Sharing Web Resources

           The name of the organization I have decided to follow in detailed is NIEER, National Institute for Early Education Research.  With the facts of how vital interventions should occur on the lives of early aged children, such as pre-k, for healthy development.  This site has ample support to back the need for improved schools and programs.  There were 2 topics presented over the last week on this site that drawled my attention.  One being of a political nature and the new funding/budget our President is wanting to incorporate.  The other article presenting the facts and evidence of how we can make a difference in early childhood, without the dictation of the Federal government and their funding. 

            President Trump has presented the 2020 budget for early child care programs.  The offer he has presented is a flat-fund, only given to the states at one time.  An issue, child development is ever changed and adjusting, and yet continues funds is not an option from our federal government if passed.  Not to mention with acceptance of this one-time fund, states will have to accommodate to the qualifications of the federal government, their stipulations.  For starters, do we place a stipulation on the well-being of our children and the well-being of future.  Whether politics want to accept the reality or not, these children will be our leaders one day.  Enough reason to support adequate and healthy development.  With Trumps offer he has not increased the demand for children and families to find and afford high-quality childcare.  At this time only 1:6 children are eligible for assistance under the federal rules.  As the quality of childcare has shown the need to be of high-standards, teacher education of BS and MS, low staff child ratio, etc.  These requirements incorporate extra expenses, expenses the federal government has not adjusted to.  As the pay for these providers is low and the copays are high for the families.  In February 2018- 1 state paid childcare providers the federal mandate fee.  Without increased funding, the increased demand can not be met.  Trump stipulates that the state must reduce their safety standards in order to be eligible.  Is there a true price for the health of our children, the future?  What safety standard does he feel is nonsense or should be removed, because as a mother, the safety and care of my children is of vital necessity.  Safety contributes to the child’s feeling of the environment and whether trust can be established between child and teacher/center and between parent and teacher/center.  Removing safety is asking for a world of issues.  What about the increases in criminal activity because we now have an opinion policy to our childcare centers? Lastly there is an additional piece that will also suffer in the world of early child development, the funds cut to other programs.  Programs such as nutrition and housing are in the bulls-eye to be cut or either gutted.  I am not agreeing a difference or change does not need to occur so that we can get ourselves back to a prosperous nation, but at the expense of our children is ignorant (White, 2019, March 13).  A detail of the states laid proposal on funding can also be found under the Hot Topics in the Newsletter for March 8, 2019. (NIEER). 

            So again if we take a broad picture here with the summary of the first article and now with this following knowledge of the additional article in similar topic, we find our own solution.  If not ultimate solution, we can call it a movement indeed for early childhood development and education.  In 2016 there was a Soda Tax place on sweeten drinks in Pennsylvania.  One aim of this movement or tax was to help contribute to healthier eating habits and allowing difficulty with the epidemic of obesity.  Generating $137 million dollars, these funds were spent to open new childcare centers, increasing more than 2,000 pre-K seats.  Nearly half of these seats have been identified to have the highest-quality rating identified by the Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Program.  This also opened the door to new job opportunities, 200 new teachers.  As we all are aware at this time, pre-k is the prime time for a child’s development.  Me personally I feel the entire childhood is vital, but indeed especially from pre-natal through infancy until teenage.  Guidance, love, connection, academics, and more are vital for a child to thrive.  Laying the proper foundation.  A 20 year study presented findings and facts that promote greater social competence in kindergarten contributes to greater academic success in future life, college, jobs, success, and over all healthy well-being (McMichael, 2019, March 13). 

            The basic concept is that we indeed should focus a great amount of energy, time, and funds on the children in our communities.  We as citizens of America depend on our government to support our needs and hear our request.  As history has displayed many sacrifices have occurred over the years.  Do we continue to be blind to our mistakes, or make a change?  The reality of changing demographics is still striving in full force daily.  We must remain open to the needs of the diversity amongst us and those children.  If we can not rely on politics to make accurate decisions, we must join together to try and propose an intervention or movement ourselves.  We can make a difference in many ways tackling the issues of diversity.

             

References

McMichael, M. (2019, March 13). Soda tax-funded prek will drive Philadelphia’s future. National Institute for Early Education Research. Retrieved from   http://nieer.org/news/soda-tax-funded-prek-will-drive-philadelphias-future-opinion 

White, C. (2019, March 13). Don’t look to Trump budget for child care help- you won’t find it. National Institute for Early Education Research. Retrieved from  http://nieer.org/2019/03/13/dont-look-to-trump-budget-for-child-care-help-you-wont-find-it