Children who speak a language other than English at home were more likely to have lost their child care, due to the coronavirus, than other children, according to a new survey by the nonprofit organization Early Edge California and the American Institutes for Research.
More than a third of early learning programs in California were closed for in-person care as of June or July of this year, and those that were open were operating with reduced enrollment. During this time, 78% of children overall lost care, while 89% of children who speak a language other than English at home lost care.
The survey found that programs that closed face significant barriers to reopening, and will require significant support, including funding to support operating expenses to compensate for programs’ reduced enrollment, access to and funding for health and safety supplies, outreach to families that speak languages other than English and support for priority enrollment for those children, and clear guidance on the implementation of new requirements.
