Investing In Our Workforce

Investing In Our Workforce

Rep. Hackney Discusses Early Childhood Issues

Represenative Joe Hackney Responds to Chatham County Partnership for Children Candidate Questionnaire Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I have been a reliable friend and a believer in early childhood education and Smart Start throughout the time of our...

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The payoff from early education

"Early childhood education has a tremendous impact on the national economic security and the viability of the American dream." These are the words of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - not typically known for speaking on behalf of children's...

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Poverty Rate for NC Latino Children Skyrockets

The poverty rate for Latino children in North Carolina has skyrocketed in the past decade--going from 28.3% in 2000 to 42.8% in 2009! North Carolina is one of three states highlighted in a new report, A Challenge to Our Nation:...

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Experts Propose Game-Changing Ideas to Improve the Lives of Children

Each week during the month of October, First Focus will release a selection of papers from its new series entitled, Big Ideas: Game-Changers for Children. In an effort to generate new and innovative ideas to improve child well-being in the...

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Children overrepresented among ranks of the very poor

Since 1974, no age group has had a higher percentage of people living in poverty than children. New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed increased child poverty rates in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Further, when...

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A Roadmap to Need: Where Does Your County Stand?

A Roadmap to Need, a new report by the NC Center for Afterschool Programs, uses a variety of indicators to rank North Carolina counties in a "wellness index."  Specifically, the report looks at graduation rate, short-term suspension rate, adults...

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Study Reports NC Spending Could Reach 40 Yr Low

According to a study released this week by the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center, state spending has the potential to fall to its lowest level in nearly 40 years. The study shows that a “cuts-only” approach—or even a...

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Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education

Smart Start featured in U.S. Chamber of Commerce report! From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website: "Ready, Set, Go! Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education,” sheds light on the tremendous impact that early childhood education has on the national economic security and the...

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Washington Post Series on Early Childhood

The Washington Post just completed a week-long series on early childhood issues. Dylan Matthews, a student at Harvard and a researcher at The Washington Post, interviews some of the leading national early childhood policy experts, including: Danielle Ewen, director of child...

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Early Action Pays Off Today and Tomorrow

Excerpted from the The Society for Human Resource Management's publication Meeting the Workforce Needs of the Future Means Meeting the Developmental Needs of Young Children Today. Today’s infants and toddlers are tomorrow’s business leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, health care...

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