Comfortable holidays, and to these of you who’re celebrating in the present day, Merry Christmas! I’m so grateful to your readership this yr. Reporting on early childhood is an immense privilege, and I respect the conversations and story concepts you ship my method, in addition to the numerous early educators, consultants and fogeys who’ve welcomed me into their lecture rooms and lives.
As 2024 winds down, I needed to share among the tales which have resonated most with me this yr:
- First, cozy up with a cup of cocoa and permit your self to be transported to Norway, the place childhood is seen as a time of innate worth and youngster care applications are required to be rooted in values like empathy and “a perception in human price.” Once I visited Norway earlier this yr, I used to be awed by their complete method to childhood, which is very evident of their early childhood applications. Seeing Norway’s method made me eager for what’s potential in early childhood.
- We all know youngster care is an exorbitant price for households in America, however some are fortunate sufficient to acquire free, high-quality care — in the event that they cross paths with the appropriate philanthropist. That’s what I discovered from a go to to a brand new early childhood community in Pennsylvania, funded by the Milton Hershey College Belief (sure, of the Hershey household).
- Earlier this yr, my colleague Sarah Carr reported on a subject that’s woefully undercovered. Regardless that most infants and toddlers are cared for in home-based settings, their suppliers usually don’t know they’re entitled to pay. Accessing pay for youngster care companies offered by associates, household and neighbors may make an enormous financial distinction for these (principally) girls.
- Carr additionally reported this yr on a largely hidden situation that has lengthy impacted households of youngsters with disabilities and delays, significantly mental disabilities and situations like Down syndrome. For many years, flawed IQ assessments have been used to “gauge younger youngsters’s potential and assess whether or not they’re ‘worthy’ of additional assist or funding.”
- And at last, earlier this month I printed the outcomes of a year-long investigation into state efforts to decontrol youngster careby reducing coaching necessities, placing youngsters to work as youngster care lecturers and elevating ratios and group sizes.As a part of that story, my colleague Sara Hutchinson and I uncovered disturbing situations inside youngster care applications in lots of states.
Subsequent yr, I’m planning tales on district pre-Ok funding, early childhood inclusion and elementary classroom administration, amongst others. I’ll even be sharing some examples of what different international locations are doing within the early childhood realm, and I’ll proceed to trace federal and state early childhood insurance policies. As all the time, I’d love to listen to what’s in your thoughts. Be at liberty to answer this electronic mail and I’ll be in contact!
Lastly, as a nonprofit information outlet, we depend on the generosity of particular person donors to maintain the group operating and assist fund this journalism. If you’ll be able to donate, please think about making a present to assist assist extra of this work in 2025.
Wishing you the very best within the new yr.
Jackie
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