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| September 4, 2008 | Former
Head Start director remembered as "one
of the finest" For about 30 years, Harold "Mac" McKeever served Genesee County's low-income families and children. "Mac lived Head Start," said Steve Walker, director of Genesee County Community Action Resource Development. "He was seen as one of the finest Head Start directors in the country." McKeever, 61, of Flint Township died Friday. Flint Journal |
| September 2, 2008 | Child
Beatings in Early Ed Classrooms What is really shocking to us at Early Ed Watch is that many of the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch-some as young as nine years old--reported the use of corporal punishment beginning in pre-kindergarten. Regardless of one's views on the use of corporal punishment in the home, there are serious problems with the use of corporal punishment in schools, and it is unconscionable that some schools allow paddling of children as young as three or four. New America Foundation |
| September 2, 2008 | Community
connections: Healthier children is focus of conference A conference on obesity in children is scheduled for Sept. 27 and is aimed at parents, preschool educators, child-care providers and anyone concerned with children's health. Sessions will include learning about outdoor activities, cooking with children, creative menus and snacks, and the emotional issues of overweight children. Detroit Free Press |
| September 2, 2008 | Stressed
moms raise fat kids Millions of poor children in the United States may be getting fat before age 10 because their mothers are stressed out and the youngsters seek escape in unhealthy comfort food, researchers said on Tuesday. The stress is rooted in poverty and can be brought on by money woes, work loads, insufficient health insurance and other factors, said Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, who led the study. World News Network |
| August 29, 2008 | Long
Division: The Debate Over the Value of Preschool Parents and policy makers have long debated whether preschools provide any educational benefit -- and whether it makes sense for states to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to fund them. A study appearing Friday in the journal Science could reignite the debate. In the study, researchers in England found that the benefits of attending a good preschool, including improved mathematic and reading ability and social skills, can last for several years and give children a leg up when they enter elementary school. Wall Street Journal |
| August 29, 2008 | Health
Alert-Benefits of Preschool British researchers have found that children who attend preschool outscore their classmates on math tests at age 10. Studies show that kids who attend preschools have a leg up on their peers at the start of elementary level education. But new research finds this early educational experience may provide lasting academic benefit. WTVO/WQRF-TV (IL) |
| August 28, 2008 | The
Mistrusted Male Teacher Of all the historical gender disparities in the American classroom, one has quietly stagnated for the last 20 years. Men still account for 16 percent of all elementary school teachers, according to a 2003 National Schools and Staffing Survey. Advocates like the National Education Association have called for efforts to support young men interested in teaching, but sometimes it's the parents who carry on mistrust and sexual stereotypes. ABC News |
| August 26, 2008 | Should
Your Child Wait to Enter Kindergarten? Todd E. Elder of Michigan State University and Darren H. Lubotsky of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted the research on when children should enter kindergarten, and conclude that “Rather than providing a boost to children’s human capital development, delayed entry simply postpones learning and is likely not worth the long-term costs.” findingDulcinea |
| August 26, 2008 | Preschool
earns accreditation CMU's popular preschool program has achieved national accreditation. Housed in CMU's Human Growth and Development Laboratory, the program is one of the nation's first to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children under its revised accreditation standards. insideCMU |
| August 25, 2008 | Delaying
the start of kindergarten a good move? New research says maybe not The study, to be published in the Journal of Human Resources, argues that older kindergartners do better than younger ones early on because they have learned more prior to starting school. That makes sense, of course, since one would expect that a 6-year-old (especially one that had gone to a good Pre-K) would know more his just-turned 5-year-old classmate. But both group learns at about the same rate once they start kindergarten, and the delayed-entry kids usually lose whatever edge they had by third grade, found the researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Illinois. Orlando Sentinel |
| August 22, 2008 | Slowing
speech eases child's ability to listen If teachers would only talk more slowly, fewer children would be diagnosed with learning disabilities, behavior problems and hearing disorders, says Wichita State audiology professor Ray Hull. The average adult speaks about 170 words in a minute, he says, but most 5- to 7-year-olds can only catch 120, while high-school students process about 140 to 145. The Wichita Eagle |
| August 22, 2008 | Pre-school
age exercises can prevent dyslexia Typical characteristics of children’s linguistic development are early signs of the risk of developing reading and writing disabilities, or dyslexia. New research points to preventive exercises as an effective means to tackle the challenges children face when learning to read. The results achieved at the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Motivation Research were presented at the Academy of Finland’s science breakfast on 21 August. Innovations-Report |
| August 21, 2008 | PBS
Launches An ABCs Offensive With New Shows A multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. Education Department three years ago has helped PBS produce several new educational shows based on literacy research. "Educationally our goal is to encourage kids' vocabulary development," says Carol Greenwald, the executive producer of "Martha Speaks," one of the PBS Kids literacy shows.National Public Radio |
| August 21, 2008 | Teachers
prep for new kindergarten program Beginning in September, Manchester kindergarteners will be attending school all day for each of the five school days. Manchester Community Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin said the decision was made official this past spring. “We wanted to provide students more time to meet stricter academic requirements," he said. "Young minds can do more." Manchester Enterprise |
| August 21, 2008 | County
to hold conference on childhood obesity Oakland County, in partnership with Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, Oakland Schools and other community agencies, will be holding a conference on childhood obesity titles "Fighting Childhood Obesity Through Education and Empowerment." The conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Oakland Schools Intermediate School District, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford and is targeted to parents, preschool educators, child care providers and anyone concerned with the health of children and families. HomeTown Life |
| August 21, 2008 | Preschool
may boost chances of graduation Children who attend preschool are 29 percent more likely to graduate high school. And the more students who graduate high school, the less likely they are to commit crimes, according to a new report. Law enforcement officials from across Michigan joined the national group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids on Wednesday at the Capitol to unveil the report. Lansing State Journal |
| August 20, 2008 | Boys
will be boys, girls will be girls from birth Even though I'm a psychologist who specializes in early education, it took having kids to make me realize that sex differences aren't just the stuff of Brady Bunch reruns. In fact, one study found that when 18-month-old boys and girls were shown pictures of a doll and a vehicle, for example, most of the girls opted for the doll, while the majority of the boys chose the vehicle. And while 18 months is old enough to have been influenced by stereotyped gifts, research suggests that many of the differences we see are evident from birth, and may even be hardwired. CNN |
| August 20, 2008 | Teaching
Young Children To support preschool teachers at the start of the new year, the Web site of Teaching Young Children, a magazine published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, offers a new collection of articles about welcoming children and families to school at the beginning of the program year. These six free printable PDFs provide tips and strategies for making a smooth transition. NAEYC |
| August 19, 2008 | New
Poll: Women Pessimistic on Economy, Worried About Future “A Platform for Progress: Building a Better Future for Women and Their Families” outlines concrete steps Congress can take in the areas of education, employment, economic security, health, and legal rights to improve women’s lives, including: … Ensure access to high-quality child care by requiring that care meet basic health and safety standards, funding statewide quality rating systems to promote higher quality care, increasing the reimbursement rate for child care assistance, supporting initiatives targeted to expanding access to high-quality infant and toddler care, doubling the number of children receiving child care assistance, increasing the Dependent Care Tax Credit, and increasing funding for Head Start and Early Education. Center for Law and Social Policy |
| August 19, 2008 | CMU
lab preschool earns accreditation Central Michigan University's popular preschool program has achieved national accreditation. Housed in CMU's Human Growth and Development Laboratory, the program is one of the nation's first to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children under its revised accreditation standards. News@Central (Central Michigan University) |
| August 19, 2008 | Starting
Kindergarten Later Gives Students Only a Fleeting Edge New research challenges a growing trend toward holding kids out of kindergarten until they're older, arguing that academic advantages are short-lived and come at the expense of delaying entry into the workforce and other costs. The findings show older kindergartners fare better academically largely because they learn more before starting school, not because age improves aptitude, said Darren Lubotsky, a University of Illinois economics professor who co-wrote the study. Interest!ALERT |
| August 19, 2008 | Schools
across Kalamazoo County will share a universal preschool curriculum In lieu of universal preschool in Kalamazoo County, the training session was a first step toward the next-best thing: A universal curriculum and a collaboration with the potential to revolutionize local early-childhood education. Sparked by Bewick, the early-childhood education coordinator for Kalamazoo Public Schools, five preschool programs that collectively serve more than 1,000 children are phasing in a common curriculum, as well as a shared training and support for teachers. Kalamazoo Gazette |
| August 17, 2008 | State
audit lists care providers as not suitable A state audit recently released that showed Michigan put thousands of children at risk by authorizing 1,900 sex offenders and other "unsuitable" day-care providers between 2003 and 2006 included three from Livingston County. The state's office of the auditor general, which compiled the data, confirmed in a letter last week that the report includes three individuals or day cares from Livingston County. Livingston Co. Daily Press & Argus |
| August 15, 2008 | Literacy
program targets 4-year-olds Five sites in the city will host free daylong preschool literacy instruction for at-risk children, using funds from a $4.5 million grant. The U.S. Department of Education grant will allow Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Community College and the YMCA to augment state-funded child development programs. Grand Rapids Press |
| August 15, 2008 | The
Effects of Music Instruction on Learning in the Montessori Classroom The value of music in educating the young child is not being recognized, particularly in the area of mathematics. Despite the amount of literature available regarding the effects of music instruction on academic achievement, little has been written on different Montessori music pedagogies and their effects on students' math scores. RedOrbit |
| August 15, 2008 | Choose
a Pre-school That Emphasizes the Five 'Cs' Preschools are playing a greater role than ever in preparing young children for school readiness and to be productive members of the workforce. But what do you look for when trying to select the right pre-school? The best pre-school will have a kid-friendly environment and an emphasis on the five "Cs:" collaboration, communication, content, creative innovation and confidence, says Temple University child developmental psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek. Interest!ALERT |
| August 14, 2008 | Obesity
Linked to Ear Infections Damage caused by chronic ear infections in children may alter their sense of taste, making fatty and sweet foods more desirable and increasing the risk of obesity. That's the conclusion of four new studies presented Thursday at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in Boston. U.S. News and World Report |
| August 14, 2008 | County
seeks Head Start students The sluggish statewide economy has forced several parents to make difficult decisions regarding education for their children, but Wayne County is prepared to offer some help. Parents who live in Wayne County have an opportunity to maintain quality education for their 3-to 5-year olds through Wayne County Head Start. The successful early childhood learning program is currently enrolling 3 to 5 year olds from income-eligible families and children with certified or suspected disabilities. Journal Newspapers |
| August 13, 2008 | Teachers
from Mexico, China come to Rockford Getting a taste of U.S. culture while sharing their native tongues is what brings Medina Garcia and Tong Fuping to Rockford. They are the district's first exchange teachers since the early 1990s, recruited to boost the district's growing Chinese- and Spanish-language programs. Medina Garcia, 28, is here through a Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. She will assist a 3-year-old Spanish-immersion program at Roguewood Elementary School that includes about 200 students in kindergarten through third grade. The Grand Rapids Press |
| August 13, 2008 | Good
news for utility The success of Jackson County's third-largest employer is important in terms of jobs and in other ways. This spring, the company announced a major financial commitment to early-childhood education, including books for local preschoolers. CMS Energy is heading in a good direction as a company, based on these second-quarter numbers. As its health improves, so does that of the Jackson community. Jackson Citizen Patriot |
| August 12, 2008 | Early
childhood education key to curbing dropout rates, boosting long-term
economic development, economist says Genesee County schools are looking to curb high school drop out rates and increase economic development by starting childhood education as early as 1 year old. The Genesee County Great Start Collaborative held a breakfast presentation this morning featuring Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Economist Rob Grunewald on the benefits of implementing an early childhood development program for children before they head to preschool. The Flint Journal |
| August 12, 2008 | Tribal
consultation and controversy over Head Start Tribal sovereignty and Native culture sparred with the federal bureaucracy July 23 over evaluation standards and the big picture for Indian Head Start programs affected by shrinking dollars and tightened regulations. Issues of culture and control underscored the national Office of Head Start tribal consultation meeting in Denver, one of four held nationwide and attended by tribal council members and educators from several states including South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas and Nevada, as well as Colorado. Indian Country |
| August 6, 2008 | Parents shape whether their children learn to eat fruits and vegetables Providing fruits for snacks and serving vegetables at dinner can shape a preschooler's eating patterns for his or her lifetime. To combat the increasing problem of childhood obesity, researchers are studying how to get preschoolers to eat more fruits and vegetables. According to researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, one way is early home interventions — teaching parents how to create an environment where children reach for a banana instead of potato chips..Media-Newswire |
| August 4, 2008 | Report
Offers Guidance on Evaluating Children in Preschool Programs, Urges Caution
in Implementing High-Stakes Assessments The Research Council's new report concludes that well-planned assessments can inform teaching and efforts to improve programs and can contribute to better outcomes for children, but poor assessments or misuse of the results can harm both children and programs. The report offers principles to guide the design, implementation, and use of assessments in early childhood settings. The National Academies |
| August 4, 2008 | For
safety, availability, overhaul publicly supported child care In the wake of two damaging audits of the state's day care system, some parents may be worrying about their own child care choices, and taxpayers may be questioning the ability of the state to manage scarce resources. Clearly mistakes were made that have been acknowledged by the Department of Human Services and were being addressed before the release of the audits. Detroit Free Press |
| August 1, 2008 | What
to Expect at Preschool: The Classroom The organization of their preschool classroom sends important signals to children about "what there is to do and how to do it," says Marilou Hyson, associate executive director for professional development at the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Research indicates that a well-organized classroom helps children learn and motivates them to interact positively with each other. Scholastic.com |
| August 1, 2008 | NAEYC
Statement on Young Children’s Involvement in
Reality Television “NAEYC is concerned that ‘Baby Borrowers’ is part of a growing trend in reality television that exploits children. Childhood, especially infancy, is a time to nurture each child’s curiosity and provide them with supportive learning experiences. Reality television should never place children in situations that cause anxiety and fear. Additionally, children’s behavior and judgments should not be used to exploit them, especially to create greater entertainment value. NAEYC |
| August 1, 2008 | The
Downside of Redshirting Kindergarten is free. In most states, preschool and pre-K are not. Sending kids to school early is a major initiative of the childhood education movement. Putting off kindergarten takes us in the opposite direction, toward less access to school for younger kids. Fine, but choosing to keep your little Hudson out of kindergarten doesn't affect the low-income kindergartners out there, does it? Well, it might. A new study suggests that the effects of kindergarten redshirting are more serious and long-term than one might have thought. Slate |
| August 1, 2008 | Forum
studies improving education for black children schools Our children are genius," Dr. Carol Brunson Day, president and chief executive officer of the National Black Child Development Institute in Washington, said at the event, hosted by the Institute for the Study of the African American Child. "And it is our responsibility to make it possible for that genius to unfold," she said. The mission of ISAAC, founded by WSU professor Janice Hale, is to understand the factors that contribute to the academic achievement gap for black students and then find strategies to close the gap. Detroit Free Press |
| July 31, 2008 | NAEYC
Applauds Early Childhood Educator Provisions in Final Higher Education
Bill The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased that its recommendations recognizing early childhood educators as a critical teaching workforce are included in the bipartisan Higher Education Act conference bill. The House has passed the bill and the Senate is poised to vote later today. The bill will then go to the President for his signature. NAEYC |
| July 31, 2008 | Congress
sends President bill banning lead in toys The bill would impose the toughest lead standards in the world, banning lead beyond minute levels in products for children 12 or younger. Lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and children's items last year, including Cookie Monster toys and Tommy the Tank Engines. Many came from China. MSNBC.com |
| July 30, 2008 | Decline
in Infant-Mortality Rate Stalls The almost decade-long decline in U.S. infant mortality has hit a snag, with CDC data showing the rate increased from 6.78 per 1,000 children in 2004 to 6.86 in 2005. Black babies were 2.4 times as likely to die as white babies before their first birthday. Researchers say low birth weight, shorter gestations and premature births account for the increase in mortality. Wall Street Journal |
| July 27, 2008 | Ways
to measure day care quality You can ask if the provider is accredited. The National Association for the Education of Young Children has an accreditation system that sets professional standards for early childhood education programs, and to help families identify high-quality programs. You can also ask to see documentation of their education and training. Ann Arbor News |
| July 26, 2008 | Preschool
Shapes Our Future Leaders When they walk into kindergarten classrooms this fall, the preschool graduates will have a strong foundation in early reading and math skills. They'll know how to hold a pencil and how to recognize their shapes and colors. They'll know how to share, get along with other children and pay attention in class. RedOrbit |
| July 25, 2008 | New
full-time kindergarten rule to be costly Mandatory full-day, five-days-a-week kindergarten, approved by the Legislature this week, is being billed as a necessary step to provide the best possible start to a student's education. Nearly half of West Michigan districts already provide it. MLive.com |
| July 24, 2008 | First
Steps aims help at kids and families Growing every child's potential is easier said than done, but that is the goal of First Steps - a new, universal program that every Kent County parent can access. By improving early childhood development and healthcare, First Steps creators and contributors believe it will curb crime, poverty, child abuse and neglect in the long run. WOOD-TV |
| July 23, 2008 | Kindergartners
may have longer days Longer school days may be on the horizon for Michigan kindergartners. The Legislature has approved a school funding plan that includes a provision to phase in full-day, everyday kindergarten by reducing funding for kindergartners on half-day and alternate-day schedules. Michigan currently puts the same amount of money behind each K-12 student, although only kindergartners in a few local districts get equal instructional time. Gov. Jennifer Granholm, an advocate of expanded early childhood education, is expected to sign the plan. Grand Rapids Press |
| July 23, 2008 | D7
all-day kindergarten program 'successful' — seek grant for preschool District 7 is doing more for its youngest students by trying for a state grant to fund a new preschool program and by continuing full-day kindergarten. The district started an optional full-day kindergarten program last year. Nine classes were full-day, instructing about 223 students, while one half-day program had 14 children. The district revamped its kindergarten program to ensure students would be learning more in the extra time. Dearborn Press and Guide |
| July 22, 2008 | Passion
for kids led to day care Now, Wright-Hailey is working to gain accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She has about 60 children enrolled throughout the school year, and most of those also participate in the summer camp. In May, Wright-Hailey changed the day care's name to Little Scholars Development Center. She also has hopes to open a second location in the Palmer Park area. Detroit Free Press |
| July 21, 2008 | Most
children with milk allergy tolerate warm milk A new report says 75% of children with cow's milk allergies may be able to tolerate the product if the milk is heated. The researchers say the common proteins that result in the allergic reaction can be destroyed by higher temperatures. Yahoo.news |
| July 21, 2008 | Early
education teachers, staff have new contract A first-of-its-kind contract for early education teachers and staff was adopted this week by the Suttons Bay Board of Education. The board voted unanimously Monday night, following a 30-minute closed door session, to adopt a 1-year pact with the Early Childhood Education Association under the Michigan Education Association for workers in the school day care center, which has 90 to 95 children enrolled year-round. Leland Leelanau Enterprise |
| July 20, 2008 | Kindergarten shift in works Even as Plymouth-Canton school officials prepare for the upcoming school year, plans are already underway to implement some form of all-day kindergarten in the 2009-10 school year. "If it will be in all 16 elementary schools, I couldn't begin to tell you that right now," said George Belvitch, director of elementary education. "If a school doesn't have the space to do all-day kindergarten, it's going to be costly to create that space, so it would be very difficult to have all-day kindergarten at that location. Plymouth Observer |
| July 18, 2008 | Michigan
schools likely will get more state aid The school aid plan also adds a combined $10 million to early childhood education and school readiness programs. Most of next fiscal year's budget has already been approved by the state Legislature. Granholm has begun signing the budget bills into law. MSNBC |
| July 17, 2008 | Voter
Survey: McCain, Obama Need to Start Focusing on Child Issues By wide margins, a new nationwide poll released today by Every Child Matters shows broad support among voters of all persuasions for expanded federal investments in children, youth and families. Expressing deep concern about the status of children, voters say they prefer new spending on children over new tax cuts and balancing the budget. They want the presidential candidates to present specific plans on such issues as child abuse prevention and ensuring that all children have access to health care. Every Child Matters |
| July 17, 2008 | Do
better schools help the poor? Data from the US Department of Education, for example, show that disadvantaged children enter kindergarten already three months behind the national average in reading and math skills – and never catch up. These children bring huge deficits in socialization, motivation, and intellectual development to class that simply overwhelm teachers and schools. csmonitor.com |
| July 17, 2008 | Kicked
Out of Preschool When the national media does a story on early childhood education, it often takes a provocative story and blows it out of proportion. Last week MSN Encarta did cover a provocative story, expulsions from preschools, but the author of the story, Melissa Slager, covered the topic in a most thoughtful and even-handed manner. Child Care Exchange.com |
| July 15, 2008 | Even
background TV can impact kids' attention Even television playing in the background may constitute an "environmental hazard" for young children, distracting them from their play, decreasing the intensity of their activity and affecting their ability to focus, according to a study of 50 1- to 3-year-old children, published Monday in the journal Child Development. USA TODAY |
| July 15, 2008 | Early
connections are key for infants to thrive Well, the new science of brain development is forging a path that is both illuminating and frightening. It's pushing the frontiers of early childhood practice (that's where parents and child care providers come in) and policy (that's where legislators and business leaders come in). In ways never before understood, we now know that an infant's early circuits of the brain cannot be rewired later in life; optimal flexibility and plasticity of the brain occurs very early, during the first three years of life. DetNews.com |
| July 15, 2008 | Full-day
Kindergarteners' Reading, Math Gains Fade By 3rd Grade Children in full-day kindergarten have slightly better reading and math skills than children in part-day kindergarten, but these initial academic benefits diminish soon after the children leave kindergarten. This loss is due, in part, to issues related to poverty and the quality of children's home environments. Science Daily |
| July 15, 2008 | Family
Resources, Parenting Quality Influence Children's Early Cognitive Development Even among low-income families, mothers with greater social and economic resources were more supportive in parenting their children than those with fewer resources, which in turn influenced the children's cognitive performance. That's the main finding of a new study that considers how economic factors and parenting quality jointly influence children's development. Science Daily |
| July 15, 2008 | New
Strategies for Change In recent years, some advocates, recognizing that it will be difficult to make sense of our current plethora of programs — with each program staunchly defended by its creators and constituents — have started to look at the promotion of quality early childhood services through an economic development framework. In this frame, quality child care is seen as a means of supporting the current work force and of upgrading the education and skills of the future workforce. Child Care Exchange.com |
| July 14, 2008 | Working
moms look back with mixed emotions Motherhood brings many difficult decisions, but perhaps the most fiercely debated is whether women should work outside the home, especially when their children are small. Whatever their decision, the choice is rarely easy. Both mothers who go back to work and those who care for children at home agree on one thing: A woman's decision to work outside the home is scrutinized by her peers and society in general. Even experts are divided on the benefits or risks of mothers working full time. CNN International |
| July 11, 2008 | Need
for 'Common Vision' in PreK-3rd Grade Education Is Focus of Newest Issue
of State Education Standard How state leaders can boost the quality of instruction from pre-kindergarten through the third grade--and how states can better coordinate their widely disparate early education systems to help young children sustain their learning gains--are the subjects of the newest edition of the State Education Standard, the journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, being published this month. MarketWatch |
| July 10, 2008 | Waterford
schools get $5.7 million grant the Waterford School District, recently had a surprise. District officials received word that they were awarded a $5.7 million Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant, their largest federal grant ever. Oakland Press |
| July 9, 2008 | Put
PK-3 First, with or without Reading First Both the House and Senate committee bills would zero out funding for the Reading First program, which funds scientifically-based reading programs in grades K-3. If the bill passes in its current form, Congress will have cut funding for PK-3 literacy by $1 billion over two years. And that’s something early education advocates, regardless of their views on Reading First per se, should be up in arms about. New America Foundation |
| July 9, 2008 | Foreclosures'
financial strains take toll on kids "This housing crisis is taking away the innocence of our kids," says Phillip Lovell, vice president of education policy for First Focus, a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan advocacy group focused on families and children….Researchers are beginning to study the impact of the current housing crisis on children, and their findings are bleak: An estimated 2 million children will be directly affected by the subprime mortgage crisis as their families lose their homes to foreclosures, according to an April report by First Focus. USA Today |
| July 8, 2008 | Caring
about childcare Costa says one of the reasons his agency holds such a meeting each year is because GSA is committed to making the federal government more child-friendly. Federal News Radio.com |
| July 8, 2008 | Education
Newsmakers The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) today announced that Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties will join 31 other Michigan communities that are focusing on the needs of young children and their families through an $80,000 grant to support the development of a local Great Start Collaborative. Traverse City Record Eagle |
| July 7, 2008 | Company-Provided
Day Care: Basic Benefit or Perk? Neither my company nor my wife’s provides on-site day care at the offices we work at, and I must admit, it never occurred to me to think of it as a basic benefit. What’s your take, readers? Wall Street Journal |
| July 7, 2008 | A
touchy subject: Massage therapist teaches children healthy ways to touch Dawn Sewell, owner of Apples of our Eye day care in Red Lion, saw Mann's presentations at workshops for the York Area Association for the Education of Young Children. She was impressed with the way Mann handles the touchy subject of touch. York Daily Record/Sunday News (PA) |
| July 6, 2008 | Alameda
center awarded NAEYC accreditation Alameda Early Childhood Center in Farmington was recently awarded accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC, based in Washington, D.C., is a professional organization for early childhood educators. It sets standards and provides resources to educators. It is designed to promote and improve early childhood education. Farmington Observer |
| July 3, 2008 | Kindergarten
offerings geared up With tougher state requirements and a push from Gov. Jennifer Granholm to expand kindergarten offerings, county schools are gearing up their early childhood education programs and offering kindergarten on varied schedules in the coming school year. Livingston Co. Daily Press & Argus |
| July 3, 2008 | Where
is the $17 million? The $17 million in OIG findings “is related to accounting for time and effort documentation of kindergarten teachers ($11.5 million), Michigan Early Childhood Education program teachers ($3.6 million) and substitute teachers ($1.9 million) who were paid from Title 1, served Title I-eligible students and worked on allowable activities.” DPS and MDE staff, according to the memo, are still working on gathering documentation, policies and procedures on the remaining $17 million that involves verification of time for kindergartens, Early Childhood and substitute teachers. Michigan Chronicle |
| July 2, 2008 | Report
on the Symposium on Preschool-the First Step in Education According to a recent OECD report, Starting Strong, Sweden ranks as one of the most successful school systems in the world, largely because of a well- designed universal early childhood system. This past fall, I was fortunate to attend an event sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry that took place at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, B.C. The focus of the symposium was to present the Swedish model of early education and care. RedOrbit |
| July 2, 2008 | Fond
farewell: Well-known educators calling it a career in school system Figurski will be seeing much more of her family, while remaining an active member in the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, which helps to improve the education and welfare of children from birth through age 8. Southgate News-Herald |
| July 2, 2008 | Child
Development Services moving into new Holland locations Child Development Services of Ottawa County is moving into classroom space at Holland Public School, with the possibility of taking over the empty Longfellow School at 36 E. 24th St. The Holland-based nonprofit offers pre-school through the federal Head Start program, in addition to day care, at Holland and Grand Haven locations. Holland Sentinel |
| July 2, 2008 | Get
'Em While They're Young: The Benefits of Preschooling Publishing in Science, Gormley et al. compared the benefits of Oklahoma's TPS pre-K program to Head Start. Conclusion: preschool matters in cognitive development. ScienceBlogs |
| July 1, 2008 | Reading
First program could be on its last legs Committees in both the House and Senate chambers of the U.S. Congress have voted to zero out funding for the controversial Reading First program, but some educators mourn the potential loss of the $1 billion-per-year program they say helped many disadvantaged students learn to read. A failure by Congress to fund the program by the time the budget is approved this fall could spell the end of the program. USA TODAY |
| July 1, 2008 | A
Little DAP Will Do Ya One of the most important ingredients of successful library programming for young children has not been discussed thoroughly in library literature. The concept of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) originated with early childhood educators. It was developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1986 and presented in a position statement that became a bible of sorts for early childhood professionals. School Library Journal |
| June 30, 2008 | Detroit
school officials OK budget, avoid shutdown The Detroit Board of Education averted a possible shutdown in its operations by voting 9-2 shortly after 7:30 tonight to approve a two-year budget that includes nearly $522 million in spending cuts intended to get the district out of deficit. Detroit Free Press |
| June 30, 2008 | Schools
cut arts, teachers, athletics Scores of Michigan school districts will have fewer teachers and larger classes in the fall with athletics and the arts facing severe cutbacks or elimination as officials race to balance tight budgets by Tuesday as required by state law. Detroit News |
| June 30, 2008 | Great
Tips for Finding the Right Child Care Program For young children, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has established an accreditation process for centers serving children through eight years old. This confirms the quality of programs. Newswise |
| June 27, 2008 | Universal preschool students perform better School-readiness skills for low-income and middle-class students improved after the students attended a universal preschool program in Tulsa, Okla., according to a Georgetown University study of 3,500 Oklahoma kindergartners published Thursday in the journal Science. Those who participated outscored children who did not attend preschool or had enrolled in Head Start instead. "It seems to produce pretty big effects for all of the kids," said W. Steven Barnett, director of the National Institute for Early Education Research. USA Today |
| June 26, 2008 | Prenatal,
preschool years vital to success in school I think it is about time we stopped looking at pricey programs that have been found wanting in the past and go back to the beginning and take a new look at the research regarding the value of prenatal and preschool learning. Redford Observer |
| June 25, 2008 | Prenatal,
preschool years vital to success in school I think it is about time we stopped looking at pricey programs that have been found wanting in the past and go back to the beginning and take a new look at the research regarding the value of prenatal and preschool learning. Redford Observer |
| June 25, 2008 | Results
of Study in Pre-School Children Published in Clinical Pediatrics Adds
to Support for Importance of Dietary DHA Intake A study published in the May issue of Clinical Pediatrics indicates that higher DHA levels are associated with improved listening comprehension and vocabulary skills in preschool children. PR Newswire |
| June 25, 2008 | Diaper
Genie: Can I Cut it as a Day Care Worker, One of the Most Exhausting,
Worst Paid, and Smelliest Jobs in America? If you work in child care, every hour will provide sweet moments of helping a child. Every day will immerse you in the excreta of your profession: tears, saliva, mucous, urine, feces. And every week will bring a paycheck that reminds you that you have one of the worst-paying jobs in America. Slate |
| June 25, 2008 | US
may look to lure more au pairs as numbers soar Costs for an au pair total about $300 weekly - hardly cheap, but not extravagant when day-care programs average about $175 per week, per child, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It's also more affordable than a nanny, who can easily command $600 for a 45-hour week, said Jean Mason Knaak, the founder of Minneapolis-based Nanny Professionals. Original Signal |
| June 24, 2008 | Wyandotte
principal had fun, but she's done DespiteA House Appropriations subcommittee has proposed $7.1 billion in funding for the Head Start program for Fiscal Year 2009, even though the program has made over $400 million in improper payments since 2005, according to government audits. Cybercast News Service |
| June 22, 2008 | Gov't
Says Head Start Made Millions in Improper Payments The last day of school in the Wyandotte School District meant more than "School's out!" for the students. Three of the district's elementary school principals retired: Suzanne Figurski at Jefferson, Janice Garrison at Washington and Christine Mathews at Taft. Detroit Free Press |
| June 20, 2008 | Head
Start Leaders Have High Hopes for New President and Congress, But Budget
'Double Whammy' Expected to Force Cuts of Up to 14,000 Child
Slots Nationwide Despite the twin setbacks for what is considered to be one of the most successful programs operated by the federal government, NHSA and local Head Start leaders are optimistic that they can work with a new President and Congress to turn around the Head Start funding crisis and get the program back on track. Interest!ALERT |
| June 20, 2008 | Worth
the Cooties Here’s some news that preschool boys don’t want to hear: Those who attend preschool classes with a majority of girls receive an intellectual boost by the end of the school year. Conversely, preschool boys who attend majority-boy classes fall increasingly behind girls on measures of learning skills and other developmental feats. Science News |
| June 19, 2008 | House
Panel Would Kill ‘Reading
First’ Funding A House subcommittee on Thursday unanimously approved eliminating funding for the federal Reading First program next year. "A scientifically rigorous study released by the Department of Education found that the program has no discernible impact on student reading performance," said Rep. David R. Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat and chairman of the House Appropriations committee. It also "has been plagued with mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and cronyism, as documented by the inspector general," he said. Education Weekly |
| June 19, 2008 | Children's
Museum Director Janet Cocciarelli: She's a Player Next year, the museum launches an infant and toddler project, creating spaces throughout the museum specifically for tots from newborn to age 3. Cocciarelli leans forward in her chair excitedly as she tells about it. The Grand Rapids Press |
| June 19, 2008 | NAEYC Announces the Hiring of Kenneth D. Almgren as Chief Operating OfficerThe National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Kenneth D. Almgren as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Almgren has more than 25 years of experience in major national and international trade associations and venture capital financed projects. NAEYC |
| June 18, 2008 | Grant
awarded to Branch ISD Head Start for violence prevention program She also noted that research shows that children who exhibit poor social emotional skills as preschoolers are at a great risk for later school failure. “Second Step” teaches young children empathy, impulse control, problem solving and emotion/anger management. Battle Creek Enquirer |
| June 18, 2008 | Kids
who need preschool the most aren't enrolled Only 15% of the disadvantaged California children who would benefit most from strong preschools are actually enrolled in the best programs, according to a new RAND report released Wednesday. "We can't close the achievement gap unless we close the preparedness gap before kindergarten," said Debra Watkins, founder of the California Alliance of African American Educators. "As a former high school teacher of nearly 30 years, I certainly see what happens [to students who] do not have high quality preschool by the time they reach high school, where we have a dropout problem. " San Francisco Chronicle |
| June 18, 2008 | NCATE
Revising Standards on Child-Development Preparation Future educators would have a better grounding in the psychological and emotional development of children before entering the classroom, under new draft recommendations from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The council accredits roughly 650 teacher-training programs nationwide. Education Week |
| June 17, 2008 | Early
Intervention Underutilized |
| June 17, 2008 | Head
Start on the move Child Development Services of Ottawa County on Monday announced an agreement with Holland Public Schools to move nine of its Head Start programs for at-risk preschool children to classrooms in the district starting this fall. Grand Rapids Press |
| June 16, 2008 | Children's
Center will get new name, phone number “I look forward to taking our program to the next level, including our candidacy to become reaccredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, late next year, and eventually adding on to our building to support the growing needs of young children and families,” Arnold said. Grand Valley State University |
| June 15, 2008 | Digital
Stories Targeting Social Skills for Children With Disabilities Many children learn easily by watching others, imitating actions, and cuing into subtle social cues. However, some students with disabilities have trouble acquiring these social skills. These children require a more intensive intervention to make gains in the social area. For students who have difficulties initiating and maintaining interactions, teachers can implement more structure in the environment to gain a student's interest and encourage peer interactions. One strategy that meets these two criteria is the use of social stories. RedOrbit |
| June 12, 2008 | Educational
journey needs to begin early and last a lifetime |
| June 12, 2008 | Report:
Worrisome rise in underweight babies |
| June 12, 2008 | When
moms criticize, dads back off of baby care |
| June 10, 2008 | The
War on Obesity Targets Toddlers |
| June 6, 2008 | NAEYC Radio Connects 100,000 Members to Experts, Insights and "Next" PracticesToday, the BAM Radio Network (BRN), a joint project of Moving & Learning and Jackstreet Media, announced that the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched NAEYC Radio. The new media resource will give NAEYC's 100,000 members, including early childhood professionals, advocates and parents nationwide, access to the latest insights in early childhood development. eMediaWire.com |
| June 5, 2008 | Making
Your Kids' Summer Safe, Spectacular (audio
story) |
| June 4, 2008 | Is
EF the New IQ? |
| June 2, 2008 | Widespread
vitamin D deficiency poses risk: study |
| June 2, 2008 | Proponent
says toddlers up to task |
| June 2, 2008 | Mom's
role determines dad's involvement in childcare |
| June 2, 2008 | Preschoolers
get play areas all their own |
| June 1, 2008 | Kids
love a good read |
| May 29, 2008 | Selecting
child care |
| May 29, 2008 | The
Value of School Recess and Outdoor Play |
| May 29, 2008 | History
of Play |
| May 28, 2008 | Child
health care varies widely among states |
| May 28, 2008 | Spanish-English
school program proving popular |
| May 27, 2008 | Obesity
battle among US children may have peaked |
| May 26, 2008 | Early
Childhood Screening Predicts Later Behavioral Problems |
| May 25, 2008 | School
funding storm clouds on horizon |
| May 23, 2008 | Western
to offer all-day, every-day kindergarten |
| May 20, 2008 | AMCAB
eyes big project |
| May 20, 2008 | Early Childhood Advocates to Take Lansing by StormOver five hundred parents, children and other supporters of early childhood development are expected at the State Capitol on Wednesday, May 21, for the Second Annual Star Power Rally. The rally, sponsored by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), is intended to recognize champions of early childhood education, care and development and to let state legislators know about the strengths of the Great Start System - Michigan's early childhood initiative. Nurseweek |
| May 18, 2008 | Clawson
School District offers infant day care at new center |
| May 18, 2008 | Wendy
or Tinkerbell? |
| May 16, 2008 | Learning
Good Eating Habits Early Leads to Lifelong Health and Wellness |
| May 16, 2008 | Motivations of Parental Involvement in Children's LearningA growing body of research supports the view that parents' attitudes, behaviors, and activities related to children's education influences students' learning and educational success. RedOrbit |
| May 15, 2008 | Pupil-Teacher
Relationship Crucial in Preschool Learning, Study Says |
| May 12, 2008 | Promoting Social Inclusion and Respect for Diversity in Early Childhood This study is a two-year action research project that addresses a central challenge: What do we know about strategies for promoting social inclusion and respect for diversity (SI & RD) in early childhood education environments? National Center for Children in Poverty |
| May 12, 2008 | Study
finds economics helping to change early childhood policy debate |
| May 12, 2008 | Roots
of Early Childhood Education |
| May 12, 2008 | Child
care providers deserve appreciation |
| May 12, 2008 | State
funding helps fuel preschool boom |
| May 12, 2008 | Preschool
enrollment up dramatically |
| May 9, 2008 | Prepare
our youth for a diverse world |
| May 9, 2008 | Grayling
Cooperative Preschool celebrates 40 years |
| May 8, 2008 | How
we help kids succeed |
| May 7, 2008 | Child
care providers deserve appreciation |
| May 7, 2008 | School
plans to expand, open day care center, 9th grade |
| May 6, 2008 | Pre-k
panacea |
| May 6, 2008 | Central
Day Care Center celebrates 40 years |
| May 5, 2008 |