How much do you get paid to foster a child in california

How much do foster parents get paid in California – Knotts Family Agency

Although parenting is a full-time job, you cannot think of foster parenting as a way to cash out. If you’re in it for the money, then you’re fostering for the wrong reasons. Foster families don’t actually get “paid” for taking care of a child. They receive reimbursements for the money they spend taking care of the child’s needs. This money is not meant to be used to buy a new car or pay for your rent or some other expenses that don’t have anything to do with the immediate essential needs of the foster child. Bear in mind that irrespective of the subsidy or financial assistance you receive, you will still be responsible for providing the essential items needed to adequately care for the child and the financial cost of that will be borne by you. If you’re planning on being approved and serving as a foster parent in California, you’ll probably still want to know how much reimbursement you can expect to receive to help offset some of the costs of raising your foster child. In this article, we answer some of the most common questions prospective foster parents have about much they can expect to get paid, how the amount is determined, and other incentives they might be given to help take some of the weight of raising a foster child off their shoulders.

How much do foster parents get paid monthly per child: Depending on the county where you’re licensed as a foster parent, the reimbursement package ranges from $25 to $30 per day for each child. This amount increases if you’re fostering a child with additional needs.
When do the payments start coming in: It usually takes a few weeks for the first payment to arrive, but that depends on the day the child was placed in your home. If you are with a Foster Family Agency (FFA), the counties generally send checks to the FFA around the initial 15 days of the month, so it could be that you have to wait a few weeks. Once the first payment arrives, you can expect to get a paycheck once every month to cover the essential needs of the child(ren) in your home.
Take advantage of the cost-saving opportunities available to you: We know that bringing up a child today is an expensive affair. The state tries to soften the impact on your finances even further by giving valuable tax breaks to foster parents. There are also programs offering free stuff like clothing for foster children.

To qualify as a foster parent, you must have a stable and verifiable source of income which you can use to meet your family’s basic needs—food, shelter, and clothing. The reimbursements you get cannot be used as a primary source of income to cater to your family’s financial needs.

1. How much do foster parents get paid monthly per child?

The state of California pays foster parents an average of $1000 to $2,609 per month to help with the expenses from taking care of the child. It is one of the highest-paying states in the nation in this regard. This figure is for each child you take into your home. The highest rates correspond to children with additional needs, because they will require more attention, time, and tending to than other children. Know that you can’t just pocket the payments and take the child to the hospital or to visit other professionals that help with taking care of them. You need to be patient with children, shower them with more attention, listen and learn their needs, and basically find ways to care for them that wouldn’t complicate their situation even further. Children may have been severely neglected, suffered physical/sexual/emotional abuse, and may be carrying around complex emotional issues as a result of what they’ve been through. They may also have some condition—depression, anxiety, autism, or physical disablement—that prevents them from acting appropriately for their age or being able to respond normally to certain situations. Whatever their challenge is, you need to be understanding. Remember that you’re dealing with a person’s life. The child entrusted to your care will come to depend on you for so much, and you cannot afford to do wrong by them. It is also important to identify a foster family agency that is committed to providing you with the ongoing support needed. This will go a long way in ensuring that you are successful as a foster parent. You need to constantly examine yourself, be open to learning new skills and training that will allow you to communicate better with your foster child, and be an incredible parent to them. Raising a child is a lot to undertake, but it’s one of the most fulfilling things you can do. Even if you decide to adopt your foster child, you’ll still be entitled to receive a small monthly payment to assist with the child’s upkeep. The amount of money you’ll receive will depend on the child’s age and personal needs. The amount you receive in reimbursement depends on the county you reside in or the foster family. In California, the state prescribes a minimum monthly payment, but agencies may provide higher than the minimum. Talk to a foster family agency to learn more about what your foster care reimbursement payments may be. Hopefully, this payment will help make foster care a little less stressful for you and your family.

2. When do the payments start coming in?

Every county or Foster Family Agency has its own timeline for payments, which you’ll be informed of after your application is approved and you’re given the clearance to start fostering. You will need to have some funds available while you wait at least one month before the payments are sent to you. Some counties are better at expediting payment than others, so the time for the first check to arrive may vary. Make sure you have money saved up to cover the childcare costs until the subsidy payments start coming in. In some cases, the county social worker may approve a one-time extra allowance for purchasing clothes for your foster child, but that also takes a while to arrive. So, be prepared to go shopping for clothes for your new ward out of your own pocket. But no need to go overboard with shopping. Like we mentioned earlier, this payment is not meant to cover all of the child’s expenses, only the basic needs. This includes:

Transportation
Food
Clothing
Personal expenses

You won’t have to worry about medical bills because every foster child is covered under the state’s health insurance. Behavioral or mental health needs are also included under their insurance coverage.

3. Take advantage of the cost-saving opportunities available to you

The reimbursement payment you get is not the only financial aid that you can receive as a foster parent. There are a number of other options you can explore as well to help you cut costs such as a tax credit. Although foster children do not qualify for many of the same deductions and credits as biological or adopted children, they’re still eligible for a couple of tax breaks. For starters, the reimbursements you receive from the state are non-taxable so you don’t have to worry about it being cut down any further. Check to see whether your county also provides childcare coverage so you can work while being a foster parent without having to carry the entire cost of childcare alone. This can help you save money that would have been spent on babysitting and other related expenses. There are programs that provide free clothing and gifts for foster children. Signing up for them is another great way to cut down on the costs of foster parenting. Additionally, if your foster child is an infant, toddler, or under the age of 5, they are probably eligible for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) special supplemental nutrition program, which is aimed at providing nutritious foods to supplement diets for women and children at nutritional risk. Don’t be ashamed about needing a little extra help to care for the foster child in your care. You’re doing the best that you can to see that they have a good life and that’s all that matters.

Conclusion

When you take into account the responsibilities that come with being a foster parent, the stipend, it becomes evident that the money received should not be the primary reason for deciding to be a foster parent. Just remember that financial gain is not an incentive to foster. You shouldn’t consider the reimbursement you receive as payment for doing your job because you’re not being paid for providing a service. The payment is to help cover the costs of caring for the child in your home. Your true reward is in being able to help a vulnerable child feel safe, supported, and loved. If after looking at the numbers above and understanding what exactly you’ll be signing up for and you’re still interested in becoming a foster parent in California, all you need to do is contact a reputable foster family agency and get started on your application.

How Much Money Do You Get For Being a Foster Parent – Knotts Family Agency

If you are considering becoming a foster parent (also known as Resource Parent) or host-guardian, at some point you’re going to wonder how much foster parents get paid in California. That’s a perfectly fair question.

In theory, a resource or foster family can earn as much more than $9,000 per month, prorated per night. But it’s all based on variables like the number of kids you’re fostering, their ages and any special needs they may have. So what’s the actual payment range?

In the state of California, foster parents currently (2020) may receive between $1000 to $2609 each month per child, depending on the Level of Care. You may have up to 6 children in one home, depending on their needs; but it is more reasonable to have less than 6. A foster family agency may opt to give foster parents more than the minimum, so you should check with your agency.

How Foster Parent Payments Work:

Technically, foster parents get reimbursed, not paid. But for the sake of simplicity, lets call it a payment that comes completely tax free.

As a foster parent or host-guardian you take on the responsibility of ensuring the kids are safe, well fed and clothed. You’ll need to provide everything a child needs to grow healthy in a safe environment. So, regardless of whether you are fostering on a temporary or a long-term basis, there are legitimate costs involved in supporting the child or children you’re helping.

That’s what makes the money reimbursement programs such an important part of foster care programs.

Here are some of the factors that impact the payment scale:

The medical and emotional needs of the child
The state you live in (but we’re only focusing on California in this article)
Any bonuses offered by your chosen foster care agency

In general, the pay scale increases depending on the specific health or emotional needs of the children. For example, foster parents in Intensive Service Foster Care (ISFC), and care for a child with significant mental or health needs, may receive up to $2,609 per month.

Figuring Out How Much YOU Will Get Paid

It should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyways: don’t become a foster parent just for the money. Fostering children should be about providing a safe, nurturing for the kids while emotionally enhancing your own life as well.

That being said, we know the money matters. That’s the way the world works and you need money to create the best possible environment for the kids.

So the question is, how much will YOU get paid?

It’s nice to know the general numbers. But your situation is different from everyone else’s. Here are some things to consider:

You have a certain amount of space in your home.
You may be interested in foster kids within a certain age group.
You may or may not be able to help children who have special medical or emotional needs. You may be interested in children with serious health needs (e.g. medically-fragile children).
If you’re working with Knotts Family Agency, we pay a monthly compensation bonus that is over and beyond the minimum rate established by the state. But you may be working with an agency that doesn’t. Contact us to learn more about our benefits.
You may want to be a host-guardian (part-time foster parenting) instead of being a full-time foster parent

Because your situation is unique, you’re going to need help navigating the process and figuring out the best possible outcome for yourself and your family.

That’s where we come in. Knotts Family Agency has offered friendly, no-rush, no-obligation coaching to foster parents for nearly two decades. Although money is not the only factor, when selecting an agency, consider one that is willing to provide higher than the minimum.

For example, although the state of California currently has a rate of approximately $2,600 per month for children in LOC 5 (also known as Intensive Service Foster Care), Knotts Family Agency adds up to $400, bringing the total to $3000, for children in certain IFSC sub-categories.

Give us a call today at 909-301-0504 or click here to Contact Us.

We’d be happy to answer any questions you have – and walk you step by step through the process of becoming a foster parent.

The Cost of Raising a Child in the USA - Financial Encyclopedia

No one wants to value a child financially like buying a car or a house, but by the time the child reaches 18, they will cost their parents more than some houses. Be prepared pay a lot of money for that cute little bundle. For example, according to the USDA, parents who have a child today will spend an average of $284,570 by the time the child turns 18. nine0003

The figure shown is for a middle-income couple with two children, and the USDA assumes they had childcare and education expenses. Knowing these numbers will allow parents to better control their spending.

Key Findings

On average, middle-income parents will spend $284,570 by the time their child turns 18.
Housing costs are highest, followed by food. nine0010
The cost of childcare varies greatly depending on where you live.
The good news is that each additional child costs less thanks to economies of scale.

Highest cost: Housing

The largest expense is housing. Expenses include mortgage or rent, taxes, repairs, insurance, utilities, and all the “things” that parents buy for their home. According to a study by the Department of Agriculture United States, these costs are 29% of the cost of a child. But be of good cheer. If you have more children, you will not double or triple the cost of one child, because many resources are shared. You may need to add an extra bedroom, but not a kitchen or living room.

Naturally, you have to divide housing costs by the number of people in the house and take into account that the use of these resources is uneven among family members. A 30-year-old father probably uses more water and electricity than his six-month-old daughter. Of course, these adjustments are made by the authors report has already been submitted. nine0003

There are even more variables that contribute to higher or lower housing costs. First, housing costs vary widely by region. According to the USDA, spending was highest in cities in the Northeast and lowest in rural areas of the country.

Executive summary

Single parents will spend on average 7% less than families with two parents because they are more likely to be in a lower income group. But the percentage of single parents' income that goes to their children is higher. nine0003

Food costs

If you already have children, you know they eat a lot, so it's no surprise that this is the second highest cost of raising a child. If you had one dollar for every time your child said: "I'm hungry," you could probably offset most of your annual food expenses. Food expenses accounted for about 18% of the total from birth to age 171.

USDA breaks down spending into four spending tiers. For low-income families or those who can stretch their budget, there is an inexpensive "frugal plan". Followed by "low cost plan", "moderate cost plan ” and finally “liberal plan”.

Costs range from $96.40 to $177.70 per month for a 1-year-old, with a moderate plan of $146.60 per month. By the time your child is nine years old, this moderate-cost plan will rise to $273.70 dollars. Under the same plan, an 18-year-old man eats $311 worth of food every month, and a woman eats $248.50 worth of food.

Childcare and Education

According to the US Department of Agriculture, childcare and education for parents who bear these costs is 16% of the cost of raising a child. The cost of childcare in the US ranges from 5,436 to 24 $243 per year, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Needless to say, the cost of childcare depends on where you live. nine0003

Washington residents pay the most. Infant care costs $19,112 per year and $24,243 for a four-year-old. EPI data shows that a four-year public college education in the state costs much less, $5,756.

Parents in Mississippi pay the lowest annual child care cost, which costs $5,436 for an infant and $4,784 for a four-year-old. nine0003

Quick Overview

If you have more than two children, a babysitter may be more economical than daycare because babysitters typically don't charge twice as much as some daycares. On the other hand, kindergartens may offer a discount if you have more than one child enrolled.

Total amount

For other expenses, the breakdown is as follows:

Transport, 15%
Health care, 9%
Clothes, 6%
All other expenses, 7%

Overall, when a child reaches the age of majority (18), parents will spend an average of $284,570. According to USDA inflation-adjusted data, this is significantly higher than the $233,610 for parents who had a child in 2015 year.

Good news: economies of scale

There is good news when it comes to the cost of raising a child in America. Economies of scale also extend to the number of children you have. The USDA notes that each additional child costs less because siblings can share the same bedroom and the family can buy food in larger and more cost-effective quantities. may not like it, clothes and toys can be passed down, and older siblings can often look after younger ones. nine0003

Bad news: college is not included in the price.

Also note that the above figures do not include the 529 plan or other investment funds so that children do not graduate with a large amount of debt.

Bottom line

No one wants to think of their children as an expense, but at an average annual cost of almost $17,000 (and chances are it could be higher depending on where you live and childcare) , the financial side of parenting can not be ignored. But couples who know the numbers can develop a cost-cutting strategy. nine0003

Raising Children in the USA - Michael McFaul - LiveJournal

I think parents all over the world agree that raising children is one of the greatest joys they have ever experienced and one of the greatest challenges they have ever faced. Last Sunday, Americans celebrated Father's Day, and the greeting cards I received from my two sons reminded me how happy it is to be a parent. Just because I enjoy being a father doesn't make me an expert parent. There is no one “correct” way of parenting. Traveling abroad and living in other countries has shown me different parenting styles in different countries and cultures, they have also shown me that the US culture is unique. However, in the past few months, I have read several articles, statements, and tweets about American parenting that simply do not match my experience or understanding. So without giving you a comprehensive overview of parenting in the US, I want to share some personal observations in this area. nine0003

American parents tend to value independence and want their children to grow up with a sense of self-confidence and be able to go through life on their own, enjoy it and achieve success when they reach adulthood. We want our children to learn how to make the right choices in life. In the US, unlike in many other countries, children usually start living separately from their parents as soon as they leave school and go to college or university. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average distance between home and a college where American students study in their home state is 189miles (~304 km) for public and 349 miles (~561 km) for private schools. These numbers are even higher for those who went to college in another state. This means that most American students either have to live in student residences at the university or rent housing (but which, as a rule, parents pay for!). This suggests that students are not completely independent of their parents. In most cases, parents pay for university education and support their children morally and financially while they study there. The children come home to visit their parents on holidays and during the summer holidays and keep in touch regularly via Skype, email and telephone. After graduating from university, children in the United States generally do not return home to live permanently with their parents unless they are faced with the task of saving money. nine0003

Since parents know that their children will lead more or less independent lives from the age of 18, they usually try to instill the necessary skills in early childhood. Most parents give their children household chores that help them learn to take care of themselves, such as helping with laundry and cooking. Sometimes children receive a small amount of money from their parents weekly for doing such tasks (my children, however, do not). American parents believe that this will teach children how to handle money, save and appreciate work. Most schools in the United States offer "useful life skills" elective classes for teenagers who learn how to balance costs with income, make a family budget, and study other important topics. nine0003

It is normal for American teenagers to work. About 25% of teens in the US combine their high school education with a job to earn extra money and experience for the future. Some work after school and on weekends during the school year, others only work during the summer. For example, when I was in high school, I worked as a dishwasher at a local hotel. In such jobs, they get basic customer service skills, a sense of responsibility and learn how to allocate time. Such work gives American children the opportunity to earn money for their own expenses - which both children and parents enjoy! nine0003

As a father of two boys, I confirm that we believe that sports are equally important for both boys and girls. Like many American parents, I believe that by playing sports, children learn valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, the importance of trying new things, and the nobility of both winning and losing. We share these values with most of the world - sport is something that truly unites people and increases mutual understanding of both peoples with different cultures and neighbors. Both of my sons are into different sports - football, basketball and baseball - and I have been volunteering to coach their baseball teams for several years, and have been, even while serving in the White House and US Ambassador to Russia. I devoted time to this because one of my main coaching tasks was one that had nothing to do with baseball - I wanted to teach these young people how to play beautifully. And I do not mean by this to teach how to move beautifully on the field. I mean learn to accept defeat and congratulate the opposing team, try to involve the players of your own team in the game more instead of holding the ball and believing that the job is done every time they are on the field. nine0003

Of course, when talking about family matters, a lot of time is devoted to education. In the United States, public schools are free for children from kindergarten through 12th (high school) grade. Most aspects of public education are subordinate to the respective state or city. Therefore, the age of compulsory education in different states is different, but, as a rule, it falls on the period from 14 to 17 years. Public schools are run by local governments through elected school boards, which determine the school curriculum, budgetary expenditures, teaching principles, and employment conditions. Despite this, there are common state and country educational standards and criteria. nine0003

Public schools in the United States are funded jointly by local, state, and federal governments. However, the bulk of the school budget is usually funded by local property taxes, which are levied on owners of land and buildings in the city. This is the source of a big problem for the American public school system - in richer communities and cities, the budget receives more property taxes simply because houses and land are more expensive there. To address this problem, some cities have experimented with sending children to schools outside their locality, allocating funds for tuition in certain private schools and allowing schools to open with their own charter. The school with its charter receives less public funds, but at the same time it has self-government and the right to introduce some of its own principles. (They often raise funds from private sources in their budget.) Children go to such schools at the discretion of their parents, and there they do not charge tuition fees. There is much debate in the US about the value of such schools and whether they offer a successful model of public education. Other debates about our public education include the need to overhaul standardized testing, whether school districts need teacher professional organizations, whether funding should be tied to performance, and whether government oversight of textbook content is needed. For Americans, these are truly real issues, especially for educators and parents, and they are constantly discussed as we strive to improve the public education system all the time. nine0003

Parents in the US are often actively involved in school life. Parent-teacher organizations exist in almost every American school. Members of such an organization collaborate with school administrators and volunteer in classroom projects, field trips, fundraisers, and school events. They often bring a problem to the attention of a school principal or teacher, offer ideas for school projects, and sometimes participate in the formation of school policy. nine0003

Parents' organizations in the USA have been instrumental in changing attitudes towards the education of children in need of special care. For a long time these children were simply taught in separate classes. But today's concept of education, called mainstreaming (inclusion in the general stream), moves children in need of special care into regular classes for a certain time, depending on their level of preparation. Most parents believe that this benefits all children by developing understanding and tolerance in them, as well as giving children in need of special care a better chance of gaining the skills and confidence they need for independent adulthood. nine0003

A story about a family would be incomplete without the theme of child care and preschool education. In the US, families with both parents working have to find someone to take care of their young children during daylight hours. Usually such care is provided either in a private kindergarten or at someone's home, perhaps from relatives, but in most cases not from them. Childcare is a challenge for many American families. Our society is very mobile and families often live far away from grandparents and other more distant relatives. Finding quality and affordable child care is a major challenge for parents. Studies show that the age from birth to five years is the most important for a person's cognitive and social development, so many in the US want to introduce stricter requirements for the programs offered by kindergartens. In the United States, many civic activists and ordinary citizens are fighting for financial assistance for parents to pay for child care and for government regulation of day care centers and child care providers. President Obama also wants to see improvements in preschool and education statistics. He called for increased budgets for federal assistance programs for low-income families with young children. These programs include Head Start, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Care and Development Fund. nine0003

Families all over the world are united by the desire to create the best living conditions for their children. We offer you only a brief outline of the concerns facing American families. I hope that we can offer you useful information and sources that can provide additional knowledge about family life in the United States, as well as about the progress and challenges of our country in this area. After all, we are all united by the desire of all the best for our children.

Raising Children in the United States

I think parents all over the world would agree that raising children is the greatest joy – and greatest challenge – they’ve ever faced. Last Sunday, Americans celebration Father's Day and the personal cards I received from my two sons reminded me of what a joy and blessing it is to be a parent. That I love being a dad does not make me an expert on raising children. There is no one right way to raise children. Living and traveling overseas has been informative for me in seeing various child-rearing styles in other countries and cultures, and realizing what in U.S. culture is unique or different. And because the U.S. is a melting pot of cultures, it is difficult to talk about “typical” American philosophies about family issues. Over the last several months, however, I have read some articles, statements, and tweets about the American way of raising children that simply do not correspond to my own experience or understanding. So, without claiming to offer a comprehensive account of how Americans raise children, I wanted to offer some of my personal observations on this subject. nine0003

American parents tend to value independence, and they want to ensure their children are raised with the self-confidence to be able to strike out on their own and be happy and successful once they are of college age. We want them to have the skills to make good choices in life. In the U.S., contrary to many other countries, children usually move out of their parents’ house when they graduate from high school and go to college or university. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average distance between home and school for American students who attend college in their home state is 189miles for state schools and 349 miles for private schools. Those numbers are even larger for students enrolled in a university outside of their home state. This means that most American college students either have to live in university-provided dormitories or in apartments that they rent (but that their parents normally pay for!). That doesn't mean that the college students are independent of their parents completely. For the most part, parents pay for the costs of the university education and support their children morally and financially while they are in university. Children come home to visit their parents on holiday and summer breaks and keep in regular touch by Skype, email and phone. In the U.S., children don’t normally return home to live with their parents permanently after they have completed university unless they are doing so in an effort to save money. nine0003

Since parents know that their children will be on their own more or less beginning around age 18, they usually try to teach them life skills from a young age. Most parents assign children chores to do around the house that help them learn how to take care of themselves, such as helping with laundry and meals. Children sometimes receive an allowance from their parents – a small amount weekly – in return for doing these chores (my children, however, do not). American parents believe this helps children learn the skill of handling money, the importance of saving, and the value of work. Most American schools offer elective classes on “life skills” for teenagers that discuss balancing their income and spending, making a household budget, and other important topics. nine0003

It's also considered normal for American teenagers to have jobs. About 25% of teens in the U.S. work while they are in high school to earn extra money and experience for the future. Some teenagers work after school and on weekends during the school year; others only work during the summer. For example, when I was in high school I worked as a dishwasher at a local hotel. These jobs teach basic skills such as customer service, responsibility, and time management. They also give American children an opportunity to earn their own spending money, something that both children and parents like to see! nine0003

As a parent of two boys, I can attest to our belief that sports are an important part of childhood for both boys and girls in the United States. Like many American parents, I believe that children learn valuable lessons from participating in sports: how to be part of a team, the payoffs of perseverance, the value of trying new things, and how to behave graciously both when you win and when you lose . This is a value we share with much of the world – sports are something that really bring people together and promote understanding, whether between people of different cultures or people in the same neighborhood. Both of my sons play multiple sports – soccer, basketball, and baseball – and I’ve been a volunteer coach of both their basketball teams over the last several years, even while working at the White House and while serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia. I have made the time because one of my main goals as a coach has nothing to do with basketball skills – it’s to teach these young people how to play with grace. And I don't mean graceful motion on the court. I mean learning how to accept defeat and congratulate the other team, looking for opportunities to involve their fellow players more in the game instead of hogging the ball, and feeling a sense of accomplishment every time they are on the court. nine0003

Education, of course, is a big part of a discussion when talking about family issues. In the United States, public schools are free from kindergarten through 12th grade (the final year of high school). Individual states and cities control most aspects of public education. Therefore, the ages for compulsory education differ by state, although it usually ends anywhere from age 14 to 17. Public schools are run by local governments through elected school boards that determine the curriculum, budget expenditures, teaching policies, and employment terms. Despite this, there are statewide and nationwide educational standards and tests. nine0003

Public schools in the U.S. are funded jointly by local, state and the national government. The bulk of a school’s budget, however, normally comes from local property taxes – these are the taxes charged to landowners and homeowners in a city. As a result, one big challenge in the American public school system is that schools in neighborhoods and cities that are wealthier have larger budgets simply because the homes and land in those areas are worth more, and as a result bring in more property taxes. To solve this problem, some cities have experimented with sending children to schools outside of their neighborhood, funding tuition at certain private schools, and allowing charter schools to open. A charter school receives less public money than other schools and, in exchange, is self-managed and has the freedom to enact some of its own policies. (They often raise funds from private sources to cover their budget.) These schools are attended by choice and cannot charge tuition. There is much debate in the U.S. over the value of charter schools and whether they offer a successful model for public education. Other debates in our public education system include whether we should revamp standardized testing, if teacher unions are valuable to school districts, whether funding should be tied to performance, and if there should be national oversight over textbooks. These are very real issues for Americans, particularly educators and parents, and are debated continuously as we seek constantly to improve public education. nine0003

American parents are often very involved in some of the inner workings of schools. Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) are present in almost every American school. PTOs work in cooperation with school administrative staff members and serve as volunteers in class projects, field trips, fundraising efforts, and events. They often will bring issues to the attention of a principal or teacher, offer ideas for school projects, and sometimes have a say on school policies.

In the United States, parent organizations have been instrumental in changing attitudes towards education for special-needs children. For many years, these children were only taught in separate classrooms. Today, however, a learning concept called “mainstreaming” places special-needs children in regular classes during specific time periods based on their skill level. Most parents believe this benefits all children by fostering understanding and tolerance, and gives special-needs children a better chance at gaining the skills and confidence they need to live independent lives as adults. nine0003

No discussion about families is complete without addressing the issue of childcare and early childhood education. In the U.S., where both parents work have to find someone to take care of their families young children during the day. Typically that's either at a private daycare center or in someone's home, perhaps a family member but more often not. Childcare is a challenge for many American families. We are a very mobile society so often live far away from grandparents and other extended family families members. A major concern for parents is finding high quality and affordable childcare for their children. Studies show that the early years from birth to age five are crucial ones in a child’s cognitive and social development, and as a result of many people in the U.S. want to see more stringent requirements for programs offered by daycare centers. There are many vocal groups in the United States fighting for financial aid for parents to pay for daycare, and government regulation of daycare centers and providers. President Obama wants to see improvements in our early childhood learning statistics as well; he has called for increased budgets in federal assistance programs for low-income families with young children such as the federal Head Start program, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Child Care Child Care and Development Fund.