A burst of good news for the early learning world has marked the end of 2011, and we have compiled a list of reading for the holiday break that not only celebrates the wins, but also looks ahead.
Why is this important? Across the state, more than one-third of kindergarteners started school below the expected skill level. These differences are even larger for economically disadvantaged children, pointing to the continued need for accessible, high-quality early learning programs for low-income children and families. -- 12/22/11.
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The Children’s Alliance recognizes the victory as “one of the most significant moments in the history of early learning in Washington.”
The roots of our Early Learning Challenge Fund victory took hold when the Children’s Alliance and others lobbied the legislature to establish the Department of Early Learning in 2006. -- “Decades of work on early learning pay off.” 12/19/11.
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Attention is already turning to the next Race to the Top – Congress tucked $550 million into its fiscal 2012 omnibus spending bill for a new contest – and how it could be more effective. New America Foundation’s Laura Bornfreund looks at the race’s future in a thoughtful
essay.
Still I think high-profile competitions are the best way for the federal government to drive change in certain reform areas as long as research and evaluation are a component in guiding future funding. Competitive grants, however, should not replace regular federal formula grant funding, like Title I to support disadvantaged students, for states and school districts. -- “Make the Race Pre-K-12.” National Journal on Education. 12/19/11.
(For a look into the future and how states can stumble in these races, read this Politics K-12 story on Hawaii’s problems implementing its K-12 Race to the Top grant.)
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Finally, Early Ed Watch provides one of the best rundowns of
“The Top Early Ed News of 2011." (Not surprisingly, the early learning Race to the Top is number one)