Early Education Clips for Week of October 20 – 24
Here’s a sampling of early childhood education in the news this week:
TOP STORY
New State Polling Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for Early Childhood Education Results from new state polls this week show solid support by majorities of voters for increased investments in high-quality early learning. Polls were conducted in the key battleground states of Ohio, Florida and Colorado by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies for FFYF. Results of a similar poll of Washington voters from Thrive by Five Washington were also released.
Read More:
Polls Show Early Education Popular in Battleground States – Education Week
If Everyone Wants Preschool, Why Isn’t it Growing? – National Journal
Republicans and Democrats Support Early Learning Heading Into the 2014 Election – Thrive By Five Washington
OTHER NATIONAL NEWS
FFYF and Partnership for 21st Century Skills Host Panel on High-Quality Early Learning Programs This week on Capitol Hill, a panel of experts detailed the elements of high-quality preschool programs, including methods that develop creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking – skills that will be vital in the 21st century economy. Read More at Education Week.
Early Childhood Education Boosts Lifetime Academic, Economic Achievement A new paper finds that investments in early education can pay for themselves through substantial increases in students’ educational and economic achievement over the course of their lives. The paper by Katherine Magnuson of the University of Wisconsin and Greg Duncan of the University of California – Irvine was presented at a research conference on income inequality sponsored by the Boston Fed. Read More at the Wall Street Journal.
Secretary Duncan Says Time to Debate Preschool Is Over At a conference of early learning advocates in California this week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that the value of preschool has been well established and now the focus must shift to expanding access for young children. Read More at Southern California Public Radio.
Bipartisan Work on Child Care Policy a Good Sign for Compromise in Congress The bipartisan negotiation to reach an agreement on legislation reauthorizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program shows that Congress can find ways to work together across party lines say David Gray of the New America Fund and Grace Reef of the Early Learning Policy Group. Read More at The Hill.
High-Quality Pre-K Programs Use Meaningful Play In an op-ed for the New York Times, President of Bank Street College Shael Polakow-Suransky and Nancy Nager, Professor of Education and Child Development outline the elements of a high-quality, developmentally-appropriate education for 4-year-olds. Read More at the New York Times.
FROM THE STATES
NORTH CAROLINA: Police Chief Calls for Investments in Early Education Greenville Police Chief Hassan Aden cites recent FFYF polling in North Carolina urging state and federal lawmakers to increase funding for high-quality early learning programs in the state. Read More.
TENNESSEE: Governor Seeks Federal Pre-K Funding Republican Governor Bill Haslam’s administration has applied for a $70 million U.S. Department of Education Preschool Development Grant. If selected, Tennessee will use the grant money to expand early childhood education in Nashville and Shelby County. Read More.
NEW YORK: Congressman Hanna Calls for Increased Head Start Funding Republican Congressman Richard Hanna visited a Head Start program in Utica and promoted legislation to increase funding for Head Start. Read More.
WISCONSIN: Lessons From Other States Can Help Wisconsin Plan for Universal Pre-K An OnMilwaulkee.com column urges local leaders to take steps toward high-quality, universal pre-K in Wisconsin, looking to New York City and Chicago for guidance on funding and rolling out the program. Read More.