Category Archives: Preschool

EdSource Today: Obama’s expanded preschool plan likely to be costly

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President Barack Obama has yet to issue any cost estimates for his proposal to expand access to preschool for 4-year-olds, but there is one certainty should Congress approve the program: It will be expensive.

California currently serves about one in five of the state’s low-income 4-year-olds in state-funded preschools at a cost of $3,820 per student, according to the California Department of Education. That covers a half day of preschool for 180 days, the length of a regular school year. Some preschool programs offer full-day services and the state spends additional funds to support those programs. The total spent on state-supported preschools in California in 2011-12 was $368 million, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

via Obama’s expanded preschool plan likely to be costly – by Lillian Mongeau.

SacBee: California preschool advocates want Obama to show them the money

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By Jim Sanders

President Barack Obama’s call for states to provide high-quality preschool for every child was met Wednesday with both applause and skepticism in California, where officials are ready, willing – but not yet able.

Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday hit a sore spot in the nation’s most populous state, where proposals for massive expansions of publicly funded preschool programs were killed by lawmakers in 2007 and voters in 2006.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/14/5189504/california-preschool-advocates.html#mi_rss=Education#storylink=cpy

via California preschool advocates want Obama to show them the money.

Education Week: White House Gives Outline of Early-Childhood Ed. Expansion Plan

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by Alyson Klein

President Barack Obama used his State of the Union speech to make a big splash on early-childhood education, calling for expanding access to preschool programs to just about every child in the country. But he gave almost no details on the plan in his Tuesday address, including how Congress would pay for it in a tight budget year.

While the financing mechanism still remains somewhat cloudy, the White House put forward additional details this morning about just how the effort would work. Much of the funding would appear to come from states, through a partnership arrangement with the federal government. But the administration also wants to beef up other services for very young children and babies, including home visits from social workers and nurses, although it doesn’t say just how much that expansion would cost.

via White House Gives Outline of Early-Childhood Ed. Expansion Plan.

Education Week: Obama Urges Big Preschool Expansion in State of the Union Speech

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by Alyson Klein

President Barack Obama called on Congress in his State of the Union address to significantly expand access to preschool to all 4-year-olds from moderate- and low-income families, and to create a new spin-off of his Race to the Top program aimed at pushing high schools to adopt curricula that better prepare students for the jobs of the future.

He framed both proposals as part of a broader strategy to invest in the nation’s economic future and bolster the middle class—the overaching theme of his first State of the Union speech since winning re-election. The president told the nation his ideas wouldn’t add to the federal deficit, as Washington struggles to rein in spending.

via Obama Urges Big Preschool Expansion in State of the Union Speech.

EdSource Today: Few details accompany Obama’s call for expanded preschool

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In one of the most sweeping policy proposals in his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called for access to high-quality preschool programs for “every child in America.”

The impact the new proposal will have on California and other states is far from clear. Obama said he wanted to work with states to implement his preschool plan, but offered few details. Instead, he focused on studies that have shown the benefits provided by strong early childhood programs.

“Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on – by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime,” Obama said.

via Few details accompany Obama’s call for expanded preschool – by Lillian Mongeau.

Daily Republic: Family resource centers face cutbacks

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by Barry Eberling

FAIRFIELD — Martha Armstrong can use a helping hand from time to time and finds one at the family resource center at Cleo Gordon Elementary School.

Armstrong has been a widow for three years and lives in a Tabor Avenue apartment with her 24-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. She works at a local inventory company.

The family resource center has helped her find resources for rent payments, PG&E payments, clothing, transportation and even household cleaning supplies. On a recent day, Maria Gabbart of the center came to Armstrong’s apartment to talk about enrolling her Armstrong’s son in kindergarten and to talk about child development and parenting.

via Family resource centers face cutbacks.

Benicia Herald: Benicia Preschool fair to launch Saturday

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By Keri Luiz, Assistant Editor

Benicia Schools Superintendent Janice Adams will join a host of local parents Saturday for a first-of-its-kind preschool fair at Liberty High School.

Benicia Moms Group, a group for women who have children younger than school age, has partnered with the Benicia Unified School District and participating preschools to launch the preschool fair, intended to be a “one-stop shop” for parents looking for a preschool in Benicia, mom and group member Ann Brooner said.

“Many parents and guardians have questions regarding preschool,” Brooner said in a news release, including, “When should my child start? Which preschool is right for my child? Does my child need to be potty trained?”

via Preschool fair to launch Saturday.

The Educated Guess: Several governors tackle early childhood education, but not Gov. Brown

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Unlike Gov. Jerry Brown, several governors have started the year highlighting early childhood education programs, according to a story in Education Week.

Govs. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., Rick Snyder, R-Mich., and Mike Pence, R-Ind., all used January speeches to propose expansions of early childhood education programs in their states from state preschool to full-day kindergarten. Govs. Peter Shumlin, D-Vt., and Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, also talked about the importance of investing in early childhood education in January speeches, according to the Education Week story.

via Several governors tackle early childhood education, but not Gov. Brown – by Lillian Mongeau.

EdSource Today Q&A: What do early childhood educators need to know?

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Dr. Marcy Whitebook has been part of the early education world since the early 1970s, when she graduated college and went to work as a preschool teacher. Today she’s the director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley. As part of a new, occasional Question and Answer series with leaders in California education, EdSource Today’s Lillian Mongeau sat down with Whitebook in her office in January.

The conversation delved into several issues, but dwelt on the current debate over how much training and education should be required for preschool teachers. Most early education classrooms have a “classroom teacher” or “lead teacher” as well as one or more “assistant teachers.” Right now, the only requirement for lead teachers is that they have a certificate, called a Child Development Associate, that requires a few semesters of coursework and some experience in the classroom. Head Start has been pushing for more of its lead teachers to earn a bachelor’s degree and, as we reported, that push has gained traction in California. There is not much discussion about requiring bachelor’s degrees for assistant teachers, though many of them pursue the degree in order to move up and become a lead teacher.

via Q&A: What do early childhood educators need to know? – by Lillian Mongeau.

EdSource Today: Early childhood funding stays flat in governor’s budget

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After years of funding cuts to early childhood programs, Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget would keep funding levels nearly the same as last year.

“There was no restoration of the cuts from recent years, but no additional cuts,” said Rachel Ehlers of the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Brown’s budget allocates $2.2 billion, including designated federal funds, to cover child care and state preschool for 340,000 children in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Some funding would be moved around within the CalWORKS child care program for low-income children, but it would not affect the number of children served or the overall funding available.

via Early childhood funding stays flat in governor’s budget – by Lillian Mongeau.

The Educated Guess: Dearth of child care options for low-income families in Los Angeles County

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by Lillian Mongeau

A report out today by a coalition of government organizations and early learning advocates, shows just how severely the $1.2 billion cut to state funding for early childhood education has affected Los Angeles County. Since 2008, 1,400 locations, or 15 percent of licensed child care centers in the county that had served 11,200 infants and toddlers have closed.

Laura Escobedo, the child care planning coordinator for L.A. County, said nearly a third of the statewide cut, or about $400 million dollars, came out of her county’s budget. Much of the data in today’s report was gathered by Escobedo’s organization in cooperation with L.A. County Head Start and Los Angeles Universal Preschool. Escobedo said they knew there had been a reduction in child care spots and they wanted to pinpoint how severely that reduction had affected individual neighborhoods and districts. Once the data was compiled and worked into a single database, Escobedo said it was clear to her that funding cuts have brought the early childhood care system in her county to the brink.

via Dearth of child care options for low-income families in Los Angeles County – by Lillian Mongeau.

EdSource Today: Preschool math curriculum faces significant challenges

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By Louis Freedberg

Despite research showing the crucial importance of math at a preschool level for future academic success, preschool programs face significant obstacles in implementing an effective math program, according to interviews with early childhood instructors and preschool administrators.

The greatest obstacle cited in the interviews conducted by EdSource over the past month is the lack of math content and training in how to teach it among preschool staff. Other obstacles cited included the logistics and costs of providing in-service training, the impact of the budget crisis on providing professional development, and widespread “math anxiety” among preschool staff who have often struggled with math earlier in their careers.

via Preschool math curriculum faces significant challenges – by Louis Freedberg.

Education Week: Romney’s Comments About Parents, Early Ed Raise Eyebrows

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by Alyson Klein

Earlier this week, NBC’s Brian Williams asked Mitt Romney about his plans for early childhood education. Romney didn’t spell out any new initiatives; instead, he focused on the role of parents, saying that it can be “extraordinarily important” for one parent to stay home with their child during the early years. More here.

That answer may have made folks who think the federal government should use the bully pulpit to encourage parent responsibility very happy. But it also raised some eyebrows yesterday from panelists at a New America Foundation event in Washington exploring early childhood education and the presidential campaign. Watch it here.

via Romney’s Comments About Parents, Early Ed Raise Eyebrows.

Daily Republic: T.C. McDaniel Center holds trike-a-thon

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by Barry Eberling

FAIRFIELD — Four-year-old Jocilyn Ortega had just spent some 20 minutes riding a tricycle around the school playground to the strains of “Chariots of Fire” and other music.

“Fun,” she said.

And, though she had to stop at that point, she had another preference.

“Keep going,” she said.

“Fun” and “keep going.” Those could have been slogans for the fifth annual T.C. McDaniel Center Trike-A-Thon on Wednesday.

via T.C. McDaniel Center holds trike-a-thon.

Vallejo Times-Herald: Solano College gets $21,000 grant from First 5 for children’s programs

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FAIRFIELD — Solano Community College has received a $21,000 grant to pay for a variety of children’s programs, the school announced.

The Solano County First 5 Children and Families Commission funds will be used for training, technical assistance, and to buy classroom materials for campus children’s programs.

via Solano College gets $21000 grant from Five 5 for children’s programs.

Daily Republic: Solano College awarded grant for children’s programs

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by Danny Bernardini

FAIRFIELD — Thanks to a $21,000 grant, the Solano Community College Children’s Program will get training, technical assistance and will purchase classroom materials.

Awarded by the Solano County First 5 Children and Families Commission, the grant will run from September of this year to June, 2015. Along with the grant money, the toddler and an early preschool classroom were selected to participate in the Child Signature project, which sets out enhance early learning services.

via Solano College awarded grant for children’s programs.

Daily Republic: TC McDaniel Trike-A-Thon set

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by Heather Ah San

FAIRFIELD — The TC McDaniel Early Learning Center is holding a Trike-A-Thon fundraiser on Sept. 26.

The event supports motor development in preschoolers with all ability levels.

Play equipment at the school, like trikes, sandbox toys and balls needs to be replaced each year. The Trike-A-Thon helps raise money for the new supplies.

via TC McDaniel Trike-A-Thon set.

EdSource Today: California nearly last in children’s well-being

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By Kathryn Baron

California is doing slightly better by its kids but still has a long way to go, ranking 41st out of 50 states in the overall well-being of children. The 2012 Kids Count report, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, measures how well children are faring on 16 different indicators in education, economic well-being, health, and family and community.

California showed improvements in 10 of the 16 categories, including education. The brightest spot is health, where it ranked 23rd, primarily due to good prenatal care and increasing numbers of children with health insurance. But despite some improvements in other categories, the state was near the bottom everywhere else, ranking 42nd in family and community, 43rd in education, and 45th in economic well-being.

“This report shows California is continuing to sell children short,” said Ted Lempert, President of the Oakland-based Children Now, in a written statement.

via California nearly last in children’s well-being – by Kathryn Baron.

The Educated Guess: Leg erases Gov’s ed reforms

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By Kathryn Baron

John Fensterwald co-authored this article.

The Legislature’s budget package is missing many of Gov. Brown’s controversial education initiatives. A joint Senate and Assembly plan outlined yesterday protects transitional kindergarten, the science mandate, and the AVID program, rejects the weighted student funding formula, and offers districts a choice in how they’re paid for state mandates.

“This budget protects and invests in public education this year, and increases Proposition 98 funding by $17 billion over the next four years,” said Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez during a press conference Wednesday morning with Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

The overall budget plan that lawmakers will vote on this Friday would erase California’s $20 billion structural deficit, balance the budget for each of the next three years, and create a $2 billion reserve by fiscal year 2015-16, according to Pérez and Steinberg.

Spending for K-12 education would be $53.6 billion for the 2012-13 fiscal year. That’s about $1 billion more than the governor had anticipated. Because the budget assumes more revenue for education through the passage of Brown’s tax initiative in November, the state is obligated under Proposition 98 to start paying off the “maintenance factor,” the IOUs given to schools during bad times. But if the tax increase fails, the Legislature and governor are in accord on the need for cuts of $5.5 billion for K-12 schools and community colleges. That would translate to a K-12 cut of $450 per student.

via Leg erases Gov’s ed reforms – by Kathryn Baron.