[ONLINE] - Designing Universal Early Care and Learning in the United States: Lessons from Quebec
Event
In 1997, the Canadian province of Quebec invested in creating a universal child care system, guaranteeing a spot for every child who needed one for $5 Canadian a day. Now, the Canadian government is proposing to build on the Quebec model in order to offer universal child care across the country for $10 Canadian ($8.03 US) a day. But some scholars and policymakers who prefer the U.S. market-based approach argue that, while women’s laborforce participation rose, the Quebec model is a “bad deal” for kids.
As President Biden proposes major investment in child care infrastructure and a number of universal early care and learning bills begin to circulate in Congress, what are the real lessons the United States can and should learn from Quebec?
New America’s Better Life Lab and Early and Elementary Education Policy programs are hosting a panel of experts from Canada and the United States who can help provide answers and discuss the way forward for an equitable, high-quality universal child care system here.
Join the conversation online by using #UniversalECE and following @NewAmericaEd and @BetterLifeLab.
Agenda
Welcome and Intro
- Laura Bornfreund, Director, Early & Elementary Education
Panel Discussion
- Catherine Haeck, Associate Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
- Brenda Jones Harden, Alison Richman Professor for Children and Families, University of Maryland
- Elliot Haspel, Program Officer, Robins Foundation
- Christa Japel, Associate Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
- Brigid Schulte, Director of the Better Life Lab (moderator)
Q&A
Concluding Remarks
- Laura Bornfreund, Director, Early & Elementary Education
- Brigid Schulte, Director of the Better Life Lab