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Jackie Mader
@jackiemader
Senior Early Childhood Reporter @hechingerreport. Mom of two, former special ed teacher. 2023-24 Spencer Fellow. Tips/story ideas: [email protected]
Austin, TX
hechingerreport.org/earlychildhood/
Joined June 2009
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Dec 3, 2024
    For the past year, I've been tracking a quiet wave of child care deregulation efforts. The consequences of these policies for underpaid, overworked early educators, as well as America's children (during a pivotal time of brain development), are stark:
    The dark future of American child care
    From hechingerreport.org
    3.7K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    We were trapped in Lake Lure near #Asheville this weekend with three kids, no power, no phone service and a dwindling food supply. We only got out because some amazing souls led us through backroads for two hours to help us get to a freeway before that route flooded over
    00:00
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    Replying to @jackiemader
    We were so lucky to happen upon this gas station with a working generator. The owners let us warm up food for our kids and fill up on gas
    93K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    Replying to @jackiemader
    We were so truly fortunate to get out. I cannot overstate the severity of devastation in western NC. Please don’t forget about them.
    84K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    Replying to @CerShar
    One of their cousins had just gotten out that way so they took us on that same route. Otherwise there’s no way we would have found out way (we kept hitting flooded roads on our own). We crossed a bridge that was about to flood so we feel we just barely made it
    52K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    Replying to @mamlam
    The best people. We are so grateful
    50K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Aug 9, 2024
    Everything I've written about the new rigors of kindergarten & the death of play hits harder when I look at my youngest child's kinder schedule and see only one recess, near the very end of the day, ending an hour before they go home 🤯
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 18, 2024
    My 5yr old's kindergarten teacher has a classroom job,the "meteorologist," who is in charge of pushing open the room's window and sticking their head out to check the weather each day. She does this not for weather, but so they each know how to open the window &escape a shooting
    9.5K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 29, 2024
    It’s really hard when all the options are extremely dangerous and you’re stuck with no safe or good options and no way to reach anyone for help or advice, isn’t it? I hope you and yours are safe and well.
    29K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Sep 27, 2022
    Just got offered a child care spot off a waitlist I signed up for (+ gave a deposit to) in January 2019 when I was about 6 months pregnant. That child is now 3.5 years old 🙃.
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Dec 20, 2021
    In the 9 years since I wrote my first early ed article, it's never felt more appropriate to describe the state of child care as "extremely dire" than right now. It's pretty much the only phrase that feels appropriate after recent conversations with providers and parents
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Apr 11, 2024
    I’ve spent the last four days reporting on early childhood in Norway and it has been the most refreshing and fascinating experience of my decade+ as a journalist. Thank you to all who spoke to me and connected me with barnehages. Stay tuned for the story!
    26K
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Dec 7, 2022
    "Every working woman perceives the day-care dilemma as her own problem.. she’s been made to feel that if she ‘chooses’ to work, it’s her responsibility..(The truth is that no one’s doing us a favor by allowing us to work. Without female labor.. this country would grind to a halt"
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    Jackie Mader
    @jackiemader
    Jul 19, 2023
    I'm in Vancouver B.C. visiting child care centers and so far I have seen 0 babies in the "infant" rooms (across 5 centers) because of the country's maternal/parental leave. One admin told me it's rare to get a child younger than 12 mos. Such a stark contrast from American centers
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