Nearly 75% of NC Early Childhood Professionals On Way to Being Certified

The number of certified Early Educators in North Carolina is rising. Over 12,000 Early Educators are certified and another 19,000 have applied. Nearly 75% of the workforce is on its way to becoming certified. Early Education Certification Benefits. A free year of...

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Being Poor Can Suppress Children's Genetic Potentials

Growing up poor can suppress a child's genetic potential to excel cognitively even before the age of 2, according to research from psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin. The researchers looked at test results from twins who had...

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School Readiness Begins in Infancy

Abstact exerpted from Phi Delta Kappan: New discoveries in neuroscience suggest that school readiness interventions might come too late if they start after the child is three years old. Many of the skills needed to succeed in school are shaped...

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High Quality Early Childhood Results in Better Long-Term Health

North Carolina's Abecedarian Project is once again making news. Science Daily reports that researchers found that individuals who had received the intensive education intervention starting in infancy had significantly better health and better health behaviors as young adults. The Abecedarian project...

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Secretary Duncan on Early Learning and Parent and Community Involvement

Secretary Arne Duncan talks about the importance of early childhood education, and he calls on parents and citizens to get involved and “be part of the solution” in this January 7, 2011, video (via www.ed.gov).

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Children deserve great teachers

The NC Institute for Child Development Professionals  has a new publication intended to increase awareness about some of the many qualities of a great early childhood teacher and the importance of workforce supports. The brochure references supports including those...

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Crisis facing America’s Black children

On Thursday January 13, leaders of the Children’s Defense Fund and the Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC) will release two studies showing the deepening crisis facing America’s Black children and young adults. Marian Wright Edelman and Geoffrey Canada...

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K-3rd Grade Retention Costs State Millions

In the 2008-09 school year, North Carolina spent more than $167 million dollars retaining children in kindergarten through third grade. While the number of children held back in grades K to 3 had been gradually decreasing in the state, it's leveled...

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Nuestros Niños: Promoting School Readiness of Dual Language Learners

Early educators across the nation are experiencing an increase in the enrollment of dual language learners (DLLs).  The researchers at UNC's FPG Child Development Institute have developed and tested an intervention  to improve the quality of teaching practices related to...

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This is one busy baby!

Neural connections are formed at a rapid pace soon after birth. As NPR notes, you can almost see that happening in this video. Check out the NPR story.

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