A growing body of national research confirms that significant levels of learning and growth occur during early childhood, and that it is important, from a public policy perspective, to increase access to quality programs and services that support the development of skills and attitudes children need to succeed. Clearly, no one-size-fits-all…

Low pay, meager benefits, poor morale, and high turnover impact the daily experience of many early childhood educators in the United States. While public spending in early childhood education has substantially increased in recent years, it has mainly fueled expansion, not quality enhancement to help programs attract, compensate, and retain…

Public policy and increased acceptance of people with varying abilities have led to the inclusion of children with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in regular early childhood programs and primary schools. To help integrate the children into the classroom, early childhood teachers need effective interventions they can easily…

The Week of the Young Child 2009, April 19-25, presents a public policy advocacy opportunity for early childhood programs, faculty, and families. This article offers some ways one can use Week of the Young Child (WOYC) events specifically to further advocacy efforts.

Suggests a process for analyzing potential public policy goals and for developing effective strategies to reach them. (RH)

Discusses the provisions of Public Law 95-626, federal legislation pertaining to a comprehensive program for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy and early parenthood. (CM)

Summarizes statements related to two major issues pertaining to S.991, The Department of Education Act of 1977. The issues are: (1) the advisability of creating a separate cabinet level department of education, and (2) the advisability of including Head Start in that department. (CM)

Publicizes collaborative efforts of national organizations to generate increased support for child care and to develop national child care legislation to be introduced in the 100th Congress. Reprints letter sent to national organizations; lists charter member organizations of the "Alliance for Better Child Care;" and states principles…

Discusses differences among states in the regulation of family day care, points out why some homes are not regulated, and explores the issue of the effectiveness of registration. (RH)

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)

Analyzes the defeat of the California child care tax credit bill and suggests avenues for parents, child care groups, and professionals to use in future advocation efforts. (BJD)

The failure of U.S. politicians and citizens to respond to the plight of U.S. children living in poverty is discussed. Efforts of the National Association for the Education of Young Children to build a collective commitment to basic principles regarding young children, in both the early childhood profession and the culture at large, are described.…

Examines some common assumptions about licensing, identifies the major regulatory and non-regulatory policies affecting child care programs, and relates these policies to the issue of quality care for children. (CM)

Examines state financial commitment to child care and early education. Indicates that levels of commitment vary widely, are inadequate to serve many children and families in need, and depend more on state "will" than on state resources. Points out that states give child care and early education a low priority. Suggests that increased…