In November 2013, over 3,000 ExchangeEveryDay readers responded to a joint Exchange and Early Care and Education Consortium survey regarding the federal government’s Early Education Initiative. We encourage you to view the full report, but here in brief is what you told us:
Put Quality First — When it comes to the decades-long debate about access versus quality, the field says that improving quality should be the priority of the Early Learning Initiative.
If You Want Quality, Fund Professional Development — Among eight different areas of investment related to quality care (e.g. personnel, facilities, etc.) respondents say investment in professional development and increasing existing teacher and provider salaries will result in higher quality.
Clearly Define Goals to Ensure Successful Partnerships — Nearly half of respondents (45%) say the biggest barrier to partnerships between the public schools and community-based child care programs is the unwillingness of public schools to partner with community-based child care programs. Respondents say that establishing a common set of goals for early learning contributes most to effective working relationships between community-based child care programs and public schools.
Level the Playing Field — Responses overwhelmingly indicated the best ways to ensure that pre-K programs are delivered via a mixed-delivery system that includes both public school and high-quality child care programs are: 1) a requirement that ensures parents can choose among settings; and 2) a requirement that programs meet high-quality standards.
"Six Steps to Successful Child Advocacy: Changing the World for Children" offers an interdisciplinary approach to child advocacy, nurturing key skills through a proven six-step process that has been used to train child advocates and create social change around the world. The approach is applicable for micro-advocacy for one child, mezzo-advocacy for a community or group of children, and macro-advocacy at a regional, national, or international level. This practical text offers skill-building activities and includes timely topics such as how to use social media for advocacy. Case studies of advocacy campaigns highlight applied approaches to advocacy across a range of issues, including child welfare, disability, early childhood, and education. Words of wisdom from noted child advocates from the U.S. and around the world, including a foreword from Dr. Jane Goodall, illustrate key concepts. Readers are guided through the process of developing a plan and tools for a real-life child advocacy campaign.
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