Entries for the 'Policy' Category

Twenty-two governors mentioned early care and education in their 2012 state of the state addresses.  The excerpts from the speeches related to early care and education, along with links to the entire speeches, are provided below. (Seven states have not had, nor are they scheduled to have, state of the state addresses.)  All of the state of the state addresses are available at here.

According to the latest annual report released by the Data Quality Campaign, while states have made strong progress increasing their capacity to build and use data systems, they are not yet helping teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders use the data to inform decisions to improve student achievement.

Learn how to make the most out of the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC).  BUILD, The First Five Years Fund and The Birth to Five Policy Alliance have joined forces in creating the Early Learning Challenge Collaborative.

This glossary by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) is intended to serve as a guide for states to adapt and adjust as needed.  The definitions are also designed to provide common understandings, or starting points, for research and national or cross-state discussions.  The definitions were developed for those who provide professional development, state policy makers, early education advocates, and program administrators working to connect professional development activities and initiatives into an integrated system.

This planning tool from ZERO TO THREE guides communities through the process of creating new or expanding existing home visiting services that meet their unique needs.  The guide helps communities use data to identify thier strengths, needs, and gaps in current home visiting services.

Recent policy brief from ZERO TO THREE focuses on strengthening systems that support professional development for the multidisciplinary infant-toddler workforce.

From the classroom to the legislature, stakeholders can use data about young children, early childhood programs and the workforce to improve the effectiveness of early care and education.

This report from NCCP presents findings from an interview study that investigated features of the professional development and on-site assistance available to center-based staff and home-based providers who participate in states’ Quality Rating Improvement Systems.

State-by-state fact sheets from The National Women's Law Center's report, Supporting Affordable, High-Quality Child Care with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds, provide information on how the economic recovery funds are being used by states for child care and early education efforts.

This post from the Center for Law and Social Policy details information on how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds were used for child care purposes in 2009.

This study from the Center for the Study Child Care Employment examines the career backgrounds and professional development needs of those working in child care resource and referral programs, local First 5 commissions, and child care coordinators across the state.

This new report from NCSL focuses on how states currently assess school readiness, as indicated by the use of assessment at kindergarten. Also detailed is information on how readiness information is used and reported within the states. Included in this scan are states that have universal or near-universal kindergarten assessment on an ongoing basis, as indicated through state statute, administrative code, or the state department of education's website.

A new guide is available from Child Trends to help states apply for federal home visiting grants. The guide outlines key steps for completing the grant application process and provides national and state-level data useful to applicants conducting needs assessments, identifying high-risk populations, and selecting and measuring benchmarks.

A new Child Trends brief provides an overview of state Early Learning Guidelines and efforts to monitor statewide school readiness across multiple domains of development and outlines key policy considerations for supporting and tracking school readiness at the state level.

This report is the first product of the QRS Assessment project and provides detailed information on 26 QRS nationwide and comparison tables to facilitate review across states and individual profiles on the 26 state systems reviewed.

This report from NCSL, presents an analysis of overall trends in early care and education budget decisions and actions in child care, prekindergarten, home visiting and related early childhood investments.

This white paper, from the National Council of La Raza, examines how states are working to build comprehensive early learning standards and to address issues of professional development to ensure the success of Latino and English language learner children and families.

President Obama, on February 1, presented his FY 2011 budget proposal to Congress. This document from CLASP, offers a blueprint of the president's early childhood education spending priorities for the coming year.

The Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC) is a new consortium of national organizations convened to help state policymakers build, link, and use early childhood data systems.

A new technical assistance opportunity from ZERO TO THREE to support states in the integration of Early Head Start and existing early childhood systems to expand high-quality services for infants and toddlers.

Learn more about how the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 will impact children and their families in this fact sheet from the National Women’s Law Center.

This fact sheet from the Center on Law and Social Policy, provides a snapshot of CCDBG program participation 2008.

A new policy report from CLASP analyzes what the 50 states and DC reported in their state CCDBG plans for FY 2008-2009.

A new paper from CLASP explores how home visiting can be responsive to the realities of children's daily lives when they spend significant time in the care of someone other than a parent.

A collection of ARRA reports and resources from ZERO TO THREE. ARRA Related Links

A collection of ARRA reports and resources from NACCRRA. ARRA Related Links

A collection of ARRA reports and resources from CLASP. ARRA Related Links

An interactive map with state by state appropriations from the Center for American Progress. ARRA 50 State Information

This chart from the Administration for Children and Families shows how ARRA money through the Child Care and Development Block Grant is to be distributed. ARRA 50 State Information

From the Education Commission of the States provides examples of using short term funds to provide long term results. ARRA Guidance and Commentary

Urban Institute researchers take a closer look at key components of ARRA. ARRA Guidance and Commentary

ARRA Models on using Title I dollars to fund Early Care and Education Efforts from CLASP. ARRA Guidance and Commentary

From ZERO TO THREE, a breakdown of early childhood sections of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ARRA Overviews

This chart from NAEYC lays out the final conference agreement between the House and Senate. ARRA Overviews

An outline of Human Services Provisions contained in ARRA from NCSL. ARRA Overviews

From NCSL, an outline of Education provisions included in ARRA. ARRA Overviews

From ZERO TO THREE, details the paths taken by several different states in the creation of unique 0-5 systems. 

A governor’s guide to investing in early care and education from NGA. 

This report from NCSL shows an increase of over $1 billion to state early care and education programs from FY 2007 to FY 2008. 

Learn about several recommendations from ZERO TO THREE on how to revise early learning guidelines to improve outcomes for children ages 0-3.

This report discusses policy options for early care and education workforce development from NAEYC.

Dr. Edward Zigler offers suggestions on how to make Title I more effective for young children.

A report from the American Psychological Association that examines the impact early head start has on 3-year-olds and their families.

This report from ZERO TO THREE provides policy recommendations based on the National Evaluation of Head Start.

Danielle Ewen of CLASP outlines the importance of Head Start and Early Head Start as means of support for at risk children.

This report from CLASP, details the growth of pre-kindergarten through community based child care providers. Early Learning

A joint report from CLASP and NWLC explores how ARRA money can fund new child care policy options.

Learn the federal requirements for state Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds.  From The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). 

 A report from CLASP lays out 10 policy ideas to improve child care using federal ARRA funds.

From Build, how Quality Rating and Improvement Systems can be used to improve outcomes for English Language Learners.

This report from Build, discusses potential resources for early childhood and how ARRA funds could be used to support Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS).

Federal ARRA Site
U.S. Department of Education ARRA information
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ARRA information

State Recovery Pages

A collection of ARRA reports and resources from NAEYC. ARRA Related Links

In this paper, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment looks to bridge the gap in perception and treatment between early care and education and K-12 in part, to help develop a coordinated research agenda.