Steps for Educational Success Creating a Middle Class Democracy Building the Foundation of Early Learning With some lessons from Finland! John R. Burbank, September 13, 2011 EARN, Milwaukee, WI

Percent of Nation’s Median Income Going to Rich and Poor 2 Source: EPI‘s analysis of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Database of Earnings Distribution and OECD.stat data. State of Working America, May 6,

Poverty 3 Poverty defined here as below 50% of the current median income for all countries. This definition is not the official U.S. poverty measure. Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Developed by EPI,, State of Working America, May 6, 2011,

4 World Economic Forum:

Program for International Student Assessment, OECD data, Early Learning Study Tour Briefing Book, London, England, Helsinki, Finland, September 29 - October 7, Economic Opportunity Institute, p. 6, 39, 41, 43 PISA 2003

Program for International Student Assessment, OECD PISA 2009 results.

Keys to Success A Strong Foundation for Life Family Leave, Maternal Leave, Paternal Leave Early Childhood Education Valuing the Infant, the Toddler, the Child Valuing the Parent, the Caregiver, the Teacher A culture of cooperation Building self-confidence Being part of the natural world 7

8

Family Values 9

10 Early Learning Study Tour Briefing Book, London, England, Helsinki, Finland, September 29 - October 7, Economic Opportunity Institute, p. 51 Family/Maternal/Paternal/Care Leave in Finland 0-26 weeks weeks53-78 weeks weeks weeks weeks Maternity leave: 17.5 weeks Parental leave: 26.5 weeks Care leave: Until the child reaches 3 years of age This leave is compensated by maternity allowance at 90% of previous earnings up to a set limit for 9.5 weeks and 70% of earnings up to a set limit for the remainder, with additional compensation at lower rates for additional earnings above the limits. The first 3 weeks of paternity leave can be taken at any time during maternity or parental leave. If the father takes the last 2 weeks of parental leave, he can take 2 additional weeks of paternity leave directly after the parental leave period. This leave is compensated at the same rate as parental leave. This leave is compensated at the same rate as maternity leave, except that the 90% period lasts for only the first 5 weeks. Either parent may take parental leave, but both cannottake it at the same time. Paternity leave: 5 weeks This leave is compensated by the Child Home Care Allowance (CHCA). The allowance consists of a fixed base amount of EUR (  $308), a means-tested supplement, and a supplement for additional children.

Care for Children in Finland Under the Age of 3 (2005) 12

Care for Children in Finland Under the Age of 7 (2005) 13

Employment of Mothers with Children Under 6 (2002) 14

Employment Rate for Women With Young Children (

16 Early Learning Study Tour Briefing Book, London, England, Helsinki, Finland, September 29 - October 7, Economic Opportunity Institute, p. 65

Public Expenditure on ECEC Services for Ages 0-6 (% of GDP ) 17

Finnish Early Childhood Educator Compensation 18

A Highly Education Workforce along with small teacher/child ratios In child care centers, one-third of all staff must have BA’s or MA’s or equivalent For 3-6 year olds, one teacher for 7 children For 0-3 year olds, one teacher for 3 children For family day care, one teacher for 4.5 children 19

The Pedagogy of Early Learning Promotion of personal well-being Reinforcement of considerate behavior Collaboration with others Sense of personal autonomy, confidence, self- esteem A relationship with the outside world, nature, the environment Guess what’s missing? 20

Elements of a Foundation for Life The joy of learning Learning language Playing Running, dancing, physical activity Arts, music, singing, painting, acting, skits Enabling exploration 21

Enabling Personal Orientation Math Natural sciences Society and history Aesthetics Ethics Philosophy/religion 22

What We Can Do Family Leave Professionalization, unionization of the early care educators Compensation, Education

Family Leave California New Jersey (Washington state) RI, NY, Hawaii, Puerto Rico (TDI states) Multistate consortium 24

Unionization, Compensation Washington State: Family Home Providers – SEIU - successful Washington State: Collective bargaining for child care center directors and teachers together – failed Washington State: Career and Wage Ladder: in state law, funded, now defunded 25

Race to the Top Leaves a lot of states and children behind Embraces QRIS, while downplaying teacher compensation Federal funding will decrease It is up to us at the state and local level to figure out models and funding Fundamental importance of unionization to make this happen. 26