Measuring the demand for early childhood education becomes mandatory, every year, for managers in the Federal District (DF) and municipalities in cooperation with states. Law 14,851/2024, approved by the National Congress and sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, also establishes that carrying out the survey becomes a priority criterion in the allocation of federal resources to finance the expansion of places available in daycare centers for children. up to three years of age.
In April, the civil society organization Todos pela Educação (TPE) released a study carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), which showed that there are 2.3 million children without access to daycare centers throughout the country. . The study also revealed that only 40% of children up to 3 years of age have access to early childhood education, below the target of 50% established by the National Education Plan (Law 13,005/2014).
According to the new law, municipal public authorities and the DF must keep information about this demand updated every year. The system to carry out the survey must be developed in conjunction with public bodies that work on policies and mapping health, social assistance and child protection demands.
The tool should also allow monitoring of the child’s permanence in the education system, especially beneficiaries of income transfer programs, such as Bolsa Família, for example.
The deadlines and procedures established by municipalities, such as active search strategies for children, must be disclosed, including electronically, as defined by law. And, based on the results, waiting lists will be organized with priority criteria for meeting demand, respecting territorial definitions, socioeconomic situation and single parenthood.
The unmet demand for places in daycare centers should also result in planning to expand the supply of places in early childhood education.
The text of the new law is published in this Monday’s edition (6) of Official Diary of the Union.
