Exciting Week for Early Childhood!

 

Grants Awarded Today for Race To The Top – Early Learning Challenge

 

After much anticipation, today the Administration announced the nine states that were awarded a Race To The Top – Early Learning Challenge grant. We applaud all states for their momentum, even in difficult fiscal times, in the complex work of building a high quality, robust early childhood system. This new initiative to help build high quality, integrated systems for children from birth to age five reflects many of the innovations in states, such as quality rating and improvement systems, comprehensive early learning standards, professional development systems, data systems, collaboration with health and family support programs, and kindergarten readiness/entry assessments. The investment in the Early Learning Challenge Fund, together with increased investments in child care, Head Start and Early Head Start, and early intervention, will boost the federal-state partnership to meet the goals of a high quality system for young children in all settings and a stronger collaboration and coordination to extend children’s progress through the early grades of school. 

 

The states receiving grants today are: California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington State. 

 

We look forward to working with and learning from states to create well-financed, high quality, integrated systems for children from birth through age eight. NAEYC has a variety of resources relating to state policies and best practices, including QRIS, professional development systems, program and early learning standards, and our newest resource, a guide for states in designing and implementing a kindergarten entry assessment. 

 

FY 2012 Appropriations Almost Done – Looking Good for Early Childhood 

 

Just in the nick of time to avoid a government shutdown, the House and Senate have agreed on the funding numbers for Fiscal Year 2012. However, we are still holding our breath that the bills will pass today. So this is a heads up and a thank you for all your hard work on appropriations. In a very difficult budget climate, early childhood education did very well. 

 

So here’s what we know (with more details to come):

  

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