PreK in Family Child Care Project (PKFCC)

Summary

The PKFCC project uses a rapid response approach designed to both disseminate study findings about implementation strategies and facilitate cross-state learning and sharing about successes and challenges of implementing PreK in FCC.

Long-term goals for the study include increasing the numbers of states and localities that include FCC as part of their mixed delivery child care systems and current/future PreK implementation plans. Expansion of PreK to meaningfully include FCC is a promising strategy for supporting the FCC workforce and for increasing equitable access to and stability of high-quality early care and education for families and children.

The PKFCC project is a collaboration between Erikson Institute’s Home-Based Child Care Research group, University of Delaware’s Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Equity Research Action Coalition. The work is generously funded by the Foundation for Child Development and Home Grown.

Guiding Principles

Mixed-delivery PreK systems that authentically include FCC programs:

1. Recognize that high-quality PreK occurs in FCC, whether it receives public funding or not
2. Value and learn from FCC strengths and assets
3. Intentionally design resources, standards, and compensation structures for the FCC context
4. Preserve continuity of care, infant and toddler care, and the broader birth-to-five system
5. Make equity and justice top priorities for FCC educators, many of whom face inequities due to racism and sexism