An individual professional development plan (IPDP) is a document early childhood educators create, review regularly, and update as needed to guide their future professional development. The plan includes personal and professional goals guided by professional standards and strategies for meeting them. Educators learn and grow continuously by…

Provides a historical review of ten years of Project Follow Through. Discussed are the origin of Follow Through, quantitative and cross-model evaluations, and future concerns. (CM)

Demonstrates typical concerns and problems associated with administering and maintaining a rural community Head Start center as exemplified by the Carbon County Child Development Program in Rawlins, Wyoming. Emphasizes the poverty of families served, lack of federal financial support, enrollment trends, and educational benefits of the Head Start…

Based on the results of a study of conditions in child care centers in North Carolina, a model project to upgrade child caregivers' levels of education and compensation was developed. Describes the implementation, outcomes, and evaluation of this project. (BB)

Address presented at the 1970 Conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Boston, Mass., November 21, 1970. (AJ)

Lists nine criteria for extra-year programs that would satisfy many proponents and opponents of such programs. (BG)

Having been involved in undergraduate and graduate student groups on four campuses, the author of this article has noticed certain characteristics commonly found in successful campus groups. These characteristics include: (1) initial and continual planning with community members; (2) active involvement by all stakeholders; and (3) evaluating the…

Describes a home-based parent education component of a bilingual, bicultural preschool program which involves parents in the decision-making process concerning their child's education and has effected a language and cultural exchange between the Anglo and Spanish-speaking communities. (CS)

Discusses the issue of informal versus structured programs for preschool children. Reviews the development of and rationale behind traditional child-centered programs and suggests that more research on informal education is necessary. (BD)

Describes use of the public television program "Between the Lions" in one kindergarten classroom to help develop literacy skills. Reports that 75 to 85 percent of children were engaged by the program, with the most attentive children being those who understood some letter-sound connections and enjoyed trying to read along. Most of the…

Traces the history of longitudinal research on effects of Head Start since the 1960s and assesses its impact on government financial support and public policy. Findings of the Westinghouse Report and of the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies on early intervention programs are reported. (DT)

James L. Hymes, Jr., former President of NAEYC and member of the original Head Start Planning Committee, is interviewed about his hopes for and disappointments with Head Start during the past 20 years. Highlights Head Start's initial benefits to families, children, and the early childhood profession; program quality; and continued lack of federal…

Discusses mentoring as a professional development strategy to meet the needs of experienced and novice practitioners. Defines mentoring and differentiates it from supervision. Discusses the following aspects of early childhood mentoring programs: (1) goals and assumptions; (2) design and structure, including mentor qualifications and training; (3)…