Report on Preschool Programs articles from November 2004

Report on Preschool Programs archives from November 2004

End result?(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... END RESULT? While results of the presidential election were too close to call at press time, preschool advocates say the occupant of the White House in 2005 needs to devote attention to Head Start immediately--or face dire circumstances. ...

Behind the scenes.(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... BEHIND THE SCENES. While most action in Congress has ground to a halt, one notable exception is special education, where congressional aides are meeting behind the scenes to close a deal on renewal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education...

Funding, regulatory challenges prompt head start service cuts.
November 3, 2004... Head Start grantees are cutting slots for children due to stagnant budgets and unfunded regulatory mandates, and the problems may increase in 2005, the National Head Start Association says. Grantees already have cut about 9,000 slots for...

More technical guidance.(The National Head Start Technical Assistance Network)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... MORE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE: The National Head Start Technical Assistance Network will hold a conference Nov. 16-18 in Alexandria, Va., to offer insight on implementation issues in the preschool program. Contact: Darlene Fisher, PalTech, Inc.,...

Child nutrition spending increases, with forecast of another record.
November 3, 2004... The federal government is spending 11 percent more on child and family nutrition programs this year, largely due to increased need as well as more outreach to families hard hit by the uneven U.S. economy. If the current trend continues, as...

New EPA Grants.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... NEW EPA GRANTS: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering grants to help states, territories and tribes deal with environmental health issues for children, with a focus on asthma. Letters of intent are due through e-mail by Nov. 15....

Most States earn poor grades on welfare reform programs.
November 3, 2004... Despite national progress, most states earned no better than fair grades in a comprehensive new evaluation of welfare reform by a conservative think tank. Only 11 states scored a "B" grade or higher in the analysis from the Cato Institute...

More flu vaccine doses coming as Congress considers action.
November 3, 2004... Federal health officials say they are finding new doses of flu vaccine for young children, while a member of Congress is seeking approval of a bill to get even more doses by purchasing vaccines from overseas. The Food and Drug...

Lack of state funding leaves moms, young kids at risk.
November 3, 2004... States' uneven funding of early care and education programs leaves many working mothers and young children at risk, a national organization on women's research says. Most mothers of preschoolers are in the workforce, from a low of 53...

Less-poor families lack access to quality preschool services.
November 3, 2004... Children from modest incomes, as well as the very poor, have the worst access to preschool programs based on new research that researchers say debunks myths about early childhood services. Families most at risk often earn $40,000 to $50,000...

Infant outreach.(New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... INFANT OUTREACH: An innovative Bronx, N.Y., initiative is providing child welfare professionals with more information about the unique needs of infant foster children. The Babies Can't Wait initiative of the New York State Permanent Judicial...

Doctors, RNs need more help with lead, other child risks.
November 3, 2004... Pediatricians and nurses need more training to prevent, recognize and treat diseases caused by exposure to lead and other environmental hazards, a national institute says. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is...

Violation of safety information rule brings fine against toymaker.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... A toy manufacturer will pay $125,000 to settle allegations that it did not provide the federal government with information on a safety hazard for a children's toy. Battat Inc. of Plattsburgh, N.Y., will pay $125,000 for problems with the...

Family courts.(Grants)(The Fetal Alcohol Spectrums Disorders Center for Excellence)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... Family courts can seek five-year grants to increase their knowledge of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder under a new grant competition. The Fetal Alcohol Spectrums Disorders Center for Excellence has funding available to train staff, screen...

The National Urban League.(Grants)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... The National Urban League is receiving a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Education Department to increase knowledge in urban communities about the No Child Left Behind Act. The 30-month grant will enable the league to add eight reading...

The Administration.(Grants)(The Administration for Children and Families)(Early Head Start )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... The Administration for Children and Families is looking for private non-profit or for-profit agencies interested in providing Early Head Start services in Camden County, New Jersey. Application deadline is Dec. 30. Visit the Web at...

The Department.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $3 million for Florida mentoring programs to help children with a parent in prison. Six Florida organizations will receive grants to help mentor children. Recipients and amounts...

Carol Berkowitz.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... Carol Berkowitz is the new president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The third woman to lead the organization, Berkowitz is professor and executive vice chair of the pediatrics department at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif....

The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $17,896,000 in adoption bonuses to 31 states and Puerto Rico.(Adoption Incentives Program )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $17,896,000 in adoption bonuses to 31 states and Puerto Rico. The funding comes from the Adoption Incentives Program and is given to states that were successful in increasing the number of...

We want to hear from you.
November 3, 2004... WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Report on Preschool Programs welcomes comments, questions, or story ideas from readers. Contact: Chuck Dervarics, Editor, 8737 Colesville Rd., Suite 1100, Silver Spring, MD 20910; cdervarics@compuserve.com.

Resources.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... A new information memorandum from the Department of Health and Human Services examines the Earned Income Tax Credit and efforts to inform Head Start families about its availability. For more information, visit the Web site at...

Expect few major policy surprises.(Slants And Trends)
November 17, 2004... EXPECT FEW MAJOR POLICY SURPRISES with President Bush set for a second term and Republicans gaining seats in Congress, analysts tell RPP. That means continued debate about whether to turn more Head Start programs over to the states and uphill...

One new Senate member may be a familiar face to early childhood advocates.(Slants And Trends)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... ONE NEW SENATE MEMBER MAY BE A familiar face to early childhood advocates. Sen.-elect Ken Salazar (D) of Colorado is a five-year member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, an organization of law enforcement officers seeking more funds for early...

State elections provide mixed results for early childhood advocates.
November 17, 2004... While national elections drew the most attention this month, voters also cast important ballots at the state level Nov. 2 that are affecting child care and early childhood policy. Two governors with a strong track record in early childhood...

Education Secretary Paige plans departure from Bush team.(George W. Bush )(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... President Bush's second-term team will not include U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige, who plans to resign after nearly four years on the job. Saying he has helped create a "foundation" for future educational improvement, the 71-year-old...

Election results bring changes for Congress, key committees.
November 17, 2004... The 2004 congressional elections will bring major changes on Capitol Hill, where Republicans expanded their majorities but both parties will have new leaders on early childhood and other issues. The GOP will gain four seats in the Senate...

Old plans for Head Start, welfare top second-term Bush agenda.(George W. Bush)
November 17, 2004... Coming off his election victory this month, President Bush will revive plans for more state authority over Head Start and tougher work require-ments for welfare recipients, analysts tell RPP. "We believe the administration will put forward...

Child literacy plan.(StudyDog Inc.)(National Center for Family Literacy)(National Reading Panel )(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... CHILD LITERACY PLAN: A new partnership is providing materials to help teach reading to children from low-income families. The project of StudyDog Inc. and the National Center for Family Literacy focuses on the StudyDog reading program,...

Congress returns with goal to finish 2005 budget bills.
November 17, 2004... With its authority about to expire, the 108th Congress returns to town this week with a goal to finish work on fiscal 2005 spending bills for human service, education and other programs. A funding bill for Head Start, child care and...

Child care essential for job success among low-income working moms.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... Child care and health insurance are the two essential requirements for low-income mothers' success in the workplace, a sociologist says. "It's hard to hold down a job or find a new job if you don't have anybody to look after your kids,"...

Economists: preschool offers long-term cost/benefit gain.
November 17, 2004... While most researchers focus on the academic gains of preschoolers, a group of economists argue that increased early childhood investments will translate into major economic savings during the next 50 years. High-quality early childhood...

HHS seeks changes in match rules for states under child care fund.(Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... The Bush administration wants to allow states to use more of their pre-k dollars as a match under the Child Care Development Fund. A new Department of Health and Human Services proposal would allow states to utilize up to 30 percent of...

Pediatricians should focus more help on needs of immigrant mothers.
November 17, 2004... Immigrant mothers need more information about child development, says a new federally funded study that recommends a more active role for pediatricians in this education process. Lack of knowledge may have a negative impact on children's...

Calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 17, 2004... * Afterschool Grows Up: Building Knowledge about Good Practices in Citywide Afterschool Initiatives Symposium is scheduled Dec. 1-3 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Sponsors are the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation After School Project and the National...

Spanish Web site.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... SPANISH WEB SITE: A Spanish-language Web site is providing free health information to pregnant women and new mothers. The site includes a month-by-month guide to pregnancy and fetal growth, prenatal nutrition and exercise, a due date guide,...

Hartford program shows major gains for preschool children with services.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... Children in a Hartford, Conn., early childhood program made gains across five major developmental areas linked to school readiness, a new report says. After starting the school year with below-average skills, students by spring 2004 scored...

Harriet Egertson.(National Center for Early Development & Learning)(National Institute for Early Education Research)(Scholastic's Early Childhood Educational Leadership Award)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... * Harriet Egertson is the first winner of Scholastic's Early Childhood Educational Leadership Award that honors individuals for their commitment to early learning issues. A former teacher and Head Start director, Egertson is a major participant...

Issues in School Violence Research, edited by Michael J. Furlong, is a new book from Haworth Press, Inc.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... * Issues in School Violence Research, edited by Michael J. Furlong, is a new book from Haworth Press, Inc. The book is $24.95 in soft cover and $49.95 in hardcover from: Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580; 1-800-429-6784,...

A Michigan family.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2004... * A Michigan family and child educator is the 2005 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the year. Amy Hall received a $5,000 award for excellence. She has taught for six years at a Wilson, Mich., family and child education program, and she...