Resolution pushed to study early child care

Shannon Erickson strives to maintain quality and affordability at her three child care centers in Beaufort because she believes they contribute to South Carolina's economic and social health.

As a second-year House member, the former school teacher is now in a position to push for improvements in early childhood education across the entire state.

Erickson recently introduced a resolution to form a group that would study the state's child care industry, its availability and costs to working families.

Similar studies in recent years attempted to tackle too many issues at too large a cost to taxpayers, Erickson said. And child care legislation has tended to be reactive. As a result, today's child care offerings represent a hodgepodge of public and private programs, some heavily regulated and others virtually unchecked.

"Parents do not understand the different regulations and expectations," she said. "We have piecemealed this thing."

If the resolution passes, the nine-member committee would be required to submit a report to the General Assembly by 2010. South Carolina First Steps, a state agency devoted to increasing school readiness, would spearhead the effort.

Education experts state that child care centers are a linchpin for improving public education because children develop lifelong learning and social behaviors before they turn 4. More than 60 percent of children 5 and under in South Carolina attend some type of child care.

The committee's work would not cost the state any additional money because much of the group's work will involve compiling findings from past studies, Erickson said.

Among the low-cost steps the committee could consider is beefing up the state's Internet child care directory so that parents could easily learn which rules different centers are subject to and what level of training and education their care providers have.

Susan DeVenny, director of First Steps, said Erickson has long been an advocate for child care, but her new role as a lawmaker puts that front-line experience to work for the good of the entire state.

"She speaks from experience," DeVenny said. "Child care has sometimes been overlooked, and she is raising the flag for young children."

Reach Ron Menchaca at 937-5724 or rmenchaca@postandcourier.com.