SR-11-A (31)
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Santa Monica Child Care Task force
TO- Mayor and CIty Cour'lCll (213) 399-5865
FROM- Santa Momca Chlld Care Task Force
SUBJECT I deas and Questions to ConsIder Whi Ie Planning for the ChIld
Care Needs of the C\ty of Santa ManKa
I NTRODUCT I ON
ThIs IS a pOSItIOn paper to prOVIde the cIty Counc11 w1th mformatlOn and
questions that the Chlld Care Task Force has concerning planmng for the
Ch1ld care needs of the City. The mformation and questIOns will be helpful
for the CIty as 1t works with developers and busmesses m prov1dmg the
space and support for Ch1ld care programs.
The format of thIS paper 1S to present ideas and requlrements that are
needed for high quality Ch1ld care and to ask questIOns that need to be
conSIdered when planning for h1gh quality care and education for children,
CH I LD CARE COORD I NA TOR
I t IS the opinIOn of the Task Force that to plan for the needs of the
chIldren, famIlIes and employees of Santa MOnica we need to coordmate
the need for ChIld care WIth the resources available
One way to assure that the mformation is coord mated and that there 1S a
plan 15 to have a ChIld Care Coordmator for the C1ty A model of this is
the CIty of Irvme Wh1Ch has a person on the Clty Staff that IS responsIble
for planning and coordmatmg the chl1d care needs of that cIty
LOCATIONS OF CHilD CARE:
I deas to thmk about.
ON SITE OF A BUSINESS OR DEVELOPMENT:
The chIld care center could be _
In the office or business space (example, Colorado Place,
Santa Man1Ca).
In a separate bU11dmg of its own
In a building that houses other services to the complex ( for example
food servlce or recreatlOn)
2526 Sixth Street - Santa Monica California 90405
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OFF SITE OF THE BUSINESS OR DEVELOPMENT
The busmess or developer could provlded a
long term lease of publ1C school space w1th renovatlOns
long term lease or purchase a prIvately owned center or school
(gomg out of bUSiness or ret1rmg awners,etc ) wlth renovatlOns
or add1tlOns lf necessary
QUESTIONS that need to be asked as you work aut lacatlOn of the center
Who wIll use the center? employees? cammumty people? or both?
If the plan 1S to have the center open to the commumty lS the locatlOn of
the center easy to get to lf you are not working In the development?
Who are the employees? are they local to the area? if not are the
commutmg employees men or women?
At the present It seems more women prefer to have their ch11dren near
theIr work then do men
HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM
A hlgh qualIty program has a phllosophy and stated objectIves that are
appropriate for the developmental age of the chIldren that the program
serves There 15 a professlOnal attItude about staffing and a plan for the1r
contmue educat10n and professional development. The salar1es and
beneflts that the staff recelVe reflect that professIOnalIsm There 1S
consIderatIOn glVe to the over all sIze af the program and to the rat10 of
staff to chIldren The program prov1des a supportlVe network for the
parents and offers and encourage commumty outreach.
Quest lons
Does the program have a stated philosophy and obJect1Ves?
Does the program have an understanding of the developmental needs of the
chIldren being served?
Are thelr needs stated m a general way and lt there a plan of how to set up
an environment to meet there needs?
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5 I ZE OF CENTER TO I NSURE THE QUAlI TV OF THE PROGRAM
To lnsure the Qual1ty of the program The over all sIze and number of
chl1dren served In one center 15 cr1tIcal Optlmally the number of ch1ldren
Tn a center would be 50- 75 chlldren Th1S 1S small enough to Insure that
the staff can develop a trustlng relatlOnsh1p wIth the chIldren and
famllles, and stlll be economlcally feaslble to operate the center
If a complex, busmess or communlty needs to serve a larger number of
chlldren, space could be des1gned to run two or more programs In tandem
each servmg 50 to 75 Chlld and share support space (k ltchens, offices,
storage, etc and also support staff (cooks) offlce help) executlVe dIrector,
mamtenances) etc) Th1S would cut the cost but not the Qual1ty of the care
and educatlOn of the chIldren or the support for teachers and famIlIes
SIZE, REQUIRED FOR LICENSING
Tltle 22 of the State of Cal1fornla adminIstrator Code
An mterlOr space of 35 square feet per ChIld avallable to chIldren The
mInlmum of 75 square feet of play space outSIde per Ch1ld Th1S space for
chl1dren lS excluslVe of offlces, kltchens) tOllet areas, storage areas and
staff space
S1 AFF:
I n any program the QualIty 15 based on the QuallflcatlOns and
professlOnallsm of the staff and on the ratIo of staff to chIldren A hIgh
qualIty program has a plan for professIonal advancement wIth approprIate
Increases In responsIbIlIty and salary
The followmg 1S an example of that kmd of plan
Head Teacher: BA or MASTERS
experlence and
length of t1me wIth the program
Teacher levels Based on the amount of educatlOnJ
experl ence and
length of tIme wIth the program
Assistant Teacher: Students m early chIldhood educatlOn
program work toward a degree or
Persons that enJoy workmg WIth
chI Jdren but are not In a early chIldhood
educat lOn program
RATIO
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The ratlO of staff to chlldren 1S crltical to the Qual1ty of a program,
The followmg are gU1delmes for the ratlO of staff to ch1ldren
Adult Chi ldren
1 to 3
1 to 4
1 to 6
1 to 7
1 to 8
Infants
T oddl ers
2- 3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
QUEST IONS
What are the qual ifications of the staff?
Does the program have a standard or ideal they are working toward for
the staff?
Is there a plan for levels with in the teaching st.aff?
Is the program comm1tted to prov1dmg a professlOnal staff and training
and paymg that staff to encourage them to higher levels of
profess1onallsm?
PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRATION.
When des1gnlng and planning for a Ch1ld care center it 1S lmportant to have
Involved In the planning the Director or Admln1strator that w111 be
responsIble for the program The phIlosophy and principles of the program
are 1mportant In the des1gn of the space
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY
A qual1ty program has a plan to be Involved WIth parents and the general
commumty 80th as a service and as an enrichment for the chIldren and
staff
TUITION
A qualIty program sets 1t tU1tlOn to reflect the cost of the chlld care,
whIle at the same tIme has a plan to make the serv1ce avallable to
famllles that can not pay the cost. ThIS cost needs to reflect an adequate
salary and benef1ts for each staff member and a plan for on going staff
development