Criteria for Assessing Government’s Progress

On the Implementation of the $10aDay Child Care Plan

Effective implementation actions and ongoing assessments of government’s progress should be consistent with key elements of the Community Plan for a Public System of Integrated Early Care and Learning – commonly known as the $10aDay Plan. Three key elements are particularly important in the early stages of system-building:

1. Evidence based policy and funding decisions
2. Integrated approaches
3. Balanced roll–out

Evidence-based policy and funding decisions  

Implementation progress will be assessed against criteria that are based on the research and evidence about what policies and funding mechanisms ‘work’.  Key criteria include:

• Government’s commitment to build high quality, universal public system is a top priority
• Rights of First Nations are respected and supported, consistent with UNDRIP and TRC
• Affordability is enhanced through reduced and capped parent fees    
• Quality is enhanced through increased ECE compensation and education
• Access is enhanced by developing inclusive services that are publicly/community planned & owned
• Direct operating funds to licensed programs are used to deliver new public funding, rather than increasing subsidies to parents
• Accountability for public funding is tied to achieving public goals

Integrated Approaches

Implementation will, where possible, begin by integrating existing BC building blocks including:

• Education and Care – recognizing that quality child care is early learning by preparing to move child care into the Ministry of Education and developing accompanying legislation
• Direct Funding Mechanism – using the Child Care Operating Fund (CCOF) to deliver new funds to licensed programs that meet the Plan’s accountability requirements, including lowering fees and raising wages in inclusive, play-based programs (consistent with BC Early Learning Frameworks)
• Services – inviting licensed (centre & family) services into new system, with improved accountability expectations, and developing a process to support unlicensed caregivers to transition to licensed sector
• Planning – engaging existing and new early childhood community tables and other public sector bodies in community planning processes
• Supports & Oversight – enhancing the roles of Child Care Resource and Referral Programs, Child Care Licensing, Supported Child Development and related programs and services
• Public support – building on widespread public support and consensus achieved to date through recent consultations, polling, and community discussions

Balanced Roll-Out

Implementation will balance a range of needs and issues that all need to be addressed as part of system-building. These include:

• Providing benefits for both families and educators
• Taking short-term, concrete actions while planning for the longer term
• Incorporating universality that ensures inclusion for all and minimizes barriers to access
• Improving affordability and quality in existing spaces while expediting creation of new quality, affordable spaces
• Providing opportunities for ongoing dialogue/input while taking prompt action