I attended the 10th Annual Conference of the International Step by Step Association “Seeds of Change: Effective Investments in Early Childhood for Enduring Social Progress” in Bucharest, Romania last week. The conference was co-hosted by the Center for Education and Professional Development in Romania with support from the Open Society Institute, UNICEF, the Consultative Group, and many other international agencies that work in support of children and families. Knowledge Universe was not only proud to be a sponsor of this important conference but my colleague, Jeremy Williams and I were both privileged to present papers, too.
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As states face increasing budget shortages, they inevitably look for places to raise additional revenue or to cut services. Unfortunately, education and services to children and families are often the victims of this process, risking the well-being of the children and our nation.
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Dr. Jane Goodall was honored last Thursday at a reception in Berkeley, California, and she spoke about her lifelong work with animals in Africa and specifically about her youth organization Roots and Shoots.
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A few weeks ago I had a great opportunity to visit one of our sister companies in the United Kingdom, Busy Bees, who operates over 100 nurseries in England, Scotland, and Wales. Busy Bees founded the company in 1984 because they felt that they couldn’t find quality care for their own children; the company has grown to be the largest provider in the UK. The company operates both community and workplace nurseries, including two that I visited, one for the University of Safford and one of three that they operate for the Land Registry, the government agency that registers land titles and transactions in the UK.
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As the demographics of the workforce changes, the needs of the workforce are also changing. The Society for Human Resource Management Workplace Forecast of 2004-2005 found that an increase in workers with elder care responsibilities and an increase in workers with both childcare and elder care responsibilities were the primary upcoming demographic trends in the workforce.
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The Early Learning Challenge Fund will provide $1 billion in grants to state programs each year, for eight years. It is included as part of a larger education bill, H.R. 3221 authored by House Education Committee Chairman George Miller of California and supported by President Obama, who has made investing in early childhood education a priority in his administration.
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As if going back to school time isn’t hectic enough and there aren’t enough political controversies swirling over health care, the environment, and the economy in general, President Obama’s Back to School broadcast, on Tuesday, September 8 has now generated an avalanche of controversy.
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We can all remember the excitement, anxiety and enhanced level of activity that take place as a new school year begins. This time of year brings increased expectations as well as new routines, new friends, a new teacher and possibly a new school. While research studies recognize the benefits of extracurricular activities, juggling these changes can be overwhelming to even the most well-adjusted child.
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Have I found the right place for my child in while I am at work? How can I ensure that my child has the right socialization and cognitive experiences so that she is ready to be successful in kindergarten? How can I sleep at night knowing that I’m not there to make sure that my child is in a safe and secure environment?
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Most parents recognize that the time to start thinking about your child’s language development isn’t when they are about to start reading, or even when they start talking. Literacy and language development begins in infancy. Children who do not develop competency in language, reading, and writing skills can be limited in their opportunities for success throughout their entire life.
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