PUBLIC POLICY
NCCCC Core Issues for Public Policy Positions
The following public policy positions are based on the NCCCC statements of mission, philosophy and purpose; and on the history of positions taken by the organization. These Core Positions represent basic assumptions that board and staff can use when making decisions related to public policy. They are a guide to help board and staff members articulate where NCCCC stands on key issues in the field.
Introduction
High quality early care and education programs are essential for institutions of higher education. They are a proven component of student parent success. They enable colleges and universities to recruit and retain quality faculty and staff. As a key resource to departments of education, they help education students learn about developmentally appropriate practice. And, they provide a valuable venue for child development and other research. Understanding this, it is the policy of NCCCC to support activities and initiatives that:
- Support funding for early childhood programs such as:
- Increases in funding for and insure the smooth operation of the US Department of Education’ Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant program
- Promotion and support of the establishment, maintenance and expansion of high quality campus based child care and early education programs
- Campaigns that establish teacher support such as Worthy Wages.
- Appropriate projects that make campus based children’s programs more affordable to parents.
- Promote Quality Development by:
- Insuring that campus child care is an integral part of higher education systems
- Enabling campus child care programs to meet the educational, research and service needs of the institution and community at large.
- Making clear that child care and developmentally appropriate early childhood education are inseparable in all quality programs for young children
- Encouraging staff stabilization by reducing turnover to a minimum
- Compensating early childhood teachers and other employees adequately in terms of salary and benefits.
- Promote Diversity by:
- Allowing for a wide variety of models and approaches to encourage diversity and the reflection of ethnicity, different cultures, and different languages.
- Making clear that diversity is essential to quality education and professional excellence
- Representing the interests of all children and families on campus to the broader educational and social arena.
Issues of Protocol
These core policy positions give NCCCC board members a sense of the kinds of issues that NCCCC supports. NCCCC is most frequently asked to support these items, but from time to time the organization could be asked to take a stand on something that is not clearly included under these positions.
New issues must first come before NCCCC’s Public Policy Committee. The committee then makes recommendations to the Board, which is ultimately responsible for whether or not the organization will support the new issue.
NCCCC public policy protocol
Some Components of a Successful Advocacy Campaign
- Clear Goal
- Have a clear “ask,” know what you want. Propose clear solutions.
- Define the Audience
- Legislators, campus directors, student parents, public at large, campus administrators, other advocacy groups, etc. (ultimate audience likely to be legislators or college administrators – others are influencers)
- Strategies to Influence
- Direct contact with legislators, administrators, aides, policy makers
- Inside partners
- Cultivate Allies
- Grassroots
- Survey and Research
- Media (May have to develop a long term, multidimensional strategy)
- The Four L’s (for child care advocates)
- Listen – Take the time to really get inside the head of those you seek to influence.
- Language – Focus on their language. Use the language that will most successfully influence the policy maker.
- Leaders – Look for new leaders. Who are the two or three new leaders who can help put the message across? May have to share or give away some leadership.
- Loosen up – Avoid moralizing on behalf of children.
- Quality and Quantity Contacts
- Quality Contacts – the person who can deliver the message directly. Who will call you back in 15 minutes.
- Quantity Contacts – grass roots, allies, etc.
CCAMPIS information
The CAMPUS Child Care provision was signed into law as `SEC. 419N. (CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL) of the Higher Education Act in October of 1998. The initiative authorizes $45 million nationally to support the start-up or operation of CAMPUS-based child care services.
Useful Links
|
