Announcement of the Early Childhood Workforce Innovation Grantees Six partnerships have been selected to receive Early Childhood Workforce Innovation Grants as part of the larger Transforming the Early Childhood Workforce in Colorado Initiative. Grants, ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, will help advance innovative solutions through one or more levers for change: Compensation, Targeted Recruitment, Education…
Colorado’s state preschool program doesn’t serve English learners well, report finds
The National Institute for Early Education Research recently released their “State of Preschool 2017” with Colorado-specific data around preschool. Chalkbeat Colorado highlights findings in an article around how Colorado serves English language learners.
Child Maltreatment Prevention Community Planning Awards Announced
Fifteen Colorado communities were awarded funding and technical assistance to engage in an eight-month local participatory planning process using the Colorado Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action (Framework). The Framework is designed as a tool to guide strategic thinking, align strategies, and maximize shared outcomes to prevent child maltreatment and promote child well-being at the state…
Gary Community Investments Launches $1M Early Childhood Innovation Prize
The first few years of a child’s life lay the foundation for future success. But too many young children are not reaching their full potential because existing approaches to early learning and development are not sufficiently addressing today’s challenges. Knowing this, the $1 Million Early Childhood Prize is seeking solutions to the question, “How might…
What do children need to know when they start kindergarten? You might be surprised.
Parents and ECE teachers coming together to level the playing field on consistent standards for children entering kindergarten. See how your expectations compare by reading the full article from Chalkbeat.
Colorado early childhood educators say they need respect, assistance
Reggie Bicha, Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Human Services, visited the Young Scholars Academy while promoting the importance of reading at an early age and discussing the struggles faced by the early childhood workforce. Read the full article from The Gazette.
Request for Proposals: Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY CHILD MALTREATMENT PREVENTION FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION – COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANTS Proposals are currently being accepted for the Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action – Community Planning Grants. This initiative is supported by the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Zoma Foundation. Early Milestones Colorado (Milestones) is the lead agency supporting…
Early childhood teachers in Colorado face low pay, high turnover.
“It’s amazing and disheartening that in an industry so vital to children, families, and the Colorado economy, early childhood programs cannot afford to pay their teachers a livable wage,” said Jennifer Stedron, executive director at Early Milestones Colorado. Read the full article from The Denver Post.
It’s hard to find qualified early childhood teachers. Here’s what one Denver provider is doing about it.
It’s a move that illustrates the anxiety providers face in finding high-quality staff and the gaps that exist in the state’s early childhood worker pipeline. Read the full article from The Atlantic magazine.
Colorado Divide: Seismic shifts create rural-urban chasm in the culture, economy and politics of the state
Whether you’re in a rural community or the Denver metro area, “Child care programs cannot really charge what it truly costs to provide high quality care, because nobody would be able to afford it. On the other hand, families can’t pay any more than they already are. That’s particularly true in some of our rural…
