The “fund-the-parent” model assumes that parents have unfettered choice in child care, which they don’t. Their choices are constrained by cost, location, availability, scheduling, etc. #ableg https://twitter.com/heidibergstrom/status/1339594662001033216

It also assumes that all parents are informed “consumers” of child care, which again they aren’t. Most parents don’t know what to look for in terms of “quality” & it may become less of a factor compared to cost, availability, etc. #ableg

There has been some Cdn research that also shows many parents don’t even realize that their private dayhome is unlicensed & not subject to any safety or quality standards. #ableg

There is an appropriate role for providing subsidies to low income parents (and arguably tax credits, but less so, IMO). But early learning shouldn’t be treated like a commodity where “parent choice” is the only guiding principle. The current system doesn’t allow for real choice.