January 2014 Archives

In their great NYT op-ed today on what policymakers should do to maximize the impact of pre-k investments, Dan Willingham and David Grissmer make two equally key points: 1) Policymakers need to do a better job of ensuring that pre-k standards and quality definitions actually implement what research tells us makes a difference for preschool learning (hint: lots of programs don't do this), 2) That said, we don't know as much as we should about how to do pre-k well, and policymakers can--should-- design pre-k expansion in ways that enhance our knowledge so that further expansion can have even greater ...

All this talk about pre-k in New York and New Jersey reminded me of Sophia Pappas' great book Goodmorning, Children. Sophia started out her career as a teacher in an Abbott-funded pre-k program in New Jersey, and currently runs early childhood programs for the New York City Public Schools. Her book is a great resource for anyone who wants the teacher's and kid's level perspective on what good preschool looks like--and the difference it makes in kids lives . And if you want to know more about New Jersey's Abbott pre-k programs, check out this report I wrote for New America ...

I'm got a new piece up at Slate urging New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio to learn from New Jersey's Abbott pre-k program and prioritize quality, data, curriculum, and diverse providers as he seeks to expand pre-k access in New York For past commentary on deBlasio's pre-k expansion plans, see here....

As I mentioned in this previous post, the Omnibus appropriations bill includes $500 million for expansion of Head Start services for infants and toddlers. Under the language of the bill, these funds can be used for expansion of Early Head Start programs, conversion of existing Head Start to Early Head Start slots, or new discretionary grants for Early Head Start-Child Care partnerships proposed by the administration in its FY2014 budget proposal. While funds will have to be used for these purposes, my understanding is that the administration has significant discretion in how to prioritize and develop a process for allocating/awarding...

As numerous media outlets are reporting, early childhood education, and particularly Head Start, are looking like winners in the ombnibus appropriations agreement reached by Congressional negotiators last night. A quick summary of what you know: Head Start: The Omnibus would provide nearly $8.6 billion in funding for Head Start, which would not only restore funds cut from Head Start agencies by sequestration, but increase them by about $612 million above the pre-sequestration level. How will funds be used? Of the nearly $8.6 billion in funds, nearly $8.1 will be allocated through the existing Head Start formula (primarily ...