Below are resources for early childhood professionals and those serving the early childhood community.

D.C. – Baby’s Got Mail: Free Books Boost Early Literacy  Every month, kids in the program receive a book in the mail — starting from birth. That means a child could end up with a library of 60 books by the time they turn 5 years old. (NPR)

Infographic: Telling the Difference Between a Screening and an Assessment  Ages and Stages created a new infographic to explain the difference between a screening and assessment. There can be confusion about the difference as both tools are used in early childhood settings to gauge childhood development.

Illinois Pyramid Model Partnership Illinois has embarked on the Pyramid Model Partnership, coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development. The Pyramid Model is a conceptual framework of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s social and emotional competence and for preventing and addressing challenging behavior. There are six broad goals of the Illinois Pyramid Model Partnership: addressing workforce capacity and training, partnering with families, increasing children’s pro-social skills and reducing challenging behaviors, and preventing and severely limiting expulsion and suspension in early childhood settings. For more information, contact Donna Nylander, Project Manager.

National Demographics on Dual Language Learners (DLLs)  The Migration Policy Institute released a series of factsheets that offer state profiles, Dual Language Learners: A National Demographic and Policy Profile. The profiles document DLLs under the age of 8 with at least one parent who speaks a language other than English at home.

School District Leaders Surveyed on Early Childhood Education  Earlier this year, Gallup surveyed a sample of district leaders and more than three-quarters of public school superintendents felt that early childhood care and education meant “a great deal” to children’s future success. Yet, most district leaders felt states were not investing enough in this sector.