The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” is generally met with nodding heads and universal agreement. In more recent years, this concept has reached beyond reminding the boy in the grocery store to say “excuse me” or keeping a watchful eye on the punch bowl at the high school dance. Many families have two working parents and need quality care for their young children during the workday.
Given this, existing and new daycare facilities and preschools are taking on more responsibility to help raise young children during their formative years. Early childhood education systems and programs need excellent educators and administrators to ensure the young children in their care receive excellent services, education and school preparation.
Working teachers interested in leadership roles in these settings can gain the skills and specialized knowledge they need through in-depth coursework in the online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Early Childhood Education program from Arkansas State University (A-State). Through advancing their early childhood education expertise and capacity for leadership, graduates of this degree program can make an important difference in the lives of today’s youngest and most vulnerable children.
Public Service Programs for Childcare at Younger Ages
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2024, both parents work in roughly 66.5% of married-couple families with children. Further, there were roughly 2.9 million single parents in the U.S. in 2021, according to a 2023 analysis of data from the American Community Survey. In both situations, affordable and high-quality childcare is critical.
There are two different ways early-childhood care and education are federally funded: Providing programs and providing funding to families. The national Head Start program is a prime example of funding programs to provide services.
Head Start is among the leaders in providing quality care and early education across the United States. The Office of Head Start administers funds and oversees local agencies that provide Head Start services in various settings, including education, health and family well-being programs. Head Start programs exist in every state as well as many tribal nations and several U.S. territories. Head Start programs have impacted the lives of more than 38 million children and their families since 1965.
Another form of support is financial assistance for childcare, preschool and health services, offered as a public service by agencies. Organizations work at the state, territory and tribal level to help low-income families gain access to the services necessary to keep their children safe, healthy and well-educated.
Childcare and Educational Services
One of the challenges facing families with children today is the skyrocketing cost of childcare and education. Many working parents are living at the poverty level and require more than a good place for their children to learn. Yet, childcare and preschool are wholly unaffordable in much of the U.S., costing more than rent or public college tuition in many states, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Low-income parents need help accessing transportation and tuition required for their children to attend educational childcare facilities. Without assistance, parents who cannot afford childcare may have to forgo working full-time, exacerbating their financial difficulties. This cycle can be extremely challenging to break out of for parents with minimal resources.
The Effects of Poverty on Early Childhood Care and Education
According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 37% of children under 9 years of age — over 12 million children — live in low-income families. More than half of low-income families with children experience housing insecurity and energy insecurity, meaning they have trouble paying these expenses, making affording education and care for their children even more challenging.
Unsurprisingly, children aged three to four from low-income families are less likely to attend preschool than children from higher income families. Overall, millions of children in the U.S. — and their families — would benefit immensely from high-quality infant and early childhood care and education provided as a public service, either free of charge or at a reduced cost to the family.
Prenatal Care and Nutrition
In addition to needing help with childcare and early education, many women living in low-income housing, even if working, do not have the medical insurance necessary to receive consistent pre-natal care or the money necessary to eat a nutritious diet during pregnancy. They may not have a network of support or extended family living nearby who can assist with the challenges of pregnancy or raising an infant or young child.
At the national level, programs such as the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, part of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, provide services for improved maternal and child health and the promotion of child development and school readiness. In addition, the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers benefits through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program on the local or regional level. In the state of Arkansas, the WIC program provides the following support:
- Supplemental foods high in nutrients needed for growth and development
- Nutrition education to improve diet and health habits
- Information, support and encouragement for breastfeeding
- Referrals for other health services
The rising demand for affordable childcare and medical services and the crippling effect of institutional poverty give some families reason to lose hope for the future of their children. Publicly supported and organized programs are now, more than ever, integral parts of communities that dream of raising successful students and citizens.
How You Can Help With an Early Childhood Education Master’s Degree
People with the right preparation, education and passion make these kinds of programs possible. Obtaining funding and successfully administering programs to support children’s health and education for families of all economic levels and cultural backgrounds requires perseverance and an advanced understanding of early childhood learning and development.
Success also hinges on knowledge of federal, state and local early childhood education resources along with well-developed leadership skills. The online MSE in Early Childhood Education program at A-State provides educators with the expertise and educational leadership skills needed to overcome the administrative challenges of early childhood education settings, ensuring young children from all family backgrounds can access quality educational services.
Learn more about A-State’s online MSE in Early Childhood Education program.