Discusses the various inclement weather conditions (and regional biases toward them) contributing to administrators' decisions to close school for the day or for part of the day. Considers childcare problems and safety considerations. An inset offers closing advice for parents. (MLH)

According to a recent Harris poll, over 50 percent of American teachers believe that the most critical factor undermining school performance is children's being left alone after school. Lack of child care in the U.S. has reached crisis proportions. Twenty-first century schools will need to be dual-purpose and creatively financed. Includes five…

Child care problems associated with latchkey children, teenage mothers continuing their education, and homeless families are discussed, and possible solutions are considered. The public library has been identified by many parents as a safe place for children to go after school and at other times when childcare is needed, and this has created a new…

Traces the development of day care from the early 1800's to the present. Focuses on California, a national leader in publicly supported childcare, preschool, parenting education, and afterschool care programs. Describes 1985 legislation, including a welfare reform act and a latchkey program providing significant funding for school age childcare.…

To review and study the needs of latchkey children in Illinois, the services and programming available for such children, and the financial alternatives for such programs, a committee was formed consisting of 11 persons, 10 of whom were school board members from throughout the state. Additionally, the committee was directed to develop…

Due to the number of children who are left unsupervised after school, schools are becoming involved in day care. A school may allow a day care center to function on its premises, form a partnership with another organization to run a day care center jointly, or run a day care program by itself. Although principals, teachers, or parents may…

Current national concern about increasing numbers of latchkey children has been addressed by policy initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. Educators in many communities are examining what schools can do for children when classes are not in session and parents and other caregivers are unavailable. This manual confronts the legal…

Describes a survey of public libraries that addressed the presence of latchkey children in libraries, library policies regarding this population, and services that are or should be offered. In-depth interviews with 10 librarians explored ideal responses to latchkey children, advice on library services, and community services for children. (14…

Suggests that concern for "latchkey" children during World War II was hyperbolic. Examines the variety of successful solutions parents devised for child day care: (1) day care arrangements made by families themselves; (2) Lanham Act child day care centers; (3) centers operated by private industry; and (4) the very successful Extended…

This packet consists of a tutor's guide and the first two booklets of "The Women's Series." The series is part of a program of a national literacy campaign dedicated to women who cannot read well enough to use literacy skills in everyday life. The two booklets focus on child care because that is such a major concern for so many women. They are…

This special report examines the labor movement's growing interest in benefits that help two-income families and single parents. The report also: (1) examines benefits that unions have won for their members and employers' reactions to labor's increasing advocacy on behalf of working parents; (2) profiles the results of union activism for work and…

Situational issues related to families and influences upon families in North Dakota and the United States are briefly outlined in these fact sheets. Contents specifically concern (1) outbound migration from North Dakota and transition of rural families from farming; (2) suicide in North Dakota and the nation; (3) child care issues, such as child…

The ERIC/EECE Digests in this compilation focus on different aspects of the education and care of children from birth through 12 years of age. The four digests produced in 1989 concern the escalating kindergarten curriculum, involvement of parents in the education of their children, mixed-age groups in early childhood education, and praise in the…

Research suggests that how children spend their out-of-school hours can significantly affect their social development and school success. The Out-of-School Time Study, conducted by the School-Age Child Care Project at the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, investigated how young low-income children in three urban communities spent…

This report focuses on current trends of women in the workforce, issues they face with child care, and how the implications of those trends and issues have influenced corporate and governmental response. In 1990, 47% of the working mother population relied on spouses or relatives to provide care for their young children. Between 2 and 5 million…