Pending [Colorado] state child-care regs split hairs, raise eyebrows

[Pepper]

Colorado News Agency:

Pending state child-care regs split hairs, raise eyebrows
Debi Brazzale / Colorado News Agency
Jul 11th, 2011

- Each type of art material shall have a minimum of 10 pieces (10 paints, 10 paint brushes, 10 crayons, etc.)
- Each classroom shall have at least two sets of blocks with a minimum of 10 blocks per set
- Each classroom shall have a variety of at least five accessories for each block set and representative of people, animals, transportation, etc.
- All doll collections shall have three races represented
- At least 10 visual displays around the classroom—not in one place —with two representing nature realistically and two presenting diversity in a positive way.
- Whole milk and sweetened drinks are not allowed and computer time is restricted 20 minutes a day.



Exacting new state rules proposed for child-care centers in Colorado have been put to public scrutiny in recent months through a series of meetings and opportunities for feedback—and are getting push-back.
The pending regulations have raised hackles by dictating a range of details—from how many sets of building blocks a classroom must have to how many races must be represented in its doll collection. Also under the draft rules, whole milk would be verboten and computer time limited to 20 minutes a day.
The regulations, published in March by the Department of Human Services’ Child Care Division, expand on current rules that have been evolving since 2000, when the legislature required the department to identify best practices in child care and to establish statewide rules.



Yet, that has some lawmakers wondering if the rules go too far. Some even accuse the department of micromanagement.
“This is nanny government in every sense,” said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. “Telling child care providers how many crayons that must have available, and disallowing the consumption of whole milk without a note from a doctor is ridiculous.”
Lundberg further contends that the proposed rules would homogenize the centers as well as render them unaffordable.
“It does not allow any diversity in child-care centers,” he said. “Reducing day-care centers to a one-size-fits-all scenario increases the cost of doing business and will price many families out of their day care options.”
The skepticism is not limited to the GOP. At least one Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Irene Aguilar, of Denver, expressed her concerns with the proposed rules, saying they seem to be over-reaching.
“It’s hard for me not to have some concerns about this,” said Aguilar. “There’s a fine line between insuring public health and safety and creating a regulatory environment that becomes burdensome. This feels like micromanagement. We can give advice, but it’s ultimately up to the parents and child-care providers to decide what’s best.”


- Each type of art material shall have a minimum of 10 pieces (10 paints, 10 paint brushes, 10 crayons, etc.)
- Each classroom shall have at least two sets of blocks with a minimum of 10 blocks per set
- Each classroom shall have a variety of at least five accessories for each block set and representative of people, animals, transportation, etc.
- All doll collections shall have three races represented
- At least 10 visual displays around the classroom—not in one place —with two representing nature realistically and two presenting diversity in a positive way.
- Whole milk and sweetened drinks are not allowed and computer time is restricted 20 minutes a day.



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[Casino67]

I think the rules were written by ten idiots.

[Pepper]

I think the rules were written by ten idiots.

Maybe there will be enough pressure to remove these proposed regulations.

[SrWoodchuck]

I think the rules were written by ten idiots.

Maybe there will be enough pressure to remove these proposed regulations.

Unfortunately, since being as a target state that needed to be "purple" to elect "The Great American Tragedy," Colorado is filled with liberal idjits & nanny state do-gooder's. My hope is to remove the regulations & the regulators at the same time, but we'll need support from conservatives to match the billions spent by Soros & others to get that done. Californication & liberal insanity is running amok!

[clearvision]

All kids must have alternatives to any activity they do not want to do.

 

So now the kids learn another unrealistic life lesson.

[pollyannaish]

One little, two little, three little bureaucrats,

four little, five little, six little bureaucrats,

seven little, eight little, nine little bureaucrats,

ten little bureaucrat meddlers.

 

(Election)

 

Ten little, nine little, eight little bureaucrats,

seven little, six little, five little bureaucrats,

four little, three little, two little bureaucrats,

one little unemployed bureaucrats.