Early Childhood Focus

Raising the Bar for Child Care Education

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:10:31 PST

Northeast Colorado Child Care Resource and Referral (NCCCRR), a program of the Rural Communities Resource Center and a Qualistar Early Learning Partner, has raised the bar for delivering information and referrals to families seeking child care in Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma Counties. Sheila Anzlovar, program director, announced today that NCCCRR has attained Child Care Aware� Quality Assurance, national recognition for its high-quality family services. NCCCRR is one of only 7 of the 17 Qualistar Early Learning Partners to have achieved this recognition.

Yonkers Report : Prekindergarten Boosts Achievement

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:24 PST

A new report by the Yonkers school district reveals that children who attended prekindergarten perform significantly better on state tests.

Gates Foundation Invests $2 M in WA Early Learning

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:55:44 PST

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $2 million over two years to five Washington school districts to help them work with preschools to better prepare kids for kindergarten.

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.

High Marks For PRE-K School

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:23:53 PST

It's an issue South Dakota legislators have debated several times in the past few years. New data may give lawmakers the extra push to create voluntary pre-k standards for providers to follow. Last session, the legislature killed a bill that would have set voluntary standards for such programs.

Early Childhood Education Leads to Financial Success

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:19:02 PST

You probably know that the more education you have, the more you are likely to earn. Did you know that some economists say social skills learned in early childhood are important to acquiring that education? Let's see how the two are related.

Omaha Schools Benefit From $1.7 Million Grant

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:23:11 PST

Early childhood education is getting a big boost in Omaha thanks to a $1.7 million endowment fund.

Pre-K for All Comes to the District

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:40:02 PST

All children ages three and four in the District will soon have access to high quality pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) programs, thanks to the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2008, which was passed by the D.C. City Council in July. City officials are working to ensure that all District children have access to these programs by 2014.

N.D. Receives Largest Early Literacy Grant

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:59:03 PST

North Dakota received the largest 2008 Early Reading First grant in the nation, totaling more than $5.6 million to be distributed over the next three years.

Learning, Early and Often

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:14:49 PST

SURROUNDED by smiling children, Governor Patrick signed a bill last month that cements the state's commitment to building a universal preschool program.

3-, 4-Year-Olds to Get Full-Day Preschool

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:32:07 PST

The township's school district will be the first district in Ocean County to offer full-day preschool under new state-wide mandates. The state wants to enroll about 70,000 children in early preschool by 2014, which will cost $330 million.

A New Approach to Early Childhood Education

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:38:09 PST

Mountain Road School is looking at young children through a new lens. Beginning in the fall, its preschool program will reflect what is known as the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education.

Communities Get $1.7 Million for Early Childhood Education

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:26:48 PST

The research is clear: Babies whose mommies and daddies talk to them, read to them and bathe them in language are more likely to succeed at school.

Preschool Program is Vital for Mississippi

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:08:12 PST

David Kirp is sold on early childhood education ("Bounds still making a case for pre-kindergarten in Miss.," July 29). Author of The Sandbox Investment and professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy, Kirp has been meeting with community and business leaders around the country and talking about how early childhood education must be a priority for America.

New Early Education Bill Lauded

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:24:23 PST

Gov. Deval Patrick Thursday officially signed into law An Act Relative to Early Education and Care, laying the groundwork for important advances in early childhood education.

Editorial: Formative Years Key in Education

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:55:06 PST

It doesn't take a Harvard symposium to tell us that early influences affect a child's ability to learn and function in society, but it doesn't hurt to have the reminder. It's good that a team of Louisiana legislators, advisers and educators did some important fact-finding by attending the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child at Harvard University in late June.

Free Pre-K Program Booming

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:47:36 PST

Parents in Cape Coral and across the region just can't get enough free education for their 4- and 5-year-olds. And day care centers, public and private schools, and licensed private childhood educators just can't sign up fast enough to meet parents' demand for Voluntary Prekindergarten classes.

The Future of Our Children Depends on Funding Preschools Now

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:20:24 PST

When a police officer has to make an arrest or gather evidence at a crime scene, far too often he sees a small child lingering in the background.

Preschool Shapes Our Future Leaders

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:41:14 PST

EARLIER this summer, I spoke to some recent graduates, adorned in their bright blue caps and gowns, clutching diplomas tied with blue ribbons. But these pint-sized graduates weren't going onto college or to new careers - they were headed to kindergarten.

Congresswoman Hirono Honored as National 'Pre-K Champion' of 2008

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:17:10 PST

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) was honored Wednesday as a 2008 �Pre-K Champion� by Pre-K Now, a national preschool advocacy organization established in 2005. �In the past, we have only honored states with the Pre-K Champion Award; this is the first time that we have presented the Award to an individual member of congress.