Early Education Clips for Week of November 3-7
Here’s a sampling of early childhood education in the news this week:
TOP STORY
Early Learning Ballot Initiatives Pass in Denver, Seattle Voters in two major cities approved measures that will support publicly-funded preschool programs. In Denver, voters approved a tax increase to help pay preschool tuition for the city’s 4-year-olds and extended the tax through 2026. Seattle voters approved a new plan to fund a city-subsidized preschool program with a $58 million property tax levy. The Seattle proposal also raises academic standards and salaries for preschool teachers.
Read More:
Preschool Program Will Continue to Fund Tuition for Denver 4-Year-Olds – Denver Post
Property Tax Levy for City-Subsidized Preschool Wins Big – Seattle Times
OTHER NATIONAL NEWS
Ed Central Forecasts Future of Early Childhood Education Policy After Midterms A look forward on early education policy at the federal, state and local level in the wake of Tuesday’s election results. Read More at Ed Central.
Obama Says Early Childhood Education a Potential Area of Cooperation with GOP After the Republicans won control of the Senate on Election Day, President Obama said in a White House press conference that investments in early learning could be an issue of potential agreement between his Administration and the GOP Congress. Read More at the Chicago Sun-Times.
New Report Finds 33 States Expanded Access to Child Care Assistance in 2013 The National Women’s Law Center released a report on changes states made to increase the amount of child care assistance or improve access to their programs. Read More at Education Week.
FROM THE STATES
INDIANA: Indianapolis City Council Leaders Reach Deal to Fund Preschool About $40 million will be invested in public preschool for Indianapolis over the next five years under an agreement reached this week by City Council leaders. The plan must now be approved by the full City Council. Read More.
ILLINOIS: Chicago City Council Approves Mayor’s Plan to Expand Early Education Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to finance preschool programs with $17 million in “social impact bonds” was passed by the Chicago City Council this week. Read More.
CONNECTICUT: New State Pre-K Standards Take Effect The State of Connecticut released a new set of developmentally-appropriate education guidelines for children birth to age five. Read More.
MICHIGAN: New Advisory Council Will Review Early Childhood Education Policies The Michigan Department of Education appointed an 18-member panel that will make policy recommendations to improve early childhood programs in the state. Read More.