eNotes
May 13, 2016In this Issue:
- Just Released! 2015 State of Preschool Yearbook Source: National Institute for Early Education Research - May 12, 2016
- New Report - From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University - May 9, 2016
- Follow-up Video - Getty's Door to Inclusion Source: Desired Results Access Project - May 9, 2016
- Draft Policy Statement on Early Childhood Career Pathways - Open for Comment Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - May 10, 2016
- Recent Research Briefs on Issues Related to Early Care and Education Source: U.S. Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation - May 9, 2016
1. Just Released! 2015 State of Preschool Yearbook
On May 12, 2016, a new edition of the annual State of Preschool Yearbook was released, presenting data on state-funded prekindergarten in the U.S. during the 2014-2015 school year and documenting trends in state pre-K since the 2001-2002 school year. The 2015 Yearbook shows continued gradual improvement in state funded pre-K nationally, with increased state funding, increased funding per child, and more children being served. Six programs in five states met new quality standards benchmarks and two new states met all 10 quality standards benchmarks. New survey questions and the supplement, Special Report: Dual Language Learners and Preschool Workforce, in this year's edition also provide important data on areas critical to developing quality programs for an increasingly diverse population of preschool-age children.
2. New Report - From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts
Although the research shows that current best practices can make a positive difference for most children, they are not enough, especially for families facing serious adversity. A new report, From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families (May 2016), presents a call to action to launch a new era of research and development in policy and practice, in order to dramatically improve outcomes for young children and families who are facing difficult challenges. The report outlines essential concepts in the science of early childhood and brain development, describes core principles for improving current programs, and calls for a science-based research and development approach in the early childhood field in order to achieve breakthrough impacts.
3. Follow-up Video - Getty's Door to Inclusion
Last year the Desired Results Access Project produced a video entitled "Getty's Window To Inclusion: The Chance To Be Just Like Any Other Kid," which showed how Getty, a young girl who cannot physically be near other children because of health issues, was able to virtually participate in preschool. A new, follow-up video has just been released.
- Getty's Door to Inclusion shows Getty virtually attending a typical kindergarten classroom. It illustrates the importance of having consistent and high expectations for all children, sound communication strategies, and effective parent-teacher collaboration. It provides important messages for all those interested in early childhood and elementary school inclusion, for all current and future early childhood educators, and for families who are looking for solutions for their children who cannot attend school due to health issues.
Both videos are available in the Desired Results Access Project Video Library (at the top of the page, select the "General Interest" tab). As with all Desired Results videos, they can be viewed online or downloaded at no cost for use in educational and professional development activities.
4. Draft Policy Statement on Early Childhood Career Pathways - Open for Comment
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is inviting comments on a new Draft Policy Statement on Early Childhood Career Pathways. The policy statement provides recommendations for developing and implementing career pathways to support the professional learning and practice of early childhood educators and program directors. The public is invited to submit comments through May 20, 2016, by emailing ECD@acf.hhs.gov.
5. Recent Research Briefs on Issues Related to Early Care and Education
The U.S. Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) has published the following new briefs related issues facing the early care and education field.
- Examining the Associations Between Infant/Toddler Workforce Preparation, Program Quality and Child Outcomes: A Review of the Research Evidence (Research Brief OPRE 2016-15) - Discusses the available evidence on the associations between the preparation of infant/toddler teachers and caregivers, and improvements in quality and child outcomes.
- Describing the Preparation and Ongoing Professional Development of the Infant/Toddler Workforce: An Analysis of the National Survey for Early Care and Education Data (Research Brief OPRE 2016-16) - Explores some of the strengths and needs of the infant/toddler workforce in center-based as well as home-based early care and education programs.
- Monitoring in Early Care and Education - Two publications focus on monitoring in early care and education.
- Coordinated Monitoring Systems for Early Care and Education (Research Brief OPRE 2016-19) - Provides an overview of major early care and education (ECE) monitoring systems, offers possible goals for a coordinated monitoring system, and describes some approaches to addressing those goals.
- Mapping the Early Care and Education Monitoring Landscape (Research Brief OPRE 2016-20) - Provides tools to help state/territory leaders document ECE monitoring systems in order to plan strategies and more effectively coordinate monitoring across various sets of regulations.