. It is usually offered in shopping malls or community centers (Parent Aware, 2022).

Family Child Care

Family childcare centers (located in the operator’s home) are the least visible, yet most prevalent form of childcare in many communities. Family childcare providers may care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children in their homes. Some family childcare programs are also provided in commercial spaces, such as hospitals or churches. Many family childcare professionals offer planned play and scheduled activities that help children learn (Parent Aware, 2022).

Family childcare programs may be licensed through a state, county, or tribal licensing agency. While many states have licensing and/or regulations for family child care centers, some providers can operate without establishing as a provider because of program size. For example, the state of Missouri allows providers caring for six or fewer children, including a maximum of three children under the age of two, at the same physical address to not be licensed and not have to report child care is being provided (MDoESE, 2024), whereas California requires a license if one is caring for up to three children from another family besides your own (CDSS, 2024).

Family, Friends, or Neighbors

Family, Friends, and Neighbor care (FFN) differs from family childcare in that this type of care might include unlicensed grandparents, aunts/uncles, elders, older siblings, friends, or neighbors who support families by providing childcare. FFN is the most common type of childcare for infants, toddlers, and school-age children before and after school hours. This type of care is not regulated by the state, although some FFN providers can receive childcare subsidies for childcare if they are willing to follow Department of Youth and Family guidelines.

Image 5.1.1 FFN provider is licensed under CC by 1.0

Childcare Centers and Preschools

The majority of programs caring for children birth to age 5 are small private, tuition-based childcare centers that offer either part-day or full-day programs. Licensed childcare centers obtain their license from the state's child care division regulating body. The number of children that a center can be licensed for depends on the space and ages of the children they serve. Families can use tools found on the regulating body's website to search for care in their community as well as review any licensing infractions or concerns the department has about a center.

Preschools (usually part-day programs and can also include cooperative preschools or nursery schools) are programs that generally offer a curriculum to support children as they prepare to enter kindergarten. Preschool programs typically enroll children between two and five years of age. In many communities, preschools may be housed in community centers, churches, or even outdoors! These programs may or may not be licensed and/or monitored by regulatory agencies.

Other types of childcare available in many states include:

• crisis nurseries that provide care for families in crisis such as domestic violence, homelessness, employment, or other crises,
• developmental preschools available to some children with special needs are often housed in local school districts.

Public School Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Public schools, including charter schools, may offer many program options, including early childhood education, extended day, family literacy, and school readiness programs. In-school or school readiness programs are administered by a state's department of education. Depending on a state's regulations, some may be license-exempt, meaning they can provide care without having a childcare license (Parent Aware, 2022).

Head Start and Early Head Start

Early Head Start (pre-birth to age three) and Head Start (three to five-year-olds) and their childcare partners serve young children from families with low income. Programs may be based in centers, schools, or family childcare homes. These programs have comprehensive services that support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from prenatal to age five. In addition, programs provide early childhood classes and health and social services. Program services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage. Early Head Start and Head Start encourage the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teachers. Programs build relationships with families that support positive parent-child relationships, family well-being, and connections to peers and the community (Parent Aware, 2022).

Programs for Children Ages 5 to 8

There are several types of program options for children ages 5 to 8 including kindergarten (found in both public and private schools), elementary or homeschool, or school-age childcare.

Most children will enroll in kindergarten at age 5, or shortly after their fifth birthday, depending on the community school district calendar for the community in which the family lives. Historically, kindergarten (a German word translation for “a child’s garden”) was meant to be a bridge between the home and elementary school environment and most kindergartens were housed in local elementary schools. The first public kindergarten in the United States was housed in a St. Louis Missouri elementary school and over the 20^th century, kindergarten has changed and been innovated into full-day programs with rigorous testing and curriculum. Today, kindergarten looks startlingly like what first grade used to be, and the need for high-quality early childhood education prior to kindergarten has been the focus of several studies and summarized by the Alliance for Childhood’s report entitled “Crisis in Kindergarten” (Miller & Almon, 2009).

First through third-grade children can enroll in either their local community public school that is funded by federal tax dollars or a private school in which parents pay tuition for their children to attend. In addition to both of those programs, children can be homeschooled. The number of children being homeschooled grew 28.9% between 1999 and 2003, 37.6% between 2003 and 2007, 17.4% between 2007 and 2012. As of 2015-16, around 1,690,000 children were being homeschooled (Coalition for Responsible Homeschooling, 2020).

School-Age Care

School-age care refers to programs that operate before and after school and during the summer and holiday breaks. School-age programs often include a structured routine and allow children a space to complete homework and build relationships with children who attend schools different than their own. School-age programs may be offered through community groups, private homes, the YMCA, or other parks and recreation programs. Not all school-age programs require a childcare license.

Image 5.1.2 School Age Care is licensed under CC by 1.0

Reflection

What type of program do you see yourself working in, or are currently working in? What are the benefits for you?

Is there a type of program that you would not be comfortable working in?

References

California Department of Social Services (CDSS). (2024). Do I need a license? California Department of Social Services Programs. Retrieved March 26, 2024: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesource...need-a-license

Coalition for Responsible Home Education. (2020). Retrieved September 11, 2024: https//www.responsiblehomeschooling.org

Miller, E. & Almon, J (2009). Crisis in kindergarten: Why children need to play in school. Retrieved from http://allianceforchildhood.org

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MDoESE). (2024). Overview chart 5 CSR 25-500. Retreived March 26, 2024: https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/overvi...5-csr-25-500-0

Parent Aware. (2022). Types of care and education. Retreived March 26, 2024: https://www.parentaware.org/learn/ty...of-child-care/