Early Childhood Focus

School Starts With Free Pre-K

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:36:01 PST

Next fall, North Arlington will provide free full-day preschool for economically disadvantaged three- and four-year-old children, according to the school district. The district currently offers half-day pre-Kindergarten classes, but will expand the program to six hours per day for 37 students in three classes next year with the help of state funding.

NACCRRA/Smart Horizons Provide Online Learning Opportunities for Child Care Professionals

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:28:21 PST

The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) announces a partnership with Smart Horizons, a division of Advanced Systems Technology, Inc. (AST), a com pany that specializes in the development of computer-based instruction and training. The partnership will enable NACCRRA to provide more than 800 Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) located through out the United States with the technology to facilitate a variety of e-Learning opportunities for child care professionals. These e-Learning opportunities, which will include a 120-hour Child Development Associate (CDA) training, a pre-service training series, and other state licensing requirements and CDA credential renewal requirements, will provide child care professionals with professional development opportunities that research suggests will lead to higher quality child care.

DoD to Deliver More, Improved Child Care

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:35:52 PST

A July 15 ribbon-cutting at Fort Myer, Va., marked the official opening of a new 50,831-square-foot facility that serves children from birth to age 12. The space can serve up to 438 children and has an atrium, activity rooms, computer labs, multipurpose room, kitchen, laundry and space for outdoor activity, post officials reported.

City Council Approves Funding for Pre-K Programs

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:43:34 PST

On June 24, the Alexandria City Council approved $300,000 in funding for the City's early care and education programs. This funding will help ensure that all families who need child care can access it and that all preschool children can receive a quality early education that adequately prepares them for kindergarten. The Council's action also supports Governor Timothy M. Kaine's commitment to providing access to high-quality preschool for more of Virginia's four-year-olds.

Largest DoD Child Care Center Opens at Fort Myer

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:31:09 PST

One won�t have to go far to see the biggest Department of Defense Child care center. Starting next week, it will be located here at Fort Myer.

Early Learning Pays Off: Preschool Kids Score Better After Initiative

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:32:51 PST

Students who took part in a Henry County preschool program earned higher test scores than their peers, according to a report presented to the school board by Dr. Dawn Holley, elementary curriculum specialist.

Early Learning Programs Get Needed Nurture

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:33:51 PST

Although Gov. Timothy M. Kaine did not get all the money he proposed to the 2008 General Assembly to expand early childhood education across Virginia, he did get money to nurture early-learning programs around the state.
And that program has become an active one, leading to pilot projects that show cooperation and intense commitment to provide quality early childhood education in public and private preschools.

Child Care Demand Outpaces Open Slots

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:15:28 PST

It's mid-morning at Rainbow Riders Childcare Center in Blacksburg, and seven toddlers are making a run on a collection of telephone receivers strewn across the Orange Room's brightly colored carpet.

Parents Weigh Child Care Options Online

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:32:14 PST

A new mother, Poli Marinova set out to find the best possible day-care provider for her infant son. She had little trouble finding a list of nearby caregivers, but she discovered there was no easy way to check their track records in Maryland.

Tighter Child Care Provider Regulations

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:49:52 PST

A bill tightening regulation for Virginia child care providers is moving forward in the House of Delegates.

Budget Plan Would Raise Low-Income Assistance

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:27:17 PST

Hundreds of low-income families in Virginia stand to receive long-awaited subsidies to help pay for child care under a proposal included in Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's budget.

Child Care Advocates Push for Vouchers

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:02:36 PST

Advocates for low-income families waiting for state vouchers to help pay for child care in Fairfax County have started an aggressive push to increase funding for the state and federal program.

Kaine Offers Plan to Boost Preschool

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:59:09 PST

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine presented his plan last week to expand state-funded preschool to a group of Northern Virginia educators, business leaders and politicians, a trial run for the pitch he'll make to lawmakers when the General Assembly convenes in January.

HHS Picks Nonprofit For Head Start Grant

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:41:53 PST

Kaine's preschool expansion to include private, religious centers

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:48:31 PST

An expansion of preschool could accommodate an additional 17,000 low-income 4-year-olds within five years, partly through state reimbursements to church-run and private early childhood programs, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Thursday.

A safe place for kids

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:53:03 PST

Denise Davila and Patrice Morrison have visited plenty of Peninsula day care centers where they say they would never leave their children.

Their hunt for good day care has brought them face-to-face with centers filled with unsupervised youngsters, overwhelmed staff and unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

System in the works to rate child care

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:18:27 PST

Most people are familiar with a five-star hotel or restaurant, but what are the qualities of a five-star child care center?

Kaine pressing forward with prekindergarten plans

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:16:13 PST