Early Childhood Focus

Night Child Care Draws Calls, Interest

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:11:07 PST

A call for night child care providers has been answered - more or less - says the Maui coordinator of People Attentive to Children, or PATCH. Ailina Laborte put out the request for night-care-only providers two weeks ago in a story about her agency's efforts to help Maui Police Department civilian and uniformed personnel find child care. She said at the time that of the 90 licensed child-care providers on PATCH's referral list, only three or four did night care.

Universal Preschool Would Give All Kids a Chance To Succeed

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:21:33 PST

Summer vacation is a perfect time to reflect on the achievements of the students who just graduated from high school and to imagine what they will accomplish. It's also a good time to think of the students who didn't make it to the ceremony because they fell behind and dropped out.

Richardson Plans Larger N.M. Child Care Tax Credit

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:12:50 PST

Gov. Bill Richardson proposes to expand a state tax credit for child care expenses.

State Offers Way For Parents to Check Into Child Care

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:27:45 PST

Parents can now search an online database of Wisconsin's 5,700 licensed child-care centers that lists how often each center has violated state laws or been fined in the prior two years.

If We Have The Money, We Should Get More Pre-K Pupils Enrolled

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:12:57 PST

On Tuesday the Georgia Lottery Corporation launched its 15th anniversary celebration with a ceremony at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. Also on Tuesday a report from the Atlanta-based Southern Education Foundation said Georgia which was once a national leader in its pre-kindergarten program was no longer a leader. Other states, like Oklahoma and Kentucky, were doing better.

Parents, Teachers Hail Preschool Plan

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:55:11 PST

"Let the wild rumpus start," said 5-year-old Jane Petit as she and a preschool mate played with cloth characters to act out scenes from Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." As Jane added her own flair to the story, across the Neptune Early Learning Center more than 200 other 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds were also learning, and playing, under the watchful eye of 47 trained and certified staff members.

Child Care Bill Among New Laws

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:07:31 PST

Starting July 1, employees of child-care facilities will be required to sign a statement saying they have not been convicted of a violent crime.

Minimal Regulation of Child Care in N.J.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:46:29 PST

The classroom was noted as being "very dirty," along with the bathroom and hallway floors. Inspectors found a staff member who yelled and cursed at children. And some children were wearing soaked, saturated diapers.

State's Early Childhood Education Praised

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:35:46 PST

Four-year-olds in a state pre-kindergarten program showed dramatic improvements in pre-reading, pre-writing and pre-math skills and outperformed their peers in a similar federal program, a new study shows.

House Education Committee Passes Legislation to Improve Quality of State Pre-School Programs

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:30:03 PST

WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Education and Labor Committee today approved legislation to improve the quality of state pre-school programs, which collectively serve over 1 million young children.

Raising The Bar For Early Education

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:18:48 PST

Many of the teachers who educate San Joaquin County's youngest students are working to earn specialized degrees that policymakers hope will help improve the quality of publicly funded early-childhood education.

Pre-K Essential to Adequate Education

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:30:41 PST

Now is the time. Another generation of students should not be cheated. The S.C. Supreme Court has before it an historic opportunity to decide whether all of South Carolina�s children will have the opportunity to enter school ready to learn.

Bill Gives Young Citizens A Better Start

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:19:17 PST

Louisiana's state legislators have taken the first step in making Louisiana's children a priority by passing Senate Bill 286, legislation that would make all pre-school programs readily available to Louisiana's 4-year-olds by 2013.

New Group Working to Increase Access to Early Education

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:51:38 PST

We are born wired to learn.

By age 3, our brains have one trillion synapses � more than we�ll have in adulthood. By age 6, our brains are 95 percent the size of mom�s and dad�s.

Who Cares About Day Care?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:58:02 PST

Sue Houck's child care business in Wilkinsburg is a rarity -- a small, home-based facility that consistently receives the highest marks from a voluntary statewide rating system.

More Children Can Go To Preschool For Free

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:23:11 PST

More area 4-year-olds will have the opportunity to attend preschool for free this fall, thanks to funding from the state.

Funding For Early Childhood Education in Massachusetts to Increase by $5 million

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:18:10 PST

A top education official said yesterday that early childhood education is a clear priority of the state as reflected in increased funding of a statewide pilot Universal Pre-Kindergarten program.

More Parents Opting For Pre-K Programs

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:04:22 PST

There's a lot for Mandy Leas' students to learn before they get to kindergarten.

National Poll: Nearly 7 in 10 Voters Want More Federal Support for State-funded Pre-K

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:33:46 PST

Pre-K Now today released results of a national poll on voters' views of state and federal support for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The findings reveal broad support for making voluntary pre-k for all children a larger fiscal priority, and suggest that candidates' positions on the issue could influence many Americans' votes this fall.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts a Resounding Success For 11,000 Children

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:48:11 PST

A Department of Education study shows that the inaugural year of Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is working.