eNotes
December 2, 2016In this Issue:
- Addressing Early Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Problems Source: Pediatrics - December 2016
- Executive Function: Implications for Education Source: Institute of Education Sciences - November 29, 2016
- Final ESSA Regulations on Accountability, State Plans and Data Reporting Source: U.S. Department of Education - November 28, 2016
- Preschool Development Grants: Progress Update and New Awards Source: U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services - November 29, 2016
- Video - A Mother's Voice: Technology and Inclusion Source: Desired Results Access Project - November 28, 2016
- Strengthening the Kindergarten-Third Grade Continuum Source: Education Commission of the States - November 29, 2016
1. Addressing Early Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Problems
A new technical report and policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provide information about the prevalence of emotional, behavioral, and relationship problems among very young children; the long lasting consequences of these early problems across multiple domains; and effective, safe treatments that are available to enhance outcomes for young children experiencing mental health problems and their families.
2. Executive Function: Implications for Education
Research on early educational practices designed to enhance child learning and development through a focus on executive function (EF) skills has grown substantially over the past two decades. Executive function skills are the attention-regulation skills that make it possible to sustain attention, keep goals and information in mind, refrain from responding immediately, resist distraction, tolerate frustration, consider the consequences of different behaviors, reflect on past experiences, and plan for the future. A new paper, Executive Function: Implications for Education (November 2016), highlights key findings from recent EF research and discusses the relevance of these findings to educational research and practice, with a particular relevance to early education.
3. Final ESSA Regulations on Accountability, State Plans and Data Reporting
The final regulations to implement the accountability, data reporting, and state plan provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) were released on November 28, 2016. Highlights of key changes made in response to direct feedback from public comments can be found in the press release from the U.S. Department of Education. These regulations are effective January 30, 2017.
4. Preschool Development Grants: Progress Update and New Awards
A new National report (November 2016) and 18 state progress reports on the Preschool Development Grants (PDG) program highlight how states are meeting standards and improving access to early learning programs for at-risk children. They show that more children had the chance to enroll in these programs because of the PDG program, and classrooms improved by supporting well-qualified and compensated teachers, expanding to full-day, reducing class size or child-teacher ratios, providing evidence-based professional development, and providing comprehensive services.
The Departments have also announced that 18 states will receive more than $247.4 million in awards under the PDG program to continue their work in expanding access to high-quality preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families. Learn more here.
5. Video - A Mother's Voice: Technology and Inclusion
The Desired Results Access Project Video Library recently posted a new video, "A Mother's Voice: Technology and Inclusion." In this clip, Kate Mathany shares her experiences using technology to make inclusion possible for her daughter, Getty, and discusses how embracing inclusion can help teachers become better at what they do. It can be viewed under the General Interest tab of the library at: http://www.draccess.org/videolibrary/
This video is a follow up to two previous videos ("Getty's Window To Inclusion: The Chance To Be Just Like Any Other Kid" and "Getty's Door to Inclusion"), illustrating the importance of inclusion for all children, including those who cannot be in close proximity to other children because of health concerns. As with all of Desired Results videos, it can be viewed online and downloaded at no cost for use in educational and professional development activities.
6. Strengthening the Kindergarten-Third Grade Continuum
In July 2016, the Education Commission of the States convened a group of experts on kindergarten through third-grade (K-3) education to reflect on research and practice and then define state policy levers with the greatest potential to impact student outcomes. A new report, K-3 Policymakers’ Guide to Action: Making the early years count (November 2016), summarizes the top policy components the experts prioritized as essential to building a high-quality state K-3 system.