Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.” This quote has renewed meaning today as we continue to get briefs about the …
This is part 1 of a two-week series about early childhood education funding options. This week focuses on federal funding options. Next week will focus on state funding options. Although at this particular time the possibility that the federal government will create new funding streams to support early childhood education (ECE) are unlikely, there is …
There is reason to be excited in the world of early childhood education. This blog has previously explored topics highlighting the importance and strong support for investing in early childhood education. Soon, the New Mexico Legislature will be voting on a constitutional amendment that would create a new funding source to support the state’s early …
As reported in previous articles in this blog, early childhood education and development are worthwhile investments (see here and here). Research has shown positive impacts of early childhood education throughout an individual’s life-span, including, but not limited to, increased lifetime earnings, lower rates of special education needs, higher educational achievement, better health, and benefits …
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Thinking back to my own training as an elementary school preservice teacher, I remember the lack of preparation dedicated to handling classroom discipline or behavioral issues. It was clear to me then, as it is now, that understanding how to help students recognize and control their emotions and develop ways …
It is unclear what the next four years will hold for early childhood education. Whether the various initiatives and legislative changes made over the past eight years will be strengthened, defunded, or altered by Betsy DeVos is difficult to discern, at least given her prior work. So what is at stake? And what …
Say what you will about the involvement of economists in education reform, but what economics has done to bring early childhood education and development into the spotlight is monumental. Given the high cost of childcare, it takes talking money on a national scale to get government talking about why they should care. Thanks to the …
For the first time since 1975, the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) have had a full revision. Head Start, for our readers that might not be familiar with the program, was started as a part of ‘the war on poverty’ program initiatives of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. Head Start and Early Head …
If you have been involved in education, social work, or economics, it’s likely that at some point during your career you have heard reference to The Perry Preschool Project (PPP). The study was conducted from 1962-1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with a total of 123 children were split into two groups, one of which received …
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Following the first presidential debate, there has been some criticism of the lack of discussion about educational issues. But for me, as someone particularly interested in early childhood education and care, I was pleasantly surprised by the multiple (albeit brief) mentions of family leave and childcare expenses. This issue …
The 2016 presidential primary elections are well underway and Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are in a close race. Yesterday was Election Day in Michigan and the state was a big focus for both candidates. Two days prior to Michigan’s primary election day, Clinton and Sanders participated in their seventh debate in Flint, …