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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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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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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What It Takes to Build Birth-to-College Education

The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute and the Ounce of Prevention Fund are partnering to “build a model of public education for children and their families that begins at birth and creates success in school, college, and life.” The goal is...

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Education Reform that Works: Early Childhood Education

"There’s an education reform strategy that has 50 years of solid research behind it, with proven results that demonstrate how to improve student achievement. It’s a solution backed by both political parties to help narrow the achievement gap, increase...

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Are Teacher Education Programs Aligning with PreK-3 Model?

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University looked at how teacher education programs are aligned with the PreK-3rd approach. Not surprisingly perhaps, the researchers found tension between early childhood education and elementary teacher education programs. These tensions ranged from disrespectful attitudes...

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Improving Early Childhood Quality with Professional Development

Lifting Pre-K Quality:Caring and Effective Teachers, a new report by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Texas, Houston, recommends the implementation of intensive teacher training and mentoring at the preschool level. It looks at...

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