After the last time these new draft standards were proposed, the public and childcare providers gave overwhelmingly negative feedback that the new proposed standards would:

• increase costs significantly
• cause centers to close
• increase administrative tasks without a corresponding increase in quality or safety
• kill joy in the classroom in ways that make no sense (we will have to get rid of our class parakeet, the zoological program we have that brings reptiles will be cancelled, our sandbox will have to be closed because it's too big to be covered, water play in the summer will have to be severely limited, etc.)

You kept all of the provisions that cause these problems. We warned you. If you don't change them this time, you will be responsible for the continued deterioration of this field. I wish you could be present to see the broken hearts when I tell my kids about their class parakeet. Shame on you.