ACCESS Collaborative provides parenting students at The Ohio State University with academic and social support as they pursue their dreams of a college education. We support ACCESS Collaborative and other programs that close equity gaps in early childhood education and care, which is essential for businesses and communities to thrive. https://lnkd.in/gvbPcPbh
So impactful to hear the stories of all these parents!
This new report from the team at Start Early provides a valuable look at strategies used by six school districts across the county to ensure that young children with developmental delays and disabilities are served in inclusive early care and education (ECE) settings to play and learn alongside their friends with and without disabilities. Currently only 42% (2 in 5) young children with an individualized Education Program (IEP) are served in a inclusive ECE setting. This new report, along with the recent strong federal Policy Statement: Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs https://lnkd.in/gXj_wZgi that utilizes the National Indicators of High-Quality Inclusion https://lnkd.in/eydt7k4R provide a path forward toward inclusion for ALL. The report highlights Atlanta Public Schools and their goal to transition all preschool children with IEPs from self-contained (segregated) classrooms to inclusive classrooms within one year. The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) needs to hold all states (and in turn school districts) accountable to make meaningful increases in the percentage of preschool age children with IEPs served inclusive ECE settings. #inclusion #inclusionforall #ECSE #earlyintervention
In a new resource, learn how school districts around the country like Chicago Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, The School District of Palm Beach County and more, are supporting inclusion in all early learning setting types, including in community-based early learning programs. The demonstrated benefits and positive outcomes for children with and without disabilities to learn together in inclusive early childhood settings are undeniable – and it is a federal protection and guarantee under IDEA. Explore the various models, key considerations and lessons six large urban school systems across our country have learned to make this critical shift to ensure inclusive early learning programs, regardless of setting:
A recent release from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Including Family Child Care Homes in Publicly-Funded Pre-K Programs: Estimating the Cost of Supporting Quality, provides insightful research which discusses the essential role of Family Child Care (FCC) homes in publicly-funded pre-K programs and estimates the cost of ensuring high-quality early education in these settings. Learn about the crucial policies needed to support FCC providers effectively and bridge the gap in early childhood education funding. https://ow.ly/7Kmv50R7qeU
Governors and state legislatures are investing in early childhood education programs. School districts need guidance on building these programs and collaborating with early childhood educators. California cities like Fresno, Oakland, and East San Jose have improved children's lives by reforming their early childhood systems and developing training and support systems. Read the brief: https://ow.ly/nq8B50QVziA. #earlychildhoodeducation #ece #TeamworkTuesday
Despite the benefits of integrated settings, most early childhood education programs are remarkably segregated. On June 18, join @learning-policy-institute, @the-century-foundation, @new-america-foundation, and @southern-education-foundation for a webinar that will highlight this often overlooked problem and share strategies policymakers and administrators can use to foster integration, as well as examples of cities and states putting these strategies into action. https://bit.ly/3UMU5ji .
Strategic Advising | Public Policy, Advocacy, System-Building, Government, Nonprofits, Youth Development, Public Education
Friends: Partnership for Children and Youth has just released a VERY important publication on why we have to invest more in afterschool and summer experiences for our adolescents. California lawmakers have made a massive commitment to expanded learning programs for kids K-6, but teens got left out and that's a big problem, given all we know about how much out-of-school opportunities matter to young people and their futures. This brief blends evidence and examples that are applicable well beyond California as well, take a look and share!
Passionate about learning, development, and growth. Creating equitable work spaces for women.
In the realm of state politics, the power of advocacy cannot be understated, especially when it comes to early childhood education. As early education professionals and citizens, we have a crucial role in shaping policies that affect our youngest learners. 🔨 The importance of early childhood education in laying the foundation for lifelong learning, emotional well-being, and societal health is immense. Here’s why I’m delighted to add my voice to the conversation alongside Cora Hoppe, Airole Warden, New Futures, Rebecca Whitley and so many others: ⭐️ By engaging with legislators and stakeholders, we can influence where and how resources are allocated, ensuring that early education programs receive the necessary funding and support. 👉🏻 SB404 in its original form! ⭐️ Through persistent advocacy, we can shape legislation that supports comprehensive early childhood education programs, permanent funding sources, curriculum standards, and educator support. ⭐️ Advocacy raises awareness among policymakers and the public about the importance of early education in a child's educational journey, garnering broader support and prioritization. ⭐️ We play a key role in pushing for policies that ensure all children, regardless of their background, have access to high quality, affordable education. The path is clear, in order to have a sustainable future, we need state and federal support. By uniting our voices and leveraging our expertise, we can influence state (and federal) politics in ways that profoundly benefit our communities' educational landscapes. 🎙️ Let's commit to being vocal, informed, and relentless in our advocacy for early childhood education. The future of our children, and our society, depends on it. #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Advocacy #StatePolitics #EducationReform #PolicyChange #CommunityImpact
#DidYouKnow that high-quality early care and education can have profound long-term positive effects on children, including fewer referrals for special education services, fewer grade retentions, and increased likelihood to graduate from high school? For more information on childhood outcomes, visit https://lnkd.in/d-eryHHY!
Nebraskans care about ALL children across our state—and they want quality, affordable early childhood education to be a priority. See the results from a recent We Care for Kids voter survey at the link: https://lnkd.in/grmtFSeu
Interim Vice Provost, Ohio State University
1moAmerican Family Ins has been a tremendous partner to the ACCESS Collaborative and the many families who are achieving great success. Thank you for this beautiful feature, and thank you for being a part of this most impactful network!