Weekly E-News

Hot Topics

New 2024 State Fact Sheets on federal and state funding in Early Childhood from FFYF

FFYF’s latest State Fact Sheets for 2024 detail the impact of federal and state investments in child care and early education across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Included are programs like the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5), Head Start, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) as well as state contributions to these and other programs such as state pre-K. Despite bipartisan support, current funding leaves millions of eligible children without access to these opportunities. Learn more about the impact and challenges of early childhood funding in our latest analysis for one state below.

NIEER Activity 

Join us at the National Institute for Early Education Research! We have a new opening for an Assistant Research Professor to contribute to multiple streams of research on early childhood care and education policy. 

Apply Now: https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/232218

🎉 Announcing The Enriching Public Pre-K Through Inclusion Of Family Child Care (EPIC FCC) Initiative
Home Grown is now accepting applications for the inaugural cohort of the Enriching Public Pre-K Through Inclusion of Family Child Care (EPIC FCC) initiative. Facilitated by NIEER, the EPIC FCC initiative seeks to support state, city, county, and tribal government leaders in expanding the participation of family child care (FCC) educators in their pre-K systems or engaging FCC educators in these pre-K systems for the first time. Click here to learn more and apply  

Our latest headline: Pre-K enrollment in Maryland ticks back up under Blueprint. What are benefits, challenges?

NIEER’s Allison Friedman-Krauss and Tracy Merriman Jost recently spoke with Herald-Mail Media about the current state of Maryland’s Pre-K. Despite several challenges, pre-K enrollment in Maryland is on the rise. The Blueprint for Maryland's Future, implemented in 2021, aims to offer state-funded pre-K to all low-income 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 fiscal year. Read the full article

IJECCP

Child Care Friendly Policies and Integration of ECEC in Taiwan

This article, written by Chih-Peng Chiu and Suechun Wei, examines the development of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) policy in Taiwan, focusing on its impact on female labor force participation and birth rates. It provides a historical overview of ECEC services in Taiwan, supplemented by relevant statistics, and highlights significant policy initiatives that signal a shift in the government's role. These initiatives include "woman/family-friendly policies" such as maternity and paternity leaves, parental leave, flexible working hours, and family leave, as well as "child care friendly policies" like subsidies for infant care, an early childhood education voucher program, and the Free Tuition Education Project for 5-year-old children. 

Research

Family Engagement Practices and Children’s Attendance and Early Learning Skills in a Public Pre-Kindergarten Program

When researchers examined data from pre-K teachers and administrators in a mid-sized urban district, they found that teacher communication with families significantly reduced chronic absenteeism. However, the impact of family engagement practices on early literacy and socioemotional skills varied depending on child, family, and program characteristics. The findings suggest that tailored family engagement strategies can enhance preschool program effectiveness, and the study authors call for further research into these varied effects. The study was authored by Alejandra Ros Pilarz, Ying-Chun Lin, and Elizabeth Premo.

Cultural and Linguistic Adaptation of Parent-Implemented Language Interventions for At-Risk Children: A Systematic Review

This systematic review by researchers Victoria J. Johnson and Jamlick Peter Ondieki Bosire, examines the role of cultural and linguistic adaptation in parent-implemented language interventions aimed at children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The authors emphasize the need for interventions to align with recipients' cultural practices and linguistic preferences to enhance social validity and community engagement. They argue that this approach not only supports children's language development but also fosters pride in participants' cultural heritage.

Classroom Coping Strategies of Children with Motor Difficulties: The Effects of Motor Development in the Classroom

Researchers Sally A. Hannah, Leanne M. Johnston, John Cairney, and Michael Gard have published findings highlighting the challenges faced by children with low motor competency during their first year in mainstream education. The study examined coping strategies and behaviors among children with poor gross motor development in the classroom. The researchers report diverse coping behaviors, encompassing emotional, physical, social, and cognitive responses among participants.

Prevalence and Predictors of Multiple, Concurrent Public Early Childhood Education Utilization among Head Start Children

A new report examining early childhood education program participation among Head Start families found that 61% of children enrolled in HS also utilized other public ECE programs. Using integrated administrative data, the study revealed that over 40% of these children participated in state-funded pre-kindergarten. The study highlights the potential benefits of strong partnerships among ECE programs in meeting the diverse childcare needs of low-income families. The study was authored by Laura Betancur, Ji Young Choi, and Heather L. Rouse.

Opportunities 

• Policy Area Director, Families & Children, MDRC
• Secretary, Department of Early Childhood, Illinois
• Children and Family Fellowship, AECF
• Associate Director, Technical Assistance, CSCCE
• Deputy Chief, Early Childhood Education, DC Public Schools
• Education Program Consultant, Kansas Dept. of Education
• Associate Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships, ECFC
• Professional Learning Manager, McCormick Center
• EC Philanthropy Engagement Consultant, MA Early Childhood Funding Collaborative