Report: Lack of child care results in $479M loss for Idaho's economy.

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Thu, 08/26/2021 - 13:24

A teacher at Giraffe Laugh Learning Center works with one of the enrolled children. Photo courtesy of Giraffe Laugh

LEADERS OF TWO STATE GROUPS WORKING ON A ‘BOTTOM UP’ APPROACH TO EARLY EDUCATION

Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Idaho Capital Sun

In early 2020, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report about the economic effects of breakdowns in access to child care in four states. Idaho was one of them.

The report found that issues related to child care result in an estimated $479 million annual loss for Idaho’s economy through absences and employee turnover.

Beth Oppenheimer's passion keeps her going: 'We're building a system'

Submitted by Idaho AEYC on Sun, 08/08/2021 - 13:58

Devin Bodkin, Idaho Ed News

Beth Oppenheimer can point without hesitation to the worst day of her career as executive director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children: March 2, 2021. 

“I fell to the ground, sobbing from the news,” she said. 

House Republicans killed a bill to allow Oppenheimer’s nonprofit to oversee nearly $6 million in federal grants to support and expand preschool education efforts across Idaho. 

She expected pushback from some lawmakers, but all-out rejection of the pre-approved funds rattled Oppenheimer, who has for years been a leading voice for state-funded pre-K despite conservative resistance. 

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