eNotes
October 19, 2018In this Issue:
- Position Statement on Low Birth Weight, Prematurity & Early Intervention Source: Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children
- Supporting Families of Young Children in Leadership Roles (Video Series) Source: Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center
- Writing a Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Application Source: BUILD Initiative & Policy Equity Group
- 2018 State of State Early Childhood Data Systems Source: Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC)
- Transitions and Alignment from Preschool to Kindergarten Source: Education Commission of the States (ECS)
- A Critical Calculation: Supporting the Inclusion of Math in Early Childhood Degree Programs Source: Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE)
- More Zika Resources from the CDC Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1. Position Statement on Low Birth Weight, Prematurity & Early Intervention
Last month, the DEC posted its position statement on low birth weight, prematurity and early intervention (September 2018). The document covers available research on low weight preterm infants and the impact of evidence based early intervention. DEC supports that a national standard of low birth weight be set below 1500 grams and 37 weeks for early intervention (EI) eligibility. They also recommend that each state reviews its policies on eligibility and determines if its current criteria for EI eligibility integrates with current research. An executive summary of the statement is also available.
2. Supporting Families of Young Children in Leadership Roles (Video Series)
ECTA has published a new video series (August 2018) to support states implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C and Part B Section 619 (preschool) regulations. The videos focus on methods to engage families in the planning, decision-making, and evaluation of local child care programs, and strategies to support new family leaders. The videos also include testimonials from family leaders involved in the educational system and explore the challenges families may face as they begin their leadership path.
3. Writing a Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Application
BUILD Initiative and the Policy Equity Group recently released an Application Guide (September 2018) to assist states with applying for the PDG B-5 grant and fully benefit from this funding opportunity. These funds will help states implement and/or sustain equitable, high-quality programs for all children (age 0-5) and their families. Two appendices are included at the end of the guide: 1) a federally mandated needs assessment chart and 2) a list of national organizations that can assist with additional information needs. The application submission deadline is November 6 for all states, except North Carolina and South Carolina that have an extended deadline of November 20.
4. 2018 State of State Early Childhood Data Systems
According to this new report from ECDC (September 2018), policymakers often struggle with using early childhood education (ECE) data to make informed decisions that best support their ECE programs and workforce, as "states collect a variety of disconnected data about children participating in multiple government-funded programs". The report provides a state-by-state analysis that explains this phenomenon and offers recommendations for improving coordination of ECE data across systems and agencies. Included are interactive maps and state profiles that describe individual state's capacity for linking child, program, and workforce related data.
5. Transitions and Alignment from Preschool to Kindergarten
This special report from the ECS (September 2018) outlines strategies for how to best coordinate and align standards, assessments, and curricula between preschool and kindergarten to make the transition experience seamless for the child, parent and teacher. State examples of best practice transition policies are provided from California, Massachusetts and West Virginia.
6. A Critical Calculation: Supporting the Inclusion of Math in Early Childhood Degree Programs
The CSCCE recently issued this new brief in their By Design: Preparing Early Educators Series (August 2018) that highlights how to support infants' and toddlers' mathematical understanding and early math skills that play an important role in strengthening children's language development. An analysis of degree programs nationwide offering math coursework for emerging early childhood educators reveals "a lack of importance given to the inclusion of math topics" for this workforce. The brief offers practice and policy recommendations for reversing this trend and making effective early mathematics instruction part of a teacher's core competencies.
7. More Zika Resources from the CDC
The CDC continues to provide helpful resources for all impacted by the Zika virus. Here are a couple of recently updated resources (August 2018) from their Zika and Pregnancy webpage:
- If Your Family has been Affected - several guides, infographics and kids' activity books for families
- Clinician Resources for Infant Follow-up Care - a series of visual aids to assist health care professionals caring for infants impacted by Zika