Latino Families Value Early Care and Education: Research BriefJuly 21, 2008 |
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 Sociological research is valuable for many reasons. It can eliminate stereotypes and give us a deeper understanding of what is actually true. A recent study by the UCLA Center for Improving Child Care Quality (CICCQ), has found broad support among a group of low-income Latina mothers in Los Angeles for formal early care and education (ECE) programs. This study as well as a recent survey commissioned by Pre[K] Now, help to dispel a commonly held belief that Latino families prefer relative or informal care to formal ECE programs.According to the UCLA study, nearly all of the Latino mothers interviewed appreciate the importance of early education, particularly preschool, and would be interested in enrolling their children in such programs. Over 100 mothers participated in the in-depth qualitative study. While Latino families may value early education, they are, however, less likely to enroll in such programs. Although Latino children account for nearly 60 percent of children attending Los Angeles County public schools, Latino's are 20 to 30 percent less likely than children among other ethnic and racial groups to attend formal early care and education programs. The study reports that the challenges Latinos experience in accessing ECE programs mirror those in other ethnic groups, although study findings do indicate that barriers in accessing programs for immigrant mothers are more pronounced than is the case for U.S.-born Latina mothers. In the meantime, various organizations are working fervently to find solutions that will close this gap as many studies show that quality early care and education can help children throughout their school careers. The National Taskforce on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics, for example, has an agenda that focuses on public policies and programs that aim to increase school readiness among Latino children entering kindergarten, particularly those from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Click here to read more about the CICCQ study. Click here to download a copy of the brief. |
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