"Almost half of the 4.9 million women who are heads of families work outside the home. Forty-eight percent of women family heads have children under 18 years of age; another 10 percent are responsible for sisters, brothers, or other relatives under 18 years."

"Throughout its deliberations, the commission has kept in mind certain women who have special disadvantages. Among head of families in the United States, I in 10 is a woman. At least half of them are carrying responsibility for both earning the family's living and making the family's home. Their problems are correspondingly greater; their resources usually less."

In nearly half a million families with children under six years, the mother is frequently the sole support....

Close to 1 of every 10 families in California was headed by a woman in 1959. More than 40 percent of these families headed by a female had an annual income under $3,000, compared with about !! percent of the husband-wife families or those headed by a male. Children under 18 were present in more than two-thirds of the women-headed families with incomes under $3,000 and in about one-third of the other families in this income group.

"Among nonwhite families. 17 percent had women as their heads: 62 percent of these women-headed families had incomes below the $3.000 level: and more than threefourths of these low-income families headed by women. had children present under age 18."

(Note: Based on 1960 U.S. census)

SOUTH LOS ANGELES-A predominantly Negro section consisting of the Watts, Central, Avalon, Florence. Green Meadows, Exposition, and Willowbrook

areas.

"When women, with less earning power than men, are forced to assume the role of family breadwinner, both they and their children are very often reduced to a life of poverty. In 1960, persons in families headed by a woman already represented 19 percent of all persons living in family groups in South Los Angeles. By 1965. the proportion had grown to 26 percent."

"More than one-quarter of all families in South Los Angeles had incomes below the 'poverty level' in 1965. The yardstick used by the Census Bureau to measure the poverty level is the index developed by the Social Security Administration. It takes into account such factors as family size and the ages of children in the family as well as money income. In this index, $3,130 is the 'poverty level' for a family of four.

"In the Watts area, 42 percent of all families had incomes below the poverty level in 1965. Almost onethird of all families in Central and Avalon had incomes below the poverty level. Among families headed by a woman, the situation was much worse: two-thirds of all persons living in families headed by a woman in Watts and 60 percent of those in Central, Avalon, Florence and Green Meadows had incomes below the poverty level."

Families

Persons in families

Percent with income below poverty level

Median income,

Percent below poverty

level

family

head of family

EAST LOS ANGELES-An area in which Mexican Americans (or persons of Spanish surname) predominate, covering Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, and City Terrace.

"The proportion of persons living in families headed by a woman was about the same in 1965 (17 percent) as in 1960 (16 percent)...."

"In 1965, almost one-quarter of all families in East Los Angeles had incomes below the 'poverty level' index developed by the Social Security Administration. Among persons in families headed by a woman, half were in households where the 1965 income was below the poverty level...."

The Sooner City Nursery School and Kindergarten staff provides care and training for children whose ages range from two weeks to five years.

The nursery school and kindergarten operate on the same schedule as the University of Oklahoma, opening in September and continuing through the summer session. They are closed on university holidays.

As auxiliary enterprises of the university, the nursery school and kindergarten are supported solely by fees paid by parents. The childcare service is offered on a nonprofit basis to students, faculty and staff members, and to other parents when space available.

Priorities for Admission

is

Parents' requests for the services of the nursery school and kindergarten are met on the following priority basis:

(1) Families in which both parents are attending the university.

(2) Families in which one parent is attending the university and the other is employed.

(3) University staff and faculty members.

(4) Parents not connected with the university.

Brothers and sisters of children enrolled, and children returning after previous enrollments are accepted ahead of other applicants. In order to keep his place, a child must attend during the fall and spring semesters and the summer session.

Application Procedure

A child's name is placed on the waiting list for his particular age group. When his name is reached, the parents are notified and asked to fill out application forms.

Operational Procedures

The baby houses are divided into three age groups. Each house is supervised by a woman qualified in practical nursing

who is assisted by two full-time employees and one part-time employee.

Nursery I accommodates 17 children whose ages range from two weeks to six months; nursery II, 17 children from six months to one year; nursery III, 20 children from one year to 19 months.

The nursery school is divided into two groups. Each is supervised by a nursery school teacher who is assisted by two full-time employees and one part-time employee. Class I acccmmodates 25 all-day students and three half-day students ranging in age from 20 months to 27 months. Class II accommodates 30 all-day students and four half-day students whose age is approximately 21⁄2 years.

The preschool division also has two units. The three-yearold students' room takes 29 all-day students and five half-day students. The teacher has three assistants in the morning and two in the afternoon. The four-year-old students' room has 26 all-day students and eight half-day students and is supervised by a teacher who is assisted by one full-time employee and two part-time employees.

The kindergarten accommodates 34 all-day students and 12 half-day students and is supervised by a teacher.

In the nursery school and kindergarten, the morning is devoted to a directed program which is followed by lunch, a nap period, and directed play. Children who enroll for a half-day attend during the morning.

Fees

Monthly charges for all children are $45 for all day; $35 for half day with lunch, and $30 for half day without lunch. If a child is absent as long as two weeks because of illness, a refund equal to one week's tuition is made.