WHAT COMMUNITY LEADERS CAN DO TO HELP

If You Are An Employer or Business Leader:

Advocate to elected officials and government for quality early education and care as a vital component of current and future workforce development.

Offer early education and care benefits such as pre-tax flexible spending accounts or reimbursement for on-site or nearby quality care.

Earmark corporate charitable giving funds as investments in early education and care services and quality improvement initiatives such as the Quality Child Care Initiative, SPARK, Early Childhood Resource Center, or a nonprofit early childhood program.

If You Are An Elected or Public Official:

State and federal funding is critical to these programs. Local funding is just not enough – even though local initiatives like the Sisters of Charity Foundation’s Quality Child Care Initiative and SPARK have excellent support, we need long-term support from state and federal government.

Provide high quality, universal, and voluntary access to preschool to all three- and four-year-old children and a full-day kindergarten for all five-year-old children in Ohio .

Incorporate early education and care information into state and local economic development materials as part of the community profile and recruiting process.

Review how local quality funds and community block grant dollars can be focused on improving services to children, ages 0-8.

If You Are A Superintendent or Principal:

Advocate for an expansion of state funding for public preschool classrooms.

Provide space for preschool classrooms in neighborhood elementary schools.

Develop supportive partnerships with local early childhood centers.

Develop plans with local child care centers, Head Start, and preschool programs that support children and family transitions to schools.

Invite early childhood professionals to participate in professional training opportunities with kindergarten and first grade teachers.

Take advantage of the flexible portion of Title I funding to expand supports to preschool age children.

If You Are An Early Education and Care Professional or Educator:

Educate legislators, financial institutions, businesses, the public, and colleagues about the economic advantages of a high quality early education and care system. Invite public officials and the media to visit your programs. You have great stories to tell!

Inform parents of the elements of quality early education and care and its importance.

Register staff and parents to vote, inform them of pertinent legislative issues, and provide educational materials so they can take action.

Encourage your center to participate in the Step Up to Quality pilot in Stark County so that more children have access to quality care.