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 [...]
Preschool depression and poverty
The New York Times Magazine has a story about depression among preschoolers this week, which asks whether depression can be diagnosable among young children, and, if so, where it might come from. The article suggests that maternal depression can play a role, but is not definitive. The author writes: “Despite the assumption that these kids [...]
Hard times for U.S. children: How do we count the ways?
It’s difficult to quantify just how difficult times are for U.S. children, and the myriad ways a weakened economy and record joblessness are taking their toll on childhood. A series of recent reports paint a bleak and frightening picture that adds to the anecdotal evidence so readily available from large cities to small rural communities. [...]
Does taking away recess help or hurt?
Is withholding recess a useful tactic for getting children to perform well and behave? Rae Pica at BAM! Radio hosted a recent show on the topic after hearing from a parent of a special education student who said her son’s teacher withholds recess for such infractions as not coloring or cutting the right way. Melinda [...]
In some states, quality issues step to head of the class
The recession is taking its toll and jeopardizing expansion of early childhood in some states, so it was interesting to read this week about effort to ramp up the quality of current programs. The issue of quality is a huge one for child care and early education programs. Professor Sharon Lynn Kagan of Teachers College [...]
Hard times in the U.S. are taking a toll on children
There are some frightening pitfalls ahead for children who are living through these tough economic times. More are living in poverty (more than 1 in 5) and have parents who are unemployed. And a recent report by The Foundation for Child Development predicts the number of children living in poverty will rise to 15.6 million [...]
Tough times ahead for incoming kindergartners?
For the last few years, it looked as if children entering the Cincinnati public schools were coming to kindergarten more prepared then ever, in part due to expanded access to pre-school programs and more coordination between what they learned beforehand and the city’s K-12 curriculum. The recession and budget cuts, however, may be taking a [...]
Should cities help families save for college — starting in kindergarten?
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has presented an interesting idea at a tough time for states and cities — he wants to create college savings for all of the city’s kindergartners and make small deposits to get them started. Problem is, the city is facing a $483 million deficit in its $2.9 billion general fund [...]
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 [...]
Full-day Head Start pre-k gets results in Maryland, study shows
What happens when students get a chance to attend a full-day of a Head Start prekindergarten program instead of a half day? They are more likely to become better readers and to need less in the way of special education services once they get to kindergarten, according to a study released by Montgomery County Public [...]
