The Value of Parent Education

Significant research has shown that people who step out of the workforce to care for family members face life long earning penalties. Parent education courses at Washington's Community and Technical Colleges help these students bridge the gaps in their resume with credits, practical experience, and in some cases earn certificates in child development or small business management. 

From Harvard's Women and Public Policy Program:

• Avoiding discrimination against female jobseekers with child-related employment gaps

• Mothers in the workforce experience additional disadvantage compared to women who are not mothers, including a per-child wage penalty. 

The wage penalty for informal caregivers from a life course perspective 

• The college affiliated preschools are some of the lowest cost early education programs in each of their counties across Washington. They offer financial aid, scholarships, and participation is not income dependent. Families who do not qualify for Head Start or EACAP are able to access cooperative preschool. 

• College affiliation allows the schools to access lower insurance for the businesses. 

• College Instructors assigned to affiliated preschools offer continuing support for the boards of the nonprofit preschools. Instructors participate in board meetings, assist with hiring, plan ongoing board training, as well as extra support when needed. As the boards of the cooperative preschools turnover annually, the offices of the affiliated college and the assigned instructors are essential for the business to carry on without interruption. Often the affiliated college holds important historical information for the running of the business that would be lost with the transition of board members.

• Enrolled caregivers at each affiliated college complete integrated coursework in early childhood education, human development, family systems, and small business management.

• In some colleges, the program offers assistance with bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, professional development, and financial aid. The affiliation allows the cooperative preschool to have lower overhead costs leading to lower tuition to enrolled families.