Early care and education (ECE) apprenticeship programs provide structured on-the-job learning combined with job-related education or coursework. ECE apprenticeships are viewed as a promising strategy to prepare people for careers in ECE and provide career pathways for people currently working in ECE. ECE Registered Apprenticeship Programs--meaning…

When learning to implement a curriculum effectively, early care and education (ECE) teachers require ongoing feedback about their progress, along with multiple and frequent opportunities to practice. Curriculum-based coaching initiatives, in which coaches facilitate active reflection on a curriculum and mentor teachers on adapting and applying new…

Many early care and education (ECE) institutions--including Head Start, state quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), and school district pre-K programs--use classroom quality observations in their quality improvement or monitoring processes. As many states expand their ECE programs, they grapple with questions about how best to use data…

This resource was prepared in response to a request for information about the innovations and lessons learned as the result of the investments States have made in transforming their workforce using their Race to the Top -- Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grants. These strategies and accomplishments will be helpful to other States as they…

Using concepts from the evaluation literature, this case study describes the instrumental, conceptual, and political influence of the Head Start National Reporting System (NRS) and on-going child assessments in a local Head Start program. This study found that a local program intentionally aimed to limit the influence of the NRS. The NRS validated…

In late 1999, philanthropist Susie Buffett wanted to make the smartest possible investment to improve public education in her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. She and her then-foundation president, Dan Pedersen, spoke with Superintendent John Mackiel regarding how he would choose to use private funds to enhance opportunities for Omaha's 46,000…

Accomplishments of the Technical Assistance Development System (TADS) are cited, current challenges (including program development, and communication and coordination) are noted, and the mission mandated for TADS is outlined. (CL)

The document summarizes discussions and presentations of a 1979 workshop to examine minority leadership aspects of the federally funded Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP). The following 11 titles and presenters are included: "Insights into the Leadership Role" (J. Birckhead); "Managing the Development of an…

This article provides information on how program directors can apply for Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) funds for meeting personnel expenses. (CM)

This paper reports on seven day care centers established through the Southeastern Day Care Project to provide state child welfare agencies with experience in developing day care programs and providing program administrators with information for program planning and development. The project was funded by the Donner Foundation and the Office of…

Father involvement enhances children's well-being. A growing body of research supports this conclusion, showing that children with involved fathers exhibit greater school readiness, increased cognitive development, higher levels of empathy, and other positive characteristics (Administration for Children and Families 2004a). Research also indicates…

A review of early childhood programs of the sixties is presented. This review is divided into the following sections: Converging Forces and Orthodoxies; Educational Programming; Review Criteria and Procedures; Program Review Structural Outline; Instructional Systems; Delivery Systems; Evaluation Systems; and Support Systems. The problems of…

An argument for support for legislative proposals to achieve quality day care for children under age 5. Proposes programs should (1) augment, not supplant, family, (2) include parent participation, (3) be constantly monitored, (4) provide stimulation emphasizing all facets of children's growth, and (5) return greatest educational dividend for…

Described are three components of community-school programs in Richmond, Virginia, public schools. The document presents the general guidelines for development and implementation of these programs which operate with Office of Economic Opportunity funding. Discussed are the remedial reading, early childhood education, and school-community…

In general, the preparation and professional development of the early childhood work force is affected by three conditions: demand for quality, the operative fiscal and regulatory environment, and compensation. If all the conditions were right, the system would work. In reality, these conditions, and therefore the preparation and professional…