National Catholic Education Commission’s Post

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 A range of barriers prevent disadvantaged children in England from taking up their entitlement to 15 hours of funded early education, but national and local action could change this, concludes a major new report involving UCL researchers. The report, "Early education for disadvantaged children: How local action can support take-up of the 15 hours entitlement," highlights a challenging and confusing system for parents to navigate. This includes different childcare entitlements, difficulties with the application process and restrictions on how funded hours can be accessed, as well as additional charges to access them. https://lnkd.in/ddTHHaUc

Are our perceptions of early childhood education getting in the way of critical policy changes? Author Dan Wuori argues that redefining daycare and childcare as "schools" and recognizing their staff as "teachers" are two simple but effective changes that can improve early childhood education. But the biggest change we need, according to Wuori, is significant, transformative public investment. Read more in EdSurge:

🎓 As stewards in the student parenting field, we want to share some exciting news for student parents and higher education institutions! The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program is getting a boost in funding, making it even more accessible for those balancing education and childcare responsibilities. Key updates on CCAMPIS and related higher education funding: • CCAMPIS funding increase: $5 million boost for fiscal year 2025 • Pell Grant increase: Maximum award raised by $100 to $7,495 for 2025-2026 • Additional support: Increases for TRIO, GEAR UP, Basic Needs Program, and Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program • Additional $544 million for Head Start CCAMPIS offers campus-based childcare services to Pell Grant-eligible students with children, providing reduced or free childcare costs. This program is crucial in helping student parents stay in school and complete their degrees. For student parents: Check with your college's financial aid office to see if they participate in CCAMPIS. This enhanced funding could make a significant difference in achieving your educational goals while ensuring quality care for your children. For practitioners and institutions: If your institution doesn't currently offer CCAMPIS, now is an excellent time to look into this program. With increased funding, you have a great opportunity to support your student parents and potentially increase retention and completion rates. Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, "BILL SUMMARY: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill" (August 1, 2024) https://lnkd.in/g_HUNY_W #HigherEducation #StudentParents #CCAMPIS #ChildcareSupport #CollegeSuccess #PellGrants #HigherEdPractitioners

🌟 Canada Boosts Investment in Early Childhood Workforce by $8.4 Million! 🌟 Canada is making a significant commitment to the future by investing an additional $8.4 million in the early childhood workforce. This strategic investment is aimed at strengthening early childhood education and care across the country, ensuring that our youngest learners have access to quality education and support. Here’s what this means for the sector: Workforce Development: The funding will help train and support early childhood educators (ECEs), providing them with the resources and professional development needed to excel in their roles. Improved Childcare Quality: By investing in educators, Canada is directly improving the quality of childcare and early learning experiences for children, laying a strong foundation for their future. Enhanced Support for Families: With a stronger workforce, families will benefit from more reliable and high-quality childcare services, enabling better work-life balance and economic stability. A Step Towards Universal Childcare: This investment is part of Canada’s broader vision to create a more accessible, affordable, and inclusive childcare system. This funding not only reflects a commitment to children and families but also recognizes the vital role that early childhood educators play in shaping the future. Let's celebrate this positive move towards a more robust early childhood education system! 🎉 Read more about this exciting development here: https://lnkd.in/gzVhDsmy #EarlyChildhoodEducation #CanadaInvestment #ChildcareFunding #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationMatters #ECE #ChildDevelopment #CanadianFamilies #EarlyLearning #SocialImpact #GovernmentFunding #EducationReform #ChildcareProfessionals #LinkedInNews #CanadaUpdates #EducationSector #PublicPolicy #EarlyYearsEducation #growthiqmedia #canadamedia #usamedia

CEI is delighted that the UK Government has announced a review of early education guidance and funding to support the take-up of early education entitlements, including by disadvantaged families.   The Department for Education recently announced it will “tackle reported instances of parents facing very high additional charges on top of the funded entitlement hours” and engage with local authorities and providers “to clarify our statutory guidance on charging, including on so-called ‘top up fees’.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eHmpDSHK   CEI, with partners Ivana La Valle, the UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO) , and Coram Family and Childcare, recently released the final report from a major study of the uptake of early education entitlements, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.   Take-up rates for the 15 hours entitlement for 2-year-olds in disadvantaged families vary widely across local authority areas – from less than 50% to more than 90% of eligible families in January 2023.   The study described the barriers and implementation challenges that lead to parents not taking up the hours of early education to which they are entitled, including additional charges, and the financial and other pressures that the sector experiences. But the study also showed how work by local authorities supports greater uptake of the entitlements by families. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gPMtX6RJ   “We identified multiple reasons that explain why parents are not taking up the 15 hours of early education per week, funded by government, to which their young children are entitled,” says CEI Associate Director Jane Lewis. “The barriers range from confusion about what families are entitled to and difficulties navigating application processes, to restrictions on how early education providers offer and structure funded places, and additional charges levied by providers.”   The report sets out a series of recommendations for the actions that local authorities can take, and for improving support for local authorities, the early education sector, and families.   This project has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation. Visit www.nuffieldfoundation.org #earlyyears #earlyeducation #ChildDevelopment #education #EarlyChildhood #ImplementationScience #implementation #research #evaluation #families #researchers #practitioners #policymakers #evaluators #policy #LocalGovernment #inequality #changemakers

Quality enhancement and access expansion are crucial for early childhood education programs. Removing obstacles to entry, simplifying administrative procedures, increasing public awareness, and fostering collaborative efforts can help boost childcare supply and quality. Check out the progress made by various states in the first 3 years of PDG B-5 through this resource: https://lnkd.in/g7HWGXT6 #earlychildhoodeducation #childcaresupply #qualityenhancement #collaboration

How can a lawyer and preschool teacher couple persevere to build a thriving childcare business against all odds? In this candid episode, Howard Wu, co-founder of Aspen Leaf Preschool, opens up about the immense challenges he and his wife Bridget faced in launching their network of preschools in San Diego. Despite Bridget's exceptional teaching skills, the couple was unprepared for the harsh realities of starting a childcare center from scratch. Howard vulnerably recounts the financial strains, legal battles, and even brushes with despair they endured, especially during the grueling two-year buildout of their second location. He reveals how they were pushed to the brink, maxing out credit cards and retirement funds to keep construction and operations afloat. The conversation explores Howard's core belief that teachers are the heart of any preschool. He shares Aspen Leaf's strategies for attracting top educators and fostering a supportive culture, like providing health insurance, protecting teachers from unruly parents, and ensuring "the shit rolls uphill." Howard also dives into Aspen Leaf's pioneering "continuity of care" model where students remain with the same teachers from infancy through pre-K, explaining the profound developmental impact. As the business grew, he discussed the challenges of delegating while preserving Aspen Leaf's beloved teacher-focused approach. Looking ahead, Howard examines the existential crisis facing the preschool industry, with costs rapidly outpacing what families can afford. He provides an insider's perspective on California's universal pre-K rollout that has disrupted private preschool enrollment. On a lighter note, Howard opens up about his insecure college days spent rocking dreadlocks as an "Asian kid" seeking attention and establishing his own narrative around appearance. Mentors that inspired Howard's resilience: 💡Cal Golumbic from Penn State 💡Ken Fitzgerald and Bob Nyer, former law colleagues 💡Books like "No More Mr. Nice Guy" that reshaped his mindset Don't miss this candid discussion with a relatable founder who overcame long odds and personal struggles to revolutionize early childhood education in his community. #preschool #earlychildhoodeducation #TheInspiredStoriesPodcast

Illinois is progressing towards establishing a new Department of Early Childhood, following the State House's approval of a proposal. This department will unify all childcare and early childhood education programs. Its key responsibilities will include managing early intervention programs for students with disabilities, supporting low-income families through the Child Care Assistance Program, and administering licenses for daycare centers. This initiative aims to streamline services and improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education across the state. Learn more via: https://buff.ly/3RsLem2 Chalkbeat #MidwestUrbanStrategies #Illinois #EarlyChildhood #ChildCare #Education #EarlyIntervention #LowIncomeSupport #DayCare #EarlyLearning #ChildhoodDevelopment #EducationReform #PublicPolicy #FamilySupport #ChildhoodEducation #IllinoisEducation #PolicyChange #CommunitySupport #EducationAccess #EarlyYears #ChildDevelopment #SupportFamilies #InclusiveEducation #EarlyInterventionPrograms #DayCareLicensing

Investing in our future: Advocating for policies that support early childcare As a society, one of the most important investments we can make is in the care and education of our youngest children. The early years from birth to age five are a critical window for human brain development and lay the foundation for future health, learning, and life success. Providing quality early childhood programs has been proven through extensive research to help children optimize their brain capacity. Children who have been provided quality early childhood programs are prepared academically and socially for kindergarten. This head start leads to higher test scores, reduced needs for special education services, and better social and emotional skills as they grow older. The benefits extend even beyond the classroom. Economists calculate that every $1 invested in high-quality early childhood education yields a $7-12 return through increased earnings, reducing social costs like crime and reliance on social welfare programs, along with other long-term outcomes. However, many families do not realize these benefits due to limited access to the resources necessary for their sustainability. The cost of quality child care is simply out of reach for many working and middle-class families. And there remains an insufficient supply of affordable and high-quality preschool and childcare facilities in many communities around the world. Implementing and supporting policies such as: 🔹️Universal Pre-K education program, a program which provides access to high-quality preschool programs for all children, typically starting at age three or four. 🔹️Head Start program which offers comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income families with young children. 🔹️Childcare subsidies or tax credits to provide financial assistance to families, making childcare services more affordable and accessible. 🔹️Paid parental leave to enable parents take time off from work to care for their new-born without financial hardship. Supporting early childhood education is not just the right thing to do, it is a wise investment in building the workforce pipeline and economic strength of our communities. We must prioritize policies that give all children the opportunity for a strong start in life and to maximize their future potential. #childadvocacy #childcare #childhooddevelopment #education Image Source: Internet