Tennessee pre-k and the third-grade fade: truth or politics?
It’s been interesting to watch reaction in the state of Tennessee to research showing that students who participate in pre-kindergarten programs do better than their peers for their first two years of school, but have no advantage at all by the time they get to third-grade. Stories in The Tennessean ‘s office on the effectiveness [...]
New rules, role for Head Start lauded with release of new research
EarlyStories examined some suggested new rules for Head Start recently, and now a leading expert on early childhood is lauding the Obama administration in a Washington Post op-ed for proposing a new system he says could force much-needed improvements to the $8 billion program for 3- and 4-year-olds. The op-ed makes it clear that what [...]
The great kindergarten debate, California style
Kindergarten students these days have a lot in common with middler schoolers. Visit any middle school and you are likely to be struck instantly by the vast differences in the size of students. There are plenty of small, still childish looking 13 and 14-year-olds who look as if they’d be more comfortable in an elementary [...]
Why Finland gets early childhood education right
It’s always fascinating to hear how other countries handle the education of their littlest learners, and even better to participate in a discussion with top educators on the subject. EarlyStories had a chance to converse on BAm! Radio with Linda Darling-Hammond, the Stanford University researcher and professor, and John R. Burbank, the executive director of [...]
Why first graders in Indiana — and elsewhere — are left behind
EarlyStories has spent a lot of time looking at South Dakota, a state that has consistently shunned providing any state money for pre-kindergarten. That’s because the voices against pre-school in the state — one of just 10 that doesn’t provide any pre-kindergarten — are extremely vocal. For example, a push to start a pilot program [...]
Just not giving up on public pre-kindergarten in South Dakota
EarlyStories has long been fascinated by the resistance to starting publicly funded pre-kindergarten in South Dakota, so it was heartening to read that supporters are still pushing hard for a pilot program in the prairie state, one of just 10 that have no state funded programs. Sioux Falls has had some success in starting a [...]
A mixed picture for pre-k expansion in tough times
Pre-kindergarten may still be at the top of political agendas, but financing it is proving more challenging in tough economic times. The Pew Center on the States found evidence that many U.S. governors are trying to protect their investment in pre-kindergarten, despite a difficulty economy and steep budget cuts in other areas. “In spite of [...]
A report that’s bad timing for Head Start
Congressional testimony on Tuesday revealed some alarming evidence of fraud at federally funded Head Start centers, at a time when some concerns and questions are being asked about a program established some 45 years ago by President Lyndon Johnson. Prompted by anonymous tips to a fraud hotline, investigators with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found [...]
Resources for following reauthorization and its impact on early ed
At a time when early childhood advocates have experienced a few setbacks, all hopes are on reauthorization of what was once No Child Left Behind – and is now more commonly referred to as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for a variety of reasons. There has yet to be a clear outline of [...]
Will South Dakota ever see public pre-k on the prairie?
EarlyStories has for years followed the missing saga of pre-kindergarten education in South Dakota, one of 12 states with no publicly funded program. Efforts to fund any kind of pre-k program in this rural state have hit more than a few roadblocks . It would be fascinating to spend some time traveling around and speaking [...]
