Research has shown that the first five years play an enormous role in a child’s ongoing development and future success. Since most kids are in a child care or preschool setting while their parents are at work, it’s critical that we invest in a high-quality early education system that provides the experiences kids need for healthy development.
Washington State is demonstrating how to reform child care. In most states, the child care subsidy programs are struggling, and sustaining truly high quality child care is out of reach. But Washington has blazed a trail worth considering. According to Jennifer Jennings-Shaffer, the early learning policy director at Children’s Alliance,...
Research on development of infants and toddlers is the focus of a new message from the Office of Child Care in Washington, D.C. The report highlights research in the key domains that are foundational for later school readiness and success, including: perceptual, motor, and physical development social and emotional development approaches...
Implementing a universal high-quality prekindergarten program has the potential to substantially narrow racial/ethnic disparities in academic readiness at kindergarten entry, according to a recent blog, How much can high-quality Universal Pre-K reduce achievement gaps? by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The...
This week, the Wisconsin legislature launched the Children’s Caucus Steering Committee, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus co-chaired by Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan). The goal of the caucus will be to research and advocate for promising, evidence-based public policy that will improve...
A new study, It’s time for an ambitious national investment in America’s children, has been released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The report finds that investments in early childhood care and education would have enormous benefits for children, families, society, and the economy. The report endorses several recommendations to...
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