Below are resources for early childhood professionals and those serving the early childhood community.
Pre-K in American Cities NIEER researchers found that many cities are offering Pre-K programs, but many of these programs lack key quality benchmarks that extensive research has shown deliver lasting benefits. They also found that many cities offer high-quality programs reaching too few children. One positive trend is that the number of Pre-K programs is growing in U.S. cities, and much of this growth is fueled by cities’ willingness to create new, local funding streams to establish and sustain the programs. This report analyzes findings on key measures, ranging from class size to accessibility. (National Institute for Early Education Research)
Week of the Young Child April 8–12 Join the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for five fun-filled, themed days to celebrate of our youngest learners! The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration to spotlight early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Each day has a theme to highlight an important aspect of early education: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. You can visit NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child page to learn more. Illinois AEYC has local chapters you can join or follow on social media, too. Visit the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children website to check out the local chapters.
Sharing A Vision Biennial Conference October 2-4, 2019 Save the dates for the Sharing A Vision Biennial Conference on Oct. 2-4 in East Peoria. This exceptional conference is planned to meet the needs of early childhood professionals and families in the state and is coordinated by the Illinois Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Human Services. This conference will highlight Dr. Rosemarie Allen, a national expert on implicit bias and culturally responsive practices, and Jim Gill, an author, musician, and child development specialist who truly understands the benefits of play and movement for all children. To learn more, visit the Sharing a Vision website.
