Experts say the military’s child-care system has improved by quantum leaps over the past 15 years — ever since Congress responded to years of accusations against the system by passing the 1989 Military Child Care Act.

Military child care started as drop-in, hourly care at “nurseries” to serve volunteer workers and military spouses attending social events on bases, according to the Military Family Resource Center’s Military Children and Youth. Operated by private organizations, the nurseries often were housed in converted stables, Quonset huts, basements and attics.

In 1982, the General Accounting Office reported that the military family child-care program did not meet fire, safety or health standards and operated absent oversight, according to Military Resource Center. At the same time, DOD experienced several highly publicized child-abuse allegations.

Congress held hearings in 1988 and the following year, passed the MCCA. The new law resulted in the first DOD policy for child development programs, aggressive enforcement through inspections and oversight, and the tying of wages to successful training and performance.

More than a decade later, the DOD child-care system is being touted as a model. The Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute, in a July 2003 report, credited the military’s success to factors including strict licensing, accreditation and oversight.

Centers, the report stated, are subject to four unannounced inspections per year — one by higher-ranking headquarters personnel.

More than nine in 10 military child-care centers are accredited by the Washington, D.C.-based National Association for the Education of Young Children. The ratio for civilian centers: one in 10. The military requires this certificate and helps centers cover costly fees for on-site visits, evaluations and study materials.

Children’s health and safety is the most important aspect of accreditation, said Kim Means, senior director, NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation. “Beyond that, we look at the children’s experience, their relationship with the teachers, the curriculum. If those things are high-quality, then the program can be accredited. … By and large, the military child development community has really embraced the process.”

Experts also laud military child care for its staff training and pay. To keep their jobs, providers must complete 15 modules of child development training within 18 months of being hired. They also must undergo annual training in CPR, first aid, positive guidance techniques and other skills. Child-care providers at Pacific military installations can earn beginning wages of from $8 to $9 per hour, working up to more than $12 per hour as they progress through training.

“The military has done a good job of trying to professionalize the position of child-care provider,” said Gail Zellman, senior research psychologist with RAND Corp. “The pay is tied to training milestones. You can continue training if you move to another base. They really worked hard to make it more of a profession than a casual job.”

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