Today was exciting. Well, to me. Well, in regards to my daily dig for articles on literacy and education. Today I discovered a freshly posted article about the Department of Education’s new emphasis on early education through its Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge.
Maybe that doesn’t sound too exciting, but in the last two years as I have spent every day researching literacy and education news, I have come to the conclusion that early education is the key to successful education reform. So, to hear that the leaders of our country have come to this same conclusion was pretty exciting stuff.
Here is an excerpt from the article in NBC’s Education Nation that highlights why this emphasis has been adopted:
While scientists, economists and researchers have proven that the root of the achievement gap and many expensive social problems have their roots in the formative early childhood years, there are precious few resources and attention devoted to ensuring young children get off to a strong start.
So what is the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge? According to the U.S. Department of Education website, the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grants will be awarded according to the following guidelines:
The RTT-ELC grant competition will focus on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting States' efforts to: (1) increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; (2) design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and (3) ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council's reports on early childhood.
The RTT-ELC grant competition will focus on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting States' efforts to: (1) increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; (2) design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and (3) ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council's reports on early childhood.
Looking for school funding? Check out this page on eduation grants! >