***UPDATE (for those of you who have asked...)

The College's proposed changes to the adult:child ratios would be:

For Infants (3-23 months) an increase from 1:3 to 1:4, meaning two adults caring for up to 8 infants rather than 6, and

For preschool (3-5 years) an increase from 1:8 to 1:10, meaning two adults caring for up to 20 pre-K children rather than 16.

The ratios for the toddlers are not proposed to change, and would stay at 1:4.

The most recent proposal from the Classified Federation Bargaining Team is to put a hold on these changes for 2 years and evaluate the need (in a collaborative group) for changes after the first year, which would hopefully give some time for enrollment to recover from the pandemic.***

The Portland Community College Sylvania Campus Child Care Center is one of the premiere laboratory child care centers and not only cares for and educates the children of our community, but serves as a lab for the Early Childhood Education program at PCC.

Without consultation with the mentor teachers who work directly with the children and the ECE Students, the college attempted to change the adult to child ratios - from the best practice ratios taught in the program to ratios at or near the maximum allowed by law - citing a "more realistic" environment for the students. 

Signing this petition will show the college administration that you support safe and effective ratios that allow the program students to practice and learn in an environment that not only provides the best care for the children and provides a more effective learning environment for the students, but also models the best practices that we want to see in our communities. Ratios are one of the biggest factors in a parent's decision on where to send their children!