Early childhood education is a vital part of our society. This current pandemic, COVID-19, has increased the awareness and demonstrated the importance of the early childhood education profession and the vital role it plays in society now more than ever. Right now, we are seeing some of the greatest economic challenges ever to the profession we all respect and honor.
The Bipartisan Policy Center in a national survey found that:
Across all provider types, 60% of programs are fully closed and not providing care to any children at the moment.
43% of those working remotely said they currently need child care.
Around half of parents (46%) are concerned that their current or previous provider would no longer be open and 37% are concerned that their child will have a different teacher.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children survey in March found the following in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
30% of providers in the U.S. said they would not survive a closure of more than two weeks without significant public investment and support that would allow them to compensate and retain staff, pay rent or mortgages, and cover other fixed costs.
63% said they could survive closure for no more than a month without government help.
33% of respondents work in center-based child care, and another 53% work in family child care homes.
These are devastating statistics, especially as we fully recognize the surveys all occurred some time ago. Undoubtedly, the situation is now more severe.
We join with our allies in the early childhood education field to request that Congress authorize up to $50 billion in emergency stimulus funding to stabilize the sector and support the workforce after this crisis.
Throughout the health crisis, the early childhood field has shown its strength and value. The Wall Street Journal provides just one of thousands of examples: “[The owner] kept centers open for his few remaining customers: doctors, nurses and police officers who must work and might have nowhere else to send their children.”
The Council for Professional Recognition remains here for the entire field with online resources and other tools to help us through this pandemic. Most of all, our hearts go out to the entire early childhood education community as we look forward to safer and healthier days.
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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