Sharing Web Resources

The NAEYC has three publications that I find extremely relevant to my current professional development.  As a preschool owner and teacher, Spotlight on Young Children, Young Children (YC), and Connections (the Journal of the California Association for the Education of Young Children, CAEYC) include articles that are current, relevant and incredibly useful in my day-to-day teaching.

In the Winter, 2014 issue of Connections, an article titled: “CAEYC looking to the Future of Early Care and Education in the State”, discusses the results of the recession on the early childhood field. Sadly, in 2012, “only 21-30% of four-year-olds were served in preschool in California. In the great recession, early education has been sacrificed and hopefully a new era will change that” (Thompson, 2014, p. 23).

Economists and policy makers have been reading the research from the Perry Preschool Project about the return on the investment of the dollar by funding early education programs. Results show that for every $1 invested, the rate of return on the dollar was at least $8 or 16%. (Thompson) These results prove that the school readiness gap is equal to the achievement gap for children at the end of third grade (where children are no longer learning to read, but reading to learn). (Thompson)  Children who are below grade level by the end of third grade are more likely to stay behind grade level making them at risk for school failure and more negative outcomes in life. (Thompson)

Thank goodness, in Washington “a new federal Early Learning Plan was introduced as a bipartisan proposal that will expand high-quality early childhood education for children birth to five years of age” (Thompson, p. 23). This proposal will expand access to quality voluntary preschool for four-year-olds, enhance Early Head Start funding, allow states to use a portion of their pre-k dollars to provide high quality care settings for infants and toddlers, and expand evidence based home visiting programs to help parents. (Thompson)

In California, we are ready to begin rebuilding after years of funding cuts. CAEYC will be at the forefront of discussions with policy makers and through various advocacy efforts. (Thompson) “A new era is coming backed by research and facts” (Thompson, p. 23). We as early childhood professionals must help in the effort to advocate for high-quality environments for young children where they can play, learn, and thrive.

References

            Thompson, K., (2014) “CAEYC looking to the Future of Early Care and Education in the State”, Connections, the Journal of the California Association for the Education of Young Children, (Winter 2014)