Early childhood is a critical time for cognitive, social, and behavioral development. Many states have invested in comprehensive early childhood care and education systems that offer a wide range of supports and services to families from the prenatal period through school entry. Home visiting programs are an important component of state early…

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative to promote the healthy development and school readiness of young children. This brief is a planning tool designed to assist states in conducting strategic planning throughout the initiative. It is organized into seven steps as…

Asserting that early reading success is a strong predictor of academic success in later grades and that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) are critical for literacy development, this issue brief explores actions states can take to develop and support literacy-rich environments for children. Following an introductory summary, the brief…

This booklet is designed to help people in Maine communities organize on a local level to address one of the main goals of the America 2000 program, that all children will start school ready to learn. The booklet suggests that this goal is more complicated than it first appears and that its meaning can vary, depending upon the perspective from…

In 1994, the state of Georgia adopted a model of education reform that defined new education goals and formalized a structure that involved state policymakers and local communities. The system operates on the premise that regular assessments of progress should drive innovations or strategies for achieving results. This guide presents an…

This guide is intended to help Kentucky families of children with disabilities or other special needs to find services in their communities. Introductory information offers guidance in selecting services, applying for services, obtaining services, and organizing to obtain unavailable services. A question-and-answer format is used, with space…

This report provides guidance to local Title XX Day Care providers, Head Start administrators, and school district administrators in Texas who are interested in coordinating the services offered to eligible 4-year-olds in their communities. After an introductory section, section 2 presents a general description of each of the three programs…

Describes developmental and behavioral characteristics of homeless young children and their parents. Reports on how states and communities are attempting to meet the early education and care of young children in homeless families. Discusses the needs or problems that early education and care programs that include homeless children should address.…

This booklet emphasizes the importance of National Education Goal 1, which states that all children should be ready to learn when they start school. The booklet also explains the educational and social effects that early childhood programs can have on young children, and shows how the Nebraska State Board of Education, citizen groups, and school…

The report describes tracking systems which address the need for early, reliable, and consistent identification and follow-up for children at risk for developmental disability. The systems, developed by 15 states that participated in the "Project Zero to Three" network, demonstrate how states may approach the linkages among prevention,…

This guidebook was developed to assist Wisconsin parents, educators, and other professionals who deal with young children in the early identification of hearing problems. Section 1 provides an overview of the topic and discusses the importance of early identification and treatment of hearing problems. Section 2 examines state and federal laws,…

This information packet presents materials which focus on early identification of hearing impairment in infants and young children to prevent speech and language delays. A glossary of terms is followed by a summary of results of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference (1993) concerning early identification of hearing…

Guidelines are presented for New York's prekindergarten program for 4-year-old children from economically disadvantaged families, which is intended to provide the young child with a comfortable, secure, and inviting transition from home to school. Eligible providers are public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, who…

This guide provides an understanding of the scope and purpose of educational services in Vermont for young children with handicaps and their families. Section titles are as follows, with chapter titles in parentheses: (1) "Overall Program Development" ("Programmatic Philosophy and Policies,""Planning and…

This manual is designed to help individual libraries in Wisconsin plan and implement their summer library programs. The manual is divided into six sections. Section 1 covers planning and promoting programs, and includes reproducible promotional materials, sample letters to parents, and sample media materials. Section 2 provides decorating and…