Teacher Training Impacts Well-Being of Georgia’s Children

(ATLANTA, March 28, 2007) – Bad hair day, or a lifetime of struggle?  Most parents would gladly endure a “hairdo-don’t” if it meant a better future for their child.  But you’d never guess it, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

In Georgia, cosmetologists earn on average almost 60% more per hour than child care workers.  Hairdressers are required to have a high school degree and 1500 hours of training before they’re licensed, but 62% of the child care workers in the state have no more than a high school diploma, and 3% never finished high school.  This workforce cares for the 60% of Georgia’s young children who are in child care every day, during the early years from 0-5 when 90% of brain development occurs.

In response to research proving the link between teacher training and stability and positive educational and social outcomes for young children, funders and regulators like Head Start and the National Association for the Education of Young Children are raising requirements for child care workers.  However, increasing professional standards for staff is difficult.  Even with current child care teacher salaries that hover around the minimum wage, young families struggle to pay child care costs, which average more than $8000 per child per year in metro Atlanta.  Because of low pay and limited benefits, college graduates are not attracted to the profession in sufficient numbers to meet demand.  And the 65% of Georgia’s child care workforce that is not credentialed must overcome obstacles of cost, family obligation, and apprehension about formal education in order to advance their careers.

Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family Centers, a 119-year-old nonprofit that provides child care, early education, and family support to 4000 children in metro Atlanta each year, is addressing these obstacles with the expansion of Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute (GTI).  Sheltering Arms has received national recognition from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Head Start, and others for its staff development program for employees.   The program is credited with not only raising the quality of teaching and teacher credentials, but with maintaining a staff turnover rate that consistently averages around 10%, compared with 30-40% industry-wide.  GTI, which was founded in 1988, currently trains 2700 Georgia early childhood and family support professionals each year.  It is hoping to significantly expand that impact in the next three years with a larger faculty, more extensive course offerings, and an increase in the number of courses approved for college-credit recommendation by the National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Education.

 “Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute is a bridge between uncredentialed early childhood professionals and formal education in a technical school or college,” said Sheltering Arms Board Chair, Rod Odom.  “GTI begins with the staff we currently have in place, folks with the heart for this work who may be intimidated by institutes of higher learning and who may face obstacles of time, money, and access.  GTI offers top-notch training in a familiar child care setting, where teachers can gain confidence, become familiar with educational resources, and in some cases, even apply for college credit for their work at Sheltering Arms.”

Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute offers training which leads to two credentials, the Child Development Associate Credential awarded by the National Center for Professional Recognition, and the Family Development Credential, awarded by Cornell University and administered in the state of Georgia by Sheltering Arms.  Other workshops taught by GTI staff share Sheltering Arms’ expertise in curriculum, instruction and program management.  An on-site accredited child care center at GTI’s headquarters in downtown Atlanta serves as a hands-on laboratory where training participants can experience firsthand the implementation of nationally-acclaimed best practice models in early childhood education and family support.

Dr. Martha Abbott-Shim, Professor Emeritus of Georgia State University and a nationally-respected expert in early childhood education, has been named to lead the expansion of Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute.  “At Sheltering Arms, we’ve seen with our own staff that by providing these workers with training and professional credentials, we do more than increase their skills.  We also increase their commitment to this profession and to furthering their own formal education,” says Dr. Abbott-Shim.  “Staffing—low teacher-to-child ratios, well-trained personnel, and consistency—is the key difference between programs that meet quality standards and those that fall short.  And those quality standards can make the difference in whether a child enters school ready to succeed or destined to struggle.

“We believe the professional development of our child care workforce is something of concern to every Georgian, not just those with small children,” continues Dr. Abbott-Shim.  “Child care is one the fastest growing industries in our state.  If we invest in the professional development of our child care workforce to ensure the services they provide are of the highest quality, we are investing in our future.  Research proves that young children are more likely to succeed in school and in life when their teachers are well-prepared.  The resulting economic benefit for our community is within reach through efforts like Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute.”

About Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute:  Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute (GTI) builds Georgia’s capacity to create positive outcomes for children and families by providing research-based training in early care and education and family development and by modeling best practices in family-centered early childhood education.  Through credentialing, community-based training, and an on-site accredited early childhood laboratory school, GTI shares the expertise of Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family Centers, a nationally-acclaimed nonprofit founded in 1888 in metro Atlanta.  For more information on Sheltering Arms Georgia Training Institute, please call Paige McKay Kubik at (404)-523-2849 or www.shelteringarmsforkids.com.