Early Education Clips for Week of January 12-15
Here’s a sampling of early childhood education in the news this week:
TOP STORY
Early Learning and ESEA Reauthorization As the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee prepares to take up legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), advocates, leaders and policymakers are calling on Congress to strengthen provisions in the law that would better integrate early childhood education and K-12 instruction. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan outlined the Administration’s priorities for ESEA in a speech that included a call for new pre-K and early learning enhancements. FFYF Executive Director Kris Perry was on hand for Duncan’s speech and issued a statement on FFYF’s perspective on ESEA reauthorization. Read the full statement here.
Read More:
Education Groups, Leaders Weigh in on Duncan’s Speech – The Washington Post
Education Secretary Outlines Central Federal Role in Policy – The Wall Street Journal
Supporting Early Learners in ESEA – Ed Central
Alexander Starts No Child Left Behind Rewrite – Daily News Journal (Tennessee)
Senator Patty Murray Outlines NCLB Reauthorization Priorities – Education Week
OTHER NATIONAL NEWS
U.S. Department of Education’s Early Education Chief Highlights Progress, Optimistic for Future In an interview with Education Week, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning Libby Doggett points to progress made in early childhood education, including new public-private investments and outlines the components of a well-integrated education system for children from birth to age five (and their families). Read More at Education Week.
FROM THE STATES
INDIANA: Pence Touts Pre-K in State of the State Address Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Pence touted the state’s first-ever pre-K pilot program and a new $10 million annual investment in scholarships for low-income families, “because every Hoosier child deserves to start school ready to learn.” Read More.
NORTH DAKOTA: Bill to Provide State Funds for Pre-K Debated in North Dakota Senate Legislation introduced by State Senator Tim Flakoll (R-Fargo) to provide preschool subsidies to 6,000 children is being considered by the state legislature. The bill has bipartisan support and would allocate approximately $6 million in annual funding to establish North Dakota’s first publicly-funded early childhood education program. Read More.
WASHINGTON: Governor Inslee Proposes Largest-Ever State Investment in Early Learning In his State of the State address this week, Governor Jay Inslee laid out his plan to provide $79.8 million for an additional 6,300 preschool slots, $4 million for the state’s Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program and $107.6 million for full-day kindergarten statewide. Read More.
TEXAS: New Governor Wants to Tackle Pre-K Expansion Newly-elected Governor Greg Abbott outlined his priorities for the coming term, including improvements to the state’s pre-K program. Abbott campaigned on his support for early childhood education. Read More.
CALIFORNIA: Preschool Expanding in San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced he will expand the City’s Preschool for All program, providing 860 more families a year with public preschool enrollment. Read More.