One of the main ways to influence the political will toward improving early childhood systems is through research that offers positive outcomes. The findings that support quality early childhood education influences positives outcomes later in life and affect the economy in a positive way is key in moving the political will towards supporting early childhood systems.
The part of this work that appeals to me is finding out how well early learning experiences work. I am interested in the idea of how well programs that receive lots of funding from the federal government, such as Head Start are really working. Finding out if programs like this are causing the learning gaps to lessen and if they are how much. Isn't that what the idea of programs such as Head Start or any quality early learning experience are for to lessen or close the learning gaps? This subject really appeals to me.
Gloria,
ReplyDeleteI believe that these programs are lessening the learning gaps. But one area of concern that I have is that all children receive the quality of care that this program affords. However, sometimes if monitoring and/or requirements are not consistent it causes some programs to have a higher quality than others.
So I am very much interested in President Obama's "Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge" which will cause grantees to compete to receive the grants. I think this will force programs that are lacking to come up to a level of quality that is needed for early learning.