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Quality
High quality early-childhood programs go well beyond basic health and safety regulations to provide children an enriching and nurturing preschool experience.
The physical space is one indicator of quality. High quality classrooms are equipped with playacting items, building materials, books, puzzles, and other educational materials, and children also have sufficient outside place space. Programs with small group sizes and low staff-to-child ratios are also considered to be of higher quality.
A third indicator focuses on the educational levels of the teachers. In recent years, experts and policymakers have been calling for higher credentials for those who teach young children. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, high-quality programs also provide plenty of opportunities for conversation between children and teachers, and they involve parents and offer art, music and other arts activities.
Accreditation also gives parents and the public another standard to follow. Accreditation provided by the National Association for the Education of Young Children is the most widely known and several states require publicly funded programs to be accredited or at least adhere to the NAEYC standards.
In recent years, several states have also developed or upgraded their own standards for child care and preschool programs.
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Sue Russell
Executive Director
Child Care Services Association
Chapel Hill, N.C.
(919) 967-3272
Helped create the TEACH Early Childhood program to improve educational levels ofchild-care and preschool teachers.
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W. Steve Barnett
Director
National Institute for Early Education Research
New Brunswick, N.J.
(732) 932-4350 ext. 228
www.nieer.org
An economist who focuses on early-childhood education policy and the long-term cost benefits of preschool.
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Early Ed Watch Blog
The Early Ed Watch Blog provides up-to-the-minute analysis, reporting, and commentary focused on policies that affect children's access to high-quality, aligned PK-3 educational programs for our children from ages 3 through 8.
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Mark Ginsberg
Leads national organization representing researchers, teachers, and anyone involved in the education of children from birth through age 8.
Executive Director
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Washington, D.C.
(202) 232-8777
mginsberg@naeyc.org
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Richard Clifford
Expert on quality of child care and early-childhood education programs and conducts research on school-based prekindergarten programs.
Senior Scientist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrboro, NC
(919) 962-4737
dickclifford@unc.edu
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Catherine Scott-Little
Conducting research on content standards for state preschool programs.
Senior Program Specialist
SERVE
Greensboro, N.C.
(336) 315-7400; (800) 755-3277
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Gerrit Westervelt
Leads nonprofit organization in Colorado working to improve the quality of child care and early learning programs.
President
Educare Colorado
Denver, CO
(877) EDUCARE
(303) 322-1553
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Beyond the School Yard: Pre-K Collaborations with Community-Based Partners
A report released by PreK Now finds that less than 30 percent of the country’s three and four year olds are served in publicly funded early education programs. Pre K Now examines some of the collaborations between school and community based providers and other organizations. The report analyzes the basis/challenges for partnerships. Pre K Now also gives recommendations to policymakers on how to help states. August 2009
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Early Care and Education Quality and Child Outcomes
By Peg Burchinal
While research to date is quite consistent in showing that measures of quality in early care and education settings and measures of children’s development are linked when examined in individual research studies, there has not been a systematic examination of the strength of these
relationships across multiple studies.
Child Trends May 2009
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Disparities in Early Learning and Development: Lessons from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort A new Child Trends study commissioned by the Council of Chief State School Officers finds that disparities between poor, at-risk children and more advantaged children are evident as early as nine months of age and grow larger by 24 months of age. June, 2009
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Report Calls For New Initiative to Improve Math Education for Preschoolers
Opportunities for preschoolers to learn mathematics are currently inadequate, particularly for those in low-income groups, says the report, which is intended to inform the efforts of Head Start, state-funded preschool programs, curriculum developers, and teachers.
Science Daily July 2, 2009
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2009 Child and Youth Well-Being Index
The FCD Child Well-Being Index (CWI) is an annual comprehensive measure of how children are faring in the United States. It is based on a composite of 28 Key Indicators of well-being that are grouped into seven Quality-of-Life/Well-Being Domains.2009 Child and Youth Well-Being Index. June 3, 2009
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The State of Preschool 2008
The National Institute for Early Education Research released its annual "The State of Preschool 2008" report which finds enrollment has expanded in most state programs and standards improved. 5/7/2009
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Profiles of Educational Quality in First Grade
Two University of Virginiare researchers find teaching quality is inadequate in most first grade classrooms. Researchers based their study on data collected from direct observations of 820 first-grade classrooms in nearly 700 private and public schools in 32 states. 4/5/2009
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Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers pdf
http://www.econ.cudenver.edu/home/research_reports.htm#cost http://www.abtassoc.com/reports/ccqual.PDF
University of Colorado at Denver, 1/1/1995
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The Children of the Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study Go to School pdf
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, Univ, 1/1/1999
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Who's Caring for the Kids? The status of early childhood workforce in Illinois 2008
The education levels of Illinois pre-school teachers have increased over the past seven years. That’s according to a study released by the National-LouisUniversity's McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership and the Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative at the University Illinois. Dec. 16, 2008
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Child-Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems: What Can We Learn from Early Adopters? pdf
This research brief summarizes lessons learned from the quality rating and improvement system?experiences of fi ve "early adopters"-Oklahoma, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Despite the widespread appeal and rapid adoption of these systems, there is a dearth of practical knowledge and empirical data to draw on in crafting the?legislation, designing them, and implementing rating system components.
RAND, 9/1/2008
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Kids Count Data Book
The Annie E. Casey Foundation released its annual Kids Count Data Book an analysis of children’s well-being in the U.S. June 18, 2008
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Implementing Policies to Reduce the Likelihood of Preschool Expulsion
This policy brief makes recommendations for solving the issue ofexpulsion from pre-kindergarten. It is a follow-up to the 2005 study "Prekindergartners Left Behind: Expulsion Rates in State Prekindergarten Programs" which reports on expulsion rates by program setting, gender, race/ethnicity, and state and shows that expulsion rates are alarmingly high.
Foundation for Child Development - Walter S. Gilliam, 1/10/2008
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"Taking Stock: Assessing and Improving Early Childhood Learing and Program Quality" pdf
Linking accountability efforts to program improvement efforts and resources is essential to warrant the effort needed to gather assessment data. Clearly, issues surrounding early childhood accountability and improvement are important, challenging and controversial.
by National Early Childhood Accountability Task Force, 11/1/2007
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Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation: Public Investment in High-Quality Prekindergarten
This study analyzes the costs and benefits of public investment in both voluntary, high-quality pre-K program that serves only three- and four-year-olds from low-income families, and a similar, but universal pre-K program made available to all three- and four-year-olds. It includes estimates of the programs' effects on the goverment, students and society from their establishment in 2007 through 2050.
Economic Policy Institute - Robert G. Lynch , 7/11/2007
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Full Day Kindergarten pdf
Full Day Kindergarten: A Study of State Policies in the United States looks at how many states provide full-time kindergarten and makes recommendations to state policy-makers on the most effective methods of implementing full day kindergarten.
Education Commission of the States, 7/27/2005
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Years of Promise: A Comprehensive Learning Strategy for America's Children
Examining the forces that contribute to children's learning and development from ages three to 10, and recommendations for improvement.
Carnegie Corporration, 10/22/2004
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The Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
National Institute for Child Health and Human Deve, 7/2/2004
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Child Care in Poor Communities: Early Learning Effects of Type, Quality, and Stability pdf
Child Development - Policy Analysis for California Education, 2/1/2004
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High Quality Preschool: Why We Need It and What It Looks Like pdf
National Institute for Early Education Research, 1/1/2004
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Educators take steps to boost early learning
By Jonathon Braden, Columbia Daily Tribune
They talk about an initiative to rate Columbia’s early-childhood private centers. They also share plans to implement a statewide universal pre-kindergarten program years from now, among other ideas for improving access to early schooling. June 18, 2010
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Pre-school rating system raises the bar
By Douglas Morino, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
The system would aim to improve school accountability, encourage access to high-quality programs and help parents stay informed about classroom decisions while better preparing students for kindergarten. April 25, 2010
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Kids' day care quality makes slight difference in later tests
By Liz Szabo, USA Today
Children who attended high-quality childcare as babies and toddlers do slightly better on academic tests at age 15 than kids who were in lower-quality care, according to the largest and longest-running study of its kind, released today from the National Institutes of Health. May 13, 2010
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Study finds that effects of low-quality child care last into adolescence
Low-quality care in the first few years of life can have a small but long-lasting impact on a child's learning and behavior, according to new results from the largest, most authoritative assessment of child rearing in the United States. Rob Stein, Washington Post, May 14, 2010
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Developmental delays surge in Oregon kids, and educators say that should mean increased services for them
By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
Reaching those children and their families earlier with specialized help will pay off with big gains in their communication, social and motor skills, educators say. March 10, 2010
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Preschool efforts face challenges
By Josh Verges, The Argus Leader (SD)
With permanent money proving elusive, a Sioux Falls public preschool program for low-income children probably will serve fewer students next school year when the initial funding runs out. Meanwhile, supporters of early childhood education again are looking to establish statewide standards for such programs in hopes the state will pay for them when the economy improves. Jan. 23, 2010
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Wash. Gov. Gregoire proposes enhanced preschool
By Rachel La Corte, The Associated Press
Gregoire said that under her proposed "All Start" preschool program, certification would ensure that all preschools would operate under the same standards set by the Department of Early Learning. Jan. 18, 2010
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Data from school system's Pre-K program shows results
By Mark Hicks, The Leaf-Chronicle
Data from the Clarksville-Montgomery County, Tenn., school system shows that its pre-K program is getting results that help young children create a sound footing for their education. Jan.6, 2010
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OKC Educare provides education, care for children to jumpstart their future
By Heide Brandes, OKC Biz
As the state's second Educare facility (the first being in Tulsa), Oklahoma City Educare serves 200 at-risk children year-round. In addition to enrollees, support staff works with pregnant women and newborns in receiving health services. Dec. 21, 2009
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Video: In preparing kids for school, Oregon suffers 'pilot-itis'
By Ruth Liao, The Statesman Journal
A Statesman Journal analysis found that Oregon's Mid-Valley early childhood landscape disjointed in part because of a lack of quality early childhood programs and resources, weak efforts in developing school readiness assessments and a conglomeration of policy makers with no clear leader. Dec. 20, 2009
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BrightStars program evaluates R.I. child-care providers
The Providence Journal
The program, a public-private initiative in the planning for four years, aims to drive up the quality of early childhood care in Rhode Island and improve the odds that youngsters will arrive in kindergarten ready to learn. Dec. 10, 2009
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Multimedia tech increases literacy speed in kids
By Richard Hart, ABC, KGO-TV, San Francisco
A new study indicates that preschoolers become literate faster in a curriculum that uses video and online technology. Menlo Park's SRI International conducted the research at a school in East Palo Alto, Calif. Nov. 29, 2009
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Obama's new push for preschool for at-risk children
By Amanda Paulson, The Christian Science Monitor
President Obama's proposed early childhood initiative offers about $1 billion a year total in challenge grants to states to help them improve the quality and governance of early-childhood education programs for at-risk children. Nov. 15, 2009
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On the Cusp in California
If children are the future, then looking at a state's educational system is like peering into a crystal ball. California is a state teeming with young children -- 4.7 million under age 8, to be exact. One in every eight young American children lives in California. And many of these children come from minority ethnic and racial backgrounds and speak languages other than English. If Americans want to get a glimpse at our future as a "majority minority" country they don't have to look beyond California. Linda Jacobson, New America Foundation, Oct. 2009
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Study: Preschool education beneficial
By Jeremy Boren
Among "high-risk" low-income children, the rate of children historically enrolled in special education has been 18 percent placement in special-education programs; but among children in the 21 schools districts participating in the Pre-K Counts program and examined by the study, the figure was only 2 percent.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oct. 23, 2009
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New kindergartners: Many kids not ready to learn
By Jennifer Smith Richards
Children in this pre-kindergarten class at Trevitt Elementary will have a leg up on most of their peers next fall. Across the Columbus, Ohio school district, tests given each fall show that more than three of every four kindergarten students aren't ready to learn.
The Columbus Dispatch Oct. 25, 2009
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Research shows value of preschool for poor
By Joe Smydo
The three-year study of 10,000 children showed Pennsylvania's Pre-K Counts program helped the students improve math, literacy and social skills; helped put them on track for kindergarten; and reduced their need for special-education services.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Oct. 23, 2009
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Assessment weaves through every activity in Newport News preschool programs
By Cathy Grimes
From the moment they walk in the door until the time they leave, students are gauged on their mastery of a wide range of skills outlined in Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning, sometimes called the PreK Standards of Learning.
Daily Press (VA) Oct. 11, 2009
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More, better care
By Dale Mezzacappa
With prodding and money from the state, quality in Philadelphia child care centers has been significantly upgraded, access has been expanded, and thousands of child care practitioners have improved their own education and skills, which is better for children.
Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Fall 2009
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It's never too young to learn, advocates say
By Diane D'Amico
As research continues to show how rapidly the brain develops, the definition of early childhood learning is expanding to include newborns and toddlers.
The Press of Atlantic City, Sept. 27, 2009
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Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?
The ability of young children to control their emotional and cognitive impulses, it turns out, is a remarkably strong indicator of both short-term and long-term success, academic and otherwise. There is a popular belief that executive-function skills are fixed early on, a function of genes and parenting, and that other than medication, there’s not much that teachers and professionals can do to affect children’s impulsive behavior. In fact, though, there is growing evidence that the opposite is true, that executive-function skills are relatively malleable — quite possibly more malleable than I.Q., which is notoriously hard to increase over a sustained period. Paul Tough, New York Times Magazine, Sept. 28, 2009
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Better Day Care, Smarter Kids?
High-quality day care for the youngest poor kids may be enough to offset negative home environments and provide them the foundation for good school skills, at least up to the fifth grade, according to a new study.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sept. 16, 2009
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Regional preschools rank high in new statewide system
By Chris Dumond
The number of area child-care programs that are part of a new statewide effort to improve and score early-learning centers is expected to increase tenfold over the next two years.
The News and Advance (Va.) Sept. 5, 2009
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Therapy in Preschools: Can it Have Lasting Benefits?
By Sue Shellenbarger
A growing body of research shows that the programs are benefiting entire classrooms of children by reducing behavior problems and supporting overburdened teachers.
The Wall Street Journal Sept. 8, 2009
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Piccola seeks tighter preschool rules
By Jan Murphy
Pennsylvania state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola is calling for more accountability in the 2-year-old state-subsidized preschool program to ensure it is focused on the at-risk children it is meant to serve.
The Patriot-News Aug. 29, 2009
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Standarizing Preschool
By Alison Lobron
Advocates say there’s now no easy way for parents (or policy-makers) to determine whether children are learning in a pre-kindergarten program. “Right now, we have no information on the quality, so we can’t work with them to improve,” says Chad d’Entremont, research and policy director of Strategies for Children.
Commonwealth Unbound, Aug. 10, 2009
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Above and Beyond
A new study shows students who attend Michigan City Area Schools' preschool program are making significantly positive gains, above and beyond normal expected development. Craig Davison, The News-Dispatch, July 8, 2009
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Early education's top model: Finland
By Marina Jimenez
Finland's primary education system has been the envy of the Western world ever since the country's 15-year-olds began acing international literacy, mathematics and science assessment tests several years ago. The Globe and Mail June 19, 2009
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Kids in 'low-literacy' homes to get help
By Mark Zaborney
By kindergarten, children who live in what Jim Funk calls "low-literacy households" might have only one-eighth the vocabulary of classmates.
The Toledo Blade, June 15, 2009
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Federal grant brings mental health consultations to public preschools
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy awarded $375,000 to the local rural health network, Integrating Professionals for Appalachian Children (IPAC) . . . The grant also funds the Early Childhood Workforce Initiative, which offers teachers and other school employees training and consultation services related to early childhood mental health. Staff, Jackson County Times-Journal (OH)5-15-09
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"Amid Rising Childhood Obesity, Preschoolers Found to be Inactive"
The study found that the preschoolers were inactive for much of their preschool day, with 89 percent of physical activity characterized as sedentary.
Science Daily, 2/15/2009
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Teaching has a few good men
by Nguyen Huy Vu
Men like preschool teacher Mario Cornejo are disappearing, especially in early education. He is among a dwindling number of male teachers in American classrooms - a number that has been declining for 40 years toward a historic low.
Daily Breeze, 1/4/2009
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Obama Pledge Stirs Hope in Early Education
by Sam Dillon
After years of what they call backhanded treatment by the Bush administration, whose focus has been on the testing of older children, many advocates are atremble with anticipation over Mr. Obama's espousal of early childhood education.
The New York Times, 12/17/2008
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Plan to rate day cares falls victim to economy
by Paul Nyhan
Washington suspended work on its new child care rating program as the deepening recession forced Gov. Chris Gregoire to halt one of her boldest proposals to improve the care of infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/15/2008
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Parents will have new tool for rating child-care centers
by Amy Jeter
The money will allow state-trained consultants to rate the facilities, pay for mentors to help them improve and fund educational and training scholarships for their teachers. Advocates hope the voluntary system will one day be used to grade facilities throughout the state.
The Viginian-Pilot, 10/23/2008
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Preschool dilemma: playing vs. working
by Jennifer Mrozowski
Move over, naptime. Today's preschoolers have more important tasks at hand, like learning foreign languages and doing math. More and more Michigan preschools are infusing age-appropriate academics in their curriculums, in part because the state curriculum for preschool and kindergarten demands it, said Jan Ellis, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Education.
The Detroit News, 10/6/2008
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Costs for child care skyrocket
by Ginnie Graham
Jennifer Wiebe shakes her head and sighs when she talks about what she is paying for child care.About five years ago, she and her husband paid around $450 a month at a center to care for their older child. That center now charges more than $700 a month and does not have infant availability. Within a decade, costs for child care have gone up by about 33 percent with skyrocketing increases for infant and toddler care of up to 55 percent, according to a Tulsa World analysis of tuition in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas.
Tulsa World Newspaper, 9/14/2008
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A Consensus About Day Care: Quality Counts
by Roni Caryn Rabin
The consensus of most child development specialists is that participation in day care and preschool programs is associated with improving children?s pre-academic skills, language and memory; preparing them for kindergarten; and giving them an edge that persists through elementary school.
The New York Times, 9/14/2008
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"State to adopt rating system for child ed"
by Jared Lindh
Over the last decade, a number of states have turned to the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to measure education and care providers? success.
Bay State Banner, 9/4/2008
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A Plan to Test the City's Youngest Pupils
by Elissa Gootman
The Bloomberg administration, which has made accountability the watchword of its overhaul of New York City's public education, is asking elementary school principals across the city to give standardized tests in English and math to children as young as kindergartners.
The New York Times, 8/27/2008
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Bill creates Early Success program
Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed a bill establishing the Delaware Stars for Early Success program, a voluntary quality rating and improvement plan to assist families in selecting early childhood services for their children and to improve the quality of early childhood programs in the state.
Newark Post, 7/24/2008
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Preschool embraces diversity
by Christine Hawes
At a new preschool that calls itself the "Peaceable Kingdom," the crayons come in all kinds of skin tones. So do the Play-Doh, and the dolls and toys, some of which are in wheelchairs, using walkers and sporting heads of gray hair. Everything from the hat and coat cubbies to the tricycles to the art easels is designed to encourage sharing.
Sarasota Tribune, 7/12/2008
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"Study says state's Pre-K program shows success"
A study has found that New Mexico's pre-kindergarten initiative continues to improve language and math abilities in children.
New Mexico Business Weekly, 6/4/2008
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Project aims to give low-income Dallas toddlers an educational boost
by Staci Hupp
Preschool is moving to the potty-training set. Toddlers are shaping up to be the next generation of preschoolers, a pattern fueled by fears that poor children aren't ready to learn when their first school bell rings. University of Texas researchers say the answer is to start younger. They are using a $6 million federal grant to test out preschool for poor 2- and 3-year-olds in Houston and Tallahassee, Fla., day-care centers.
Dallas Morning News, 5/19/2008
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Atlanta parents camp out for coveted pre-k spots
by Laura Diamond
It was just after midnight Monday when Jackie and Michael Cottrell parked their 40-foot motor home across the street from Mary Lin Elementary School. Their plan was simple: Camp out to make sure Skyler gets into the highly coveted pre-k program at the school in Atlanta's Candler Park. Even if that meant spending three days and three nights in the camper until registration begins Thursday.
Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4/29/2008
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Science, politics, and preschool
A tide of recent research on early childhood development is inspiring prominent scientists and politicians to argue for an unprecedented investment in schooling that begins virtually at birth.
Chicago Tribune, 4/27/2008
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Voluntary pre-kindergarten programs celebrate ratings
by Marc Freeman
The state's free, voluntary pre-kindergarten program started in the 2005-06 school year with a budget of $387 million. It took more than a year for officials to settle on a grading system for participating public and private preschools.
Sun-Sentinel, 10/28/2007
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"States Investing More in Pre-K Education"
by Julia Silverman
Nearly a million children now attend state-funded preschool, up more than a third from five years ago. States are investing $4.2 billion in such programs, an increase of 75 percent since 2005, according to Pre-K Now, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group.
Associated Press, 9/5/2007
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KINDERGARTEN PREP: the academic push -- how early is too early?
by Ilene Lelchuk
The academic push now starts before kindergarten. Parents worried about the rigors of elementary school enroll their tots in tutoring programs and academic preschools or sit them in front of videos that promise to teach children as young as 15 months their ABC basics in a few short weeks. Yet other parents and early-education experts wonder whether children are being pushed too hard, too soon.
San Francisco Chronicle, 10/4/2006
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Arkansas Gets 10 on Preschool
by Kimberly Dishongh
Arkansas is the only state in the country to get a perfect 10 for its state-funded preschool quality standards, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 11/22/2004
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