Here’s a sampling of early childhood education in the news for the week of August 4-8:

TOP STORY

Early Childhood Advocates Push to Build a “Preschool Nation” This week, hundreds of advocates from across the country attended the first-ever Preschool Nation Summit where participants shared strategies for building on preschool investments at the local and state level. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered the keynote address, sharing his experience of winning support for universal public pre-K, which kicks off this fall. Following the Mayor’s address, FFYF Executive Director Kris Perry participated in a panel focused on leveraging the momentum in the states to secure federal investments from Congress.

Read More:

‘Preschool Nation:’ Summit Weighs State of Early Education – Education Week

De Blasio Cheers on National Pre-K Movement – WNYC

OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

HHS Awards More than $106 Million to States for Voluntary Home Visit Programs This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $106 million to 46 states, the District of Columbia and five jurisdictions. The grants are through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, established by the Affordable Care Act. Read more at National Journal.

Democratic Governors Talk Early Education at Aspen Institute A panel of Democratic governors talked of the need to expand early childhood education and other ways to improve education throughout the country. The panel at the Aspen Institute was part of the McCloskey Speaker Series. Participating in the panel were governors Jay Nixon of Missouri, Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Peter Shumlin of Vermont, Mark Dayton of Minnesota and John Hickenlooper of Colorado. Read More at the Aspen Times.

Expanded Access to Preschool Can Help Parents Learn, Too The Washington Post featured a preschool program at DC’s Briya Public Charter School that enrolls parents and young children in school together. Advocates and researchers are finding that a “dual-generation” approach may do more to reduce poverty in vulnerable communities. Read more at the Washington Post.

FROM THE STATES

INDIANA: GOP Mayor of Indianapolis Pushes New $50 Million Preschool Plan Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was joined this week by Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee to promote Mayor Ballard’s initiative to expand high-quality preschool to 1,300 four-year olds from low income families and communities with high crime rates. Read More.

NEW YORK: New York City Gears up for Enrollment of 33,000 Full Day Pre-K Students Organizers in New York City continue to work door-to-door to sign up 4 year olds for the City’s new pre-K programs while preschool directors are hiring staff to meet the demand. Read More.