Report on Preschool Programs articles from September 2004

Report on Preschool Programs archives from September 2004

Bush, Part II.(Slants & Trends)(George W. Bush's childhood education policy)
September 8, 2004... BUSH, PART II President Bush's plans for a second term include new policies that may dramatically change funding of early childhood education. A day after the end of the Republican National Convention, the president outlined a new preschool...

No happy 40th.(Slants & Trends)(status of poor children during 40th anniversary of War on Poverty)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... NO HAPPY 40th With the 40th anniversary of the start of the War on Poverty, child advocates are citing an alarming increase in the number of poor children. "After 40 years, we need to bring some attention to poverty issues," Sarah Greene,...

Renewal delays leave Child Care at risk for cuts, House Dems say.(democrats, Charles Rangel, Ben Cardin)
September 8, 2004... By failing to renew major child care and antipoverty programs, congressional leaders are leaving these initiatives vulnerable to funding cuts, two Democratic critics charge. With the House and Senate at odds over welfare reform, the...

Ed. Dept. opens new ERIC center, plans to offer more free offerings.(Department of Education, Educational Resources Information Center)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... The government's new Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is open for business, eight months after the shutdown of smaller independent federal clearinghouses on early childhood education and other issues. The digital,...

Product recalls.(Theraline Inc. and Boston Billows Inc. recalled their maternity and nursing pillows )(.)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... PRODUCT RECALLS: Two companies have announced product recalls of maternity and nursing pillows used by mothers and their young children. Theraline Inc. is recalling Big V Maternity and Nursing Pillows due to a suffocation risk for infants left...

Mounting child poverty rate brings new call for action.
September 8, 2004... Child poverty in 2003 increased at the highest rate in 10 years, says new U.S. Census Bureau data that is prompting calls for new government action. For all Americans, poverty rose for the third consecutive year to 12.5 percent, Census...

Congress has full fall agenda, but few prospects for action.
September 8, 2004... Congress returns to work this week amid low expectations about prospects for action on major child development and health issues before the November election. The Senate has several pressing issues on its agenda this month, including the...

Some Florida Head Start agencies still reeling from Charley's effects.(Hurricane Charley, 2004)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... Despite on-going rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Charley, some Florida Head Start centers may not open this week when preschool youngsters begin their traditional start to the program year. In two hard-hit areas, DeSoto and Hardy...

Researchers differ on progress on child, family health access.
September 8, 2004... Two new reports are providing a conflicting view of whether more Americans, particularly children, are losing health care coverage. A new study from the U.S. Census Bureau says the number of uninsured Americans increased by 1.4 million, to...

Plan promotes better management for child care food sponsors.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... To combat mismanagement and improve fiscal oversight, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unveiling new rules for administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program with reimbursements for child care providers. An interim rule will...

Alabama program shows gains in preparation for kindergarten.(Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Initiative)
September 8, 2004... At Tiny Tots Child Development Center in Fayette, Ala., 19 children sit quietly, entranced by a story. On the walls are art works, each labeled with names in large block letters. When the class breaks into groups, children draw, stack blocks or...

The federal Head Start Bureau is looking for a new grantee to serve nearly 800 Head Start and Early Head Start children in Dougherty County, Georgia.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... * The federal Head Start Bureau is looking for a new grantee to serve nearly 800 Head Start and Early Head Start children in Dougherty County, Georgia. About $4 million is available in Head Start funds to serve 713 Head Start children, while...

Parents are more sensitive to their children's TV viewing habits.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... * Parents are more sensitive to their children's TV viewing habits, particularly in the wake of indecency complaints from the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, a cable company said. About 85 percent of parents say they are concerned about images...

Despite ban, children remain at risk from lead in manufactured products.
September 8, 2004... Young children still face risks from products with dangerous lead despite federal curbs on the sale of these goods, a child health group said. Despite a federal ban on lead paint and products, the government has recalled more than 156...

Assessment provides new snapshot of dropouts in Head Start programs.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... Head Start's first large-scale national assessment of 4-year-olds is shedding some light on an often-overlooked issue of programming: children who drop out during the year. Leaders of the Head Start National Reporting System report a drop...

Full-day programs most popular among state kindergartens.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... As young children head back to school this fall, most kindergartners will go to full-day rather than half-day programs. That finding is among the conclusions of the U.S. Education Department's Condition of Education 2004 report that...

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee's public participation working group will meet Sept. 13 in Washington, D.C.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... * The National Vaccine Advisory Committee's public participation working group will meet Sept. 13 in Washington, D.C. The panel will examine strategies to engage the public in vaccine issues. Contact: Erika Joyner, Program Analyst, National...

The Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are announcing final 2005 allotments to states and territories.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... * The Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are announcing final 2005 allotments to states and territories under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The allotments become available after Oct. 1. For more...

In a related federal notice, CMS has issued a proposed rule on measuring payment error rates in the State Children's Health Insurance Program.(Federal Register)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2004... * In a related federal notice, CMS has issued a proposed rule on measuring payment error rates in the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Public comments are due Sept. 27 to the centers at: Department of Health and Human Services, Attn:...

Head Start administrators may face stricter limits on salaries if a House-approved budget bill becomes law.(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... HEAD START ADMINISTRATORS MAY face stricter limits on salaries if a House-approved budget bill becomes law. In approving a small increase in Head Start funding next year, the House also set the stage for new ceilings on administrator pay. A...

At least one major market research firm is bullish on early childhood prospects next year.(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... AT LEAST ONE MAJOR MARKET RESEARCH firm is bullish on early childhood prospects next year. Los Angeles-based Wilson Marketing Group said state funding on early care and education will grow by nearly 7 percent in 2005, up from about 4 percent...

Audit brings new round of fighting between Congress, Head Start reps.
September 22, 2004... The vice chair of the National Head Start Association is facing sharp criticism from Congress for alleged misuse of funds at her San Antonio, Texas, agency. In a new round of sparring between NHSA and Republicans on the House Education and...

Louisville child care impact.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... LOUISVILLE CHILD CARE IMPACT: Licensed child care in the Louisville, Ky., area employs about 4,000 people and generates about $119.8 million a year, says a new study from Community Coordinated Child Care. About 500 small businesses make up the...

Senate panel funds Head Start, seeks even start's termination.
September 22, 2004... A U.S. Senate panel is proposing a more generous Head Start budget for 2005 than their colleagues across Capitol Hill. But the same generosity does not apply to all early childhood programs. The Senate Appropriations Committee's budget plan...

Despite money focus, FY05 bills outline Head Start policy changes.
September 22, 2004... In their 2005 spending bills, House and Senate lawmakers are wading into disputes over issues as varied as Head Start salaries and teacher training and development. Included with the spending recommendations is report language calling for...

Senate adds special education funds for states, early childhood services.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Breaking with their colleagues across Capitol Hill, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee are seeking a small increase for special education preschool programs next year. The Senate bill would provide an extra $2.3 million for...

Panel approves bill with increases in CACFP, other nutrition programs.(Child and Adult Care Food Program)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... A small funding increase for the Child and Adult Care Food Program is moving closer to enactment following recent U.S. Senate action. The Senate Appropriations Committee wants to earmark another $45 million for CACFP, which would bring...

Fifteen states increase pre-k support while others lag behind, study says.
September 22, 2004... Despite the tough fiscal times in many states, a new survey paints an optimistic outlook for state spending on pre-kindergarten programs, with 15 states increasing funds by a total of $205 million. The Quality Pre-Kindergarten for All:...

Pediatricians must take larger role in early learning, development.
September 22, 2004... Pediatricians should take a more pro-active approach to assess children's early development in math and other areas, says a Child Trends study with implications for school readiness. Authors of the report argue that children--particularly...

Poor families miss out on tax credits, partly due to tax preparers' policies.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Seven million poor families may miss out on Earned Income Tax Credit refunds while others may lose benefits through questionable practices of tax preparers, a Washington, D.C., group reports. These families may lose out on $12 billion in...

Center: state policies curb access to quality subsidized child care.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... States are cutting back on child care despite rising poverty rates, often restricting eligibility and imposing restrictive income criteria to get help, the National Women's Law Center says. While studies have shown increases in state pre-k...

With its healthy marriage initiative launching nationwide, the Administration for Children and Families is offering a similar service to its own employees.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * With its healthy marriage initiative launching nationwide, the Administration for Children and Families is offering a similar service to its own employees. ACF and the Federal Occupational Health Services' Employees Assistance Program will...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on forms proposed for administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program in Virginia.(Public Notice)
September 22, 2004... * The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on forms proposed for administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program in Virginia. For information, see the Aug 25 Federal Register, p. 52222. Send comments by Oct. 25 to Terry...

The Food and Drug Administration cleared for use a new laboratory blood test to help screen newborns for many inherited diseases.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * The Food and Drug Administration cleared for use a new laboratory blood test to help screen newborns for many inherited diseases. Health care staffers perform the test using newborn heel-stick samples, which already are used for...

The National Center for Family Literacy developed the 2004 annual Literacy Tabloid.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * The National Center for Family Literacy developed the 2004 annual Literacy Tabloid, which is appearing in newspapers this month. Entitled Reading is a Voyage of Discovery, the tabloid features four Verizon Literacy Champions and other...

Eating more vegetables, fruit and protein before pregnancy can lower risks of having a child who develops leukemia, the National Institutes of Health said.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Eating more vegetables, fruit and protein before pregnancy can lower risks of having a child who develops leukemia, the National Institutes of Health said. Researchers compared 138 mothers of children with leukemia with mothers of healthy...

Connecting with parents in the early years.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Connecting with Parents in the Early Years by Jean Mendoza, Lilian Katz, Anne Robertson and Dianne Rothenberg, is a new book from the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative. A limited number of report copies are available for the...

Estimating the size and characteristics of the SSI child population: a comparison between the NSCF and three national surveys.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Estimating the Size and Characteristics of the SSI Child Population: A Comparison Between the NSCF and Three National Surveys uses several data sources, including the National Survey of SSI Children and Families. The Mathematica Policy...

The power of observation.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * The Power of Observation by Judy Jablon, Amy Laura Dombro and Margo Dichtelmiller examines issues linking observation to teaching. The paperback is $19.95 from: Teaching Strategies, (800) 637-3652; www.TeachingStrategies.com.

Supporting young artists--The Development of the Visual Arts in Young Children.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Supporting Young Artists--The Development of the Visual Arts in Young Children is $34.95 from the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, www.highscope.org. It examines theory, research and practice on artistic development and the stages...

You can't come to my birthday party! conflict resolution with young children.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Also available from High/Scope is You Can't Come to My Birthday Party! Conflict Resolution with Young Children, which examines children's conflicts over toys, space and friendship. It includes a six-step mediation process based on experiences...

Class meetings: young children solving problems together.(Resources)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Class Meetings: Young Children Solving Problems Together is a resource designed to help teachers use meetings to promote problem-solving and other skills for use in classrooms from preschool through the early elementary years. The resource is...

Ready to go: what parents should know about school readiness.(Resources)(National Association for the Education of Young Children)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... * Also available from NAEYC is a brochure, Ready to Go: What Parents Should Know about School Readiness, which examines a youngster's readiness for kindergarten. Brochures are $.50 each, or $12 for 100 copies from NAEYC at the contact points...

Emergency food criteria.(U.S. Department of Agriculture )(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... EMERGENCY FOOD CRITERIA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced surplus and purchased commodities available to states under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. For information or the list of commodities, see the Sept. 3...