New First Focus report looks at the costs of pre-k or childcare on the private market relative to income and typical household expenditures for families at different income levels. We’ve long known that childcare or preschool is a major expenditure for the lowest income households--bigger even than rent or housing for many families--but it’s also the second biggest cost for middle-class families and can put a major strain on family budgets. The report also flags some interesting differences in types of preschool or childcare used by families at different income levels.Important issues to think about in debates over universal vs. targeted preschool.
Maryland State Sen. Bill Ferguson, writing in the Baltimore Sun, offers a compelling argument against proposals to delay implementation of Maryland’s teacher evaluation system until after full implementation of Common Core.