The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

Strategies that are used by advocates and the organization where I am employed GCCSA-Head Start is to get parents more actively involved in their child’s education and well- being at school and at home.

By getting the parents involved it improves the student attention in class and it makes a better parent-teacher communication and will foster the well-being of the whole child and their family.
Policies that tend towards improving teaching quality in the classrooms has led to the implementation of the CLASS tool which Federal Monitors are using to monitor classrooms on the federal reviews every three years in Head Start Programs across the country.
I have recently been trained on using this CLASS tool since my agency is now requiring us to monitor the teaching staff starting this upcoming school year. Policy makers are putting systems in place to monitor the progress of students enrolled in the program as many individuals who hold positions in state and government office are opposed to using funds to operate the program. I am hopeful that by using this tool and getting high scores will change the minds of individuals who have a vote, understand the importance of keeping and funding Head Starts across the country.

Organizations like ECE and are working in low- to moderate-income communities where public schools and Head Starts are located, turning their attention to improving public education. They work at the neighborhood and policy levels to address the range of issues on inadequate funding to maintain these much needed programs.

What appeals most to me is that programs are staying abreast of the regulations needed in order to maintain a quality program that meets and in some cases exceeds expectations of policy makers and are advocating for families most in need.

Early Childhood Education - International Context - Children, Programs, Eccd, and Development - StateUniversity.com http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1926/Early-Childhood-Education-INTERNATIONAL-CONTEXT.html#ixzz21xpdEY5h

                           Parent , Family and Community Engagement

In viewing the videos of families who have and had children in Head Start made me understand and appreciate the program even more. Head Start benefits not only the child and their family it benefits the community as well by providing needed services to under income families getting them where they can be self -sufficient and productive.

The parent and family Involvement benefit the child by the parents being involved in their child’s education and success in school. It gives the families the opportunity to volunteer at the child’s school, serve on committees and be a part of the decisions that are made in the program especially when they serve on the Policy Council Committee. Take part in their child’s classroom as an observer, or a volunteer, and contribute their time and input to enrich the program. The child gets to see that their parent is taking an interest therefore enhancing the child’s self -esteem. Additionally parents working with staff and other parents in a cooperative way to achieve mutual goals benefits the child success.

 

I believe the value for early childhood professionals, the public and for policy makers and government officials hearing such stories is that by hearing them they will understand the importance Head Start has on children, families and the communities where the centers are located and the importance of advocating for continued funding for the program and for qualified teachers and support staff to teach and provide services such as health and nutrition services, early detection for  disabilities. Mental Wellness Services or therapy is also provided, as needed, to address children’s social-emotional needs.

                                                

                                 

                                        Quality Programs for all children

This week I have learned about the five strands of early childhood and how socio-cultural, economic, and political/policy has influenced how agencies and private organizations provide their services to young children and their families. The strands I viewed were Head Start/Early Head Start, Day Nurseries, Special Education, Nursery School, Kindergarten Education/Primary Grades.

A majority of women with children, infants through age 13, work outside of the home, many due to economic necessity, and the childcare industry is viewed as an essential industry supporting the workforce within the United States. Despite the economics that have contributed to the need for both parents to work outside of the home, government economic support for childcare facilities in terms of tuition remains limited to populations that are living in poverty. Childcare, therefore, for the majority of American families is supported through private pay.

However there are federally funded and not for profit organizations who understand the importance of early childhood care and the need for quality services to meet the needs of children who are in low income and poverty stricken families. I hope that over the next five years public opinion will continue to improve and individuals will become more educated on how important early childhood development is and how a child’s physical Development, Social and Emotional development is important for the overall well being of the child.

Implications for young children is that if the government and society continued funds early childhood development programs and projects for the ongoing services for families who are in the most need in the future then maybe we may not have to spend as much of the tax payers money to build additional prisons to house individuals who did not get needed educational and other required services at a younger age and we will have more involved citizens that will build better communities throughout the world.