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Welcome to the NC Ready Schools Learning Community. This e-Newsletter has been developed by The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. to keep you informed regarding the Ready Schools Initiative in North Carolina and across the country. Please feel free to forward it to others or email readyschools@ncsmartstart.org to subscribe. We welcome your input and feedback. |
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Pre-Kindergarten-3rd grade: A New Beginning for American Education |
The New School Foundation (Seattle, WA) and the Foundation for Child Development have released an eight-minute video Pre-Kindergarten - 3rd Grade: A New Beginning for American Education.
Aimed at educators and policymakers, the video highlights PreK-3rd in action at the South Shore School, a PreK-8 public school in Seattle. It makes the case for an integrated PreK-3rd approach, beginning with high-quality early education programs and building on the benefits of those programs through elementary school years and beyond.
The South Shore School is part of a national PreK-3rd movement of schools, districts, educators and universities seeking to turn around failing schools and raise the achievement levels of children from ages 3 to 8. The video, with information on PreK-3rd, can be viewed at www.prek-3rd.org. |
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Alternatives to Retention in the Early Grades |
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Grade retention has been a frequently used strategy for students who are not achieving at grade level. However, the extent of its use varies widely among schools and districts. Research generally has not supported it as an effective intervention strategy, yet educators and many parents strongly believe in its effectiveness to boost learning. |
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N.C. Guide to the Early Years - 2nd Edition |
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Connecting Research and Policy |
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Over the summer, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Foundation for Child Development (FCD) organized a summer institute for young scholars on the connection between research and education policy.
The institute addressed (1) how findings from research can be used to inform education policy, and (2) how to identify and communicate policy implications from the research.
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Federal Context and Funding Opportunities for PreK-3rd |
In November, Early Ed Watch's Sara Mead gave a presentation at a Harvard Graduate School of Education PreK-3rd Institute that offers a good primer on the federal policy climate for PreK-3rd reforms. The presentation, Federal Context and Funding Opportunities for PreK-3rd, provides a comprehensive overview of the federal funding streams that states, schools, and ECE providers can use to support PreK-3rd work. It also outlines the recent and upcoming federal policy developments that should create potential opportunities for PreK-3rd reformers. To view the PowerPoint click here,
http://earlyed.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/profiles/attachments/ MeadHGSEPreK3rd%20powerpoint%20updated%20011210.pdf |
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What's Ahead for Head Start? |
On January 13, 2010, the Obama Administration released results from a long-awaited study on Head Start, the federal government's preschool program for children in poverty. The first installment of Head Start Impact Study, released in 2005, showed that children who had been through Head Start were better prepared for school compared to non-Head Start children. These results, however, show that by the end of the kindergarten and 1st grade years, those advantages appear to wash out.
The question is: Why? The New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative can provide resources, context and expertise to reporters who are seeking to answer that question. Lisa Guernsey, director of the Early Education Initiative, is available to comment on the latest findings. She is also the co-author of a recent series of articles on Early Ed Watch, titled "What's Ahead for Head Start?" Guernsey can provide information about:
- Design and limitations of the Impact Study
- How the 2007 reauthorization of Head Start is designed to improve program quality
- How this relates to the long-term trend toward providing more high-quality pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
For more information, contact Lisa Guernsey at 202-596-3380 or guernsey@newamerica.net.
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Report stresses the importance of early education |
12-13-09
League of Education Voters Foundation released a new report outlining the importance of pre-kindergarten education and how lawmakers in Olympia should ensure funding so all children in Washington are on an equal playing field before entering the school system. To read the report, click here.
http://kpbj.com/people/education/2009-12-12/report_stresses_importance_of_early_childhood_education_urges_lawmakers_
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Education Reform Starts Early: Lessons from New Jersey |
A new report from the New America Foundation finds that New Jersey has made tremendous strides in improving children's access to high-quality early learning experiences, enabling some districts to nearly close the achievement gap.
In Education Reform Starts Early: Lessons from New Jersey's PreK-3rd Reform, Sara Mead provides a blueprint for creating a high-quality, well-aligned education system that sustains children's learning gains from Pre-Kindergarten through the Third Grade and beyond. Mead describes how New Jersey became a national leader in early education and PreK-3rd reform, and makes recommendations for state and national policymakers.
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New from Harvard Family Research Project |
How to Develop a Logic Model for District-wide Family Engagement Strategies is a step-by-step guide to help you understand and develop a logic model for district-wide family engagement efforts. It is designed to accompany Seeing is Believing: Promising Practices for How School Districts Promote Family Engagement, a policy brief created by Harvard Family Research Project and the National PTA.
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Professional Development/
Training/Conferences
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Smart Start Online Conference 2010. From Vision to Reality: Essential Elements of State Early Childhood Systems |
February 18, 2010
11 AM to 6 PM (EST)
The new federal administration has added fresh energy and initiative to the early childhood work that has been taking place in states. One example is the proposed Early Childhood Challenge Fund, and its focus on the essential elements within a state early childhood development system. The National Smart Start Conference Online will elaborate on this vision and present promising practices for implementing the essential elements.
The conference will feature Joan Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the keynote address. Dr. Lombardi's presentation will be followed by presentations on the key topics that our federal partners are "studying" as they gear up for helping states implement the challenge fund. These include:
- Data,
- Quality measures,
- Family engagement , and
- Professional development.
Each presentation will feature a national expert and local and state leaders who have demonstrated promising practices in each of these areas.
We will close the day with Stephanie Fanjul, president of The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. She will share reflections, recommendations and next steps.
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Play Outside! North Carolina's initiative to enhance the quantity and quality of young children's experiences outdoors-webinar |
On March 4th from 3:30pm to 4:30pm this session will:
1. Provide review of research regarding (a) importance of outdoor play for healthy growth and development of children of all ages and abilities; (b) factors leading to growing "nature deficit" in the lives of young children; and (c) characteristics of effective professional development activities for teachers of young children.
2. Describe the evolution of The North Carolina Children and Nature Coalition (NCCAN!) a state-wide alliance to address this issue through collaborative efforts of representatives from a wide spectrum state and community agencies (early childhood education, health, licensing, in-service and pre-service professional development). Provide examples of projects that have emerged through the partnerships formed by this alliance.
3. Share specific strategies and tools developed for (a) assessing the quality of outdoor learning environments; (b) addressing perceived barriers (e.g. licensing regulations); and (c) helping teachers and future teachers develop an appreciation for outdoor play, a vision of what high-quality outdoor environments can be, and the skills to support children's experiences outdoors.
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Are You on the Map? |
It's time to update the Ready Schools map. What Ready Schools activities are happening in your community? Are there new schools participating? Do you have a community Ready Schools Team? Do you have a conference or professional development opportunity to share? If so, send stories and announcements to readyschools@ncsmartstart.org. Sincerely,
Kirsten Aleman The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. | |
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