Category: Early Childhood Development

The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, JICA  and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University will hold the third International Conference in Georgia on Early Childhood Education and Care – Inclusive Systems, Services and Practices for Every Child. The aim of the conference is to (1) facilitate academic discussion and knowledge sharing on quality, access and inclusion in early childhood education and care. (2) support the development…

Excellent early care and education (ECE) often begins with great teachers. Yet, according to research by University of Delaware faculty, just over one-third of all ECE centers meet national benchmarks for teacher degrees, and even fewer can prioritize staff professional development.  With a new associate degree in early childhood education, University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is working to meet the demand for high-quality ECE teachers through a flexible, accessible and primarily online degree program designed for working professionals.  This degree offering also comes at a…

Editor’s Note: Each year the National Institute for Early Education Research takes an in-depth look at public preschool programs across the country and reports on state and national trends. The recently release report provides data to help families and organizations advocate for early education. You can access Washington’s state profile in the 2023 State of Preschool Yearbook on the NIEER interactive website. In the meantime, here are some highlights regarding state-funded preschool programs in Washington provided by Emily Mikkelsen, Early Learning Policy and Coalition manager for the statewide nonprofit advocacy…

The U.S. Department of Education is in the midst of a disastrous roll-out of a reworked Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website, where students go to apply for federal financial aid for college. In fact, it’s been so bad that colleges haven’t been able to send out financial aid award notices leaving students uncertain about where—or whether—they’ll be able to enroll this fall. Yet proponents of universal preschool want that same federal government that can’t manage a website update to begin providing early childhood education to millions of children across…

A recent national study found Washington falls behind in preschool access compared with other states, reinforcing the assertion from local education leaders that the demand for early-learning programs has far outpaced funding. The National Institute for Early Education Research report found in the 2022-2023 school year, Washington’s two state-funded preschool programs — Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program and transitional kindergarten — served a combined 16 percent of 4-year-olds and 8 percent of 3-year-olds. Washington ranked 33rd in the nation for preschool enrollment for 4-year-olds and 17th for 3-year-olds. Educational…

Key Takeaways The top five states for teachers are Washington, Utah, Minnesota, Virginia and Massachusetts. The five worst states for teachers are Missouri, New Mexico, Kentucky, West Virginia and Mississippi. Many open teaching positions are not new positions but rather ones that must be filled after teachers have retired or changed careers. Issues such as teacher burnout, teacher turnover, student behavior problems, absenteeism and staff shortages create challenges for teachers and schools. Many U.S. states are facing severe teacher shortages, creating ample opportunity for professionals in this field. But earning…