Early-Childhood Funding

A multi-ethnic group of preschool students is sitting with their legs crossed on the floor in their classroom. The mixed-race female teacher is sitting on the floor facing the children. The happy kids are smiling and following the teacher's instructions. They have their arms raised in the air.
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Early Childhood As Head Start Quality Push Continues, Advocates Raise Red Flag on Equity
Inadequate federal funding forces Head Start providers to choose between quality and quantity, a new report contends.
Evie Blad, December 1, 2022
2 min read
President Joe Biden addresses Congress from the House chamber. Behind him are Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, as Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., applaud.<br/>
Chip Somodevilla/AP
Federal Biden Pitches Plan to Expand Universal Pre-K, Free School Meal Programs, Teacher Training
The president's $1.8 trillion American Families Plan faces strong headwinds as Congress considers other costly administration proposals.
Evie Blad, April 28, 2021
8 min read
Early Childhood Eleven $100,000 Grants Awarded to Help States Support Infants, Toddlers
The Pritzker Children's Initiative is awarding the grants to help states develop plans to provide better services for infants, toddlers, and their families through public and private partnerships.
Marva Hinton, April 19, 2019
2 min read
Early Childhood Early Childhood Is Ripe For Investment in Innovation, Says Philanthropic Network
The Omidyar Network, which has invested nearly $1 billion dollars in multiple areas including education, is drawing attention to early childhood as an area for more public and private investment.
Christina A. Samuels, January 9, 2019
2 min read
Early Childhood Infants, Toddlers Focus of New Investment from Pritzker Children's Initiative
The work will support communities as they create robust child-care systems for chidren from birth to 3 years old.
Christina A. Samuels, April 25, 2018
2 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Farewell (and Cheerio) From the K-12 Contrarian
It's been three years and 111 posts. It's time to say goodbye to the K-12 Contrarian.
Dave Powell, August 11, 2017
6 min read
Early Childhood Preschool Teachers' Wish Lists Fulfilled Through Foundation Donation
The PNC Foundation used the online charity Donors Choose to fulfill requests in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Donors Choose is also opening its platform to Head Start teachers.
Christina A. Samuels, April 4, 2017
1 min read
Early Childhood Opinion Why Is Mulvaney Opposed to Feeding Poor Kids at School?
Mick Mulvaney, the reverse Robin Hood, thinks after school programs that provide food to kids are a waste of money and an insult to hard working Americans. What world does he live in?
Dave Powell, March 18, 2017
7 min read
Early Childhood Opinion The Tyranny of (School) Choice
School choice is all the rage in education right now, but, to me, the only choice we need to make is this one: we need to commit to public education for everybody, not just for those lucky enough to win an enrollment lottery or lucky enough to have parents who live in the right zip code.
Dave Powell, October 18, 2016
7 min read
Early Childhood Opinion The Teacher Retirement Hoax
One of the most persistent, and frustrating, myths in education is the myth of the fatcat teacher stealing precious school dollars to sock away in her gold-plated pension fund. Don't believe it. You might be the victim of a hoax.
Dave Powell, October 4, 2016
6 min read
Early Childhood Study: Measuring Quality a Challenge in Early-Childhood Rating Systems
A look at seven states in the Midwest shows how they have created rating systems for their early-childhood programs, and concerns over containing costs.
Christina A. Samuels, September 27, 2016
2 min read
Early Childhood Opinion A Shortage of Well-Paid Teachers
The teacher shortage alarm has been sounded again. I would argue, though, that we don't just have a shortage of teachers on our hands; we have a shortage of well-paid teachers, and if we took steps to address it we might find the larger issue easier to tackle.
Dave Powell, September 16, 2016
5 min read
Early Childhood Opinion Pay Teachers More? Of Course We Should
There is an old argument about teaching and teacher pay making the rounds, masquerading as a powerful new insight. The argument is that improving the working conditions of teachers is more important than raising teacher pay. Come on now.
Dave Powell, August 26, 2016
7 min read
Early Childhood Opinion In Praise of Summer Vacation
It's that time of year, finally: school's out, for most of us, and we can start thinking about how to use the time wisely. I wish everybody had the same opportunities I have.
Dave Powell, July 10, 2016
5 min read