The Durango Herald | Erika Alvero “Those first eight, nine years are crucial. And by giving kiddos those early literacy skills, that’s going to make a difference.” Emerging from a program called “Talk-Learn-Grow,” families in Southern Colorado are utilizing conversation tracking technology to measure word use and language development for young children. The LENA technology…
Opinion: How to Reopen the Economy Without Killing Teachers and Parents
The New York Times: Opinion | Shardha Jogee “But what about the millions of kids from disadvantaged backgrounds whose homes are not conducive to online learning and who rely on schools for meals? And what about parents who cannot work from home and watch over them?” The U.S. Department of Education aims for schools to return to full-time…
One Barrier to Internet Access has Fallen, but Colorado Education Leaders Say the Divide Remains Too Large
Chalkbeat Colorado | Claire Bryan “We think it is important that we have not just a district effort but a legislative effort to fix this,” Denver Superintendent Susana Cordova said. “And to make sure this is something that becomes a utility. Just like Xcel, just like Denver Water, just like trash pick-up, the internet should…
Report: Deck Stacked Against Young Children of Color, but Leaders Can ‘Seize This Moment’ to Improve Equity
The 74 | Linda Jacobson “Child advocates have a larger and more daunting task ahead in a post-COVID-19 world… Intentionally focusing on policies, practices, and investments that support more equitable systems for our youngest learners is a starting point.” A new report from the Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University and the Bipartisan Policy…
What To Do About Part-Time School? NYC Announces Free Child Care For 100,000 Students
NPR | Laurel Wamsley “This pandemic has been hugely disruptive in the lives of our kids, which is why we are working to provide as much in person learning as possible. Working families are being pulled in many directions trying to make a plan for the fall, and we are going to help them every…
Opinion: Child Care Centers Have Already Been Reopening. The Results are Troubling.
The Washington Post | Catherine Rampell “The Cares Act provided $3.5 billion in relief for child-care centers and $13.5 billion specifically for K-12 schools, but this has proved woefully insufficient. The child-care industry alone requires at least $9.6 billion in public funding each month during the pandemic to sustain the viability of providers, the Center for…
Denver Public Schools Will Not Have In-Person Classes to Start The Fall Semester Because of Coronavirus
Colorado Sun | Erica Breunlin “Many of Colorado’s rural school districts are eager to resume classes in school buildings, in part because of struggles with access to a reliable internet connection, but they’re prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff.” Denver Public Schools has reversed its earlier plan to return to in-person learning this…
40% Of U.S. Child Care Centers Say They’ll Close Permanently Without Public Assistance
Forbes | Tommy Beer “Approximately two out of five respondents—and half of those who are minority-owned businesses—are certain that they will close permanently without additional public assistance.” This article offers the key takeaways from a new survey of more than 5,000 child care providers last month by the National Association for the Education of Young…
How Are You Telling Children the Story of the Pandemic?
The New York Times | Perri Klass, M.D. “The narratives vary depending on children’s ages, but all children need narratives.” In this op-ed, Dr. Perri Klass, author of the forthcoming book A Good Time to Be Born: How Science and Public Health Gave Children a Future, offers perspectives from parents and pediatricians on how to…
EdWeek Series: How We Go Back to School
Education Week “There are no playbooks for how to do this. Following public health protocols will cost a lot of money, even as school budgets are pummeled by the economic collapse. Managing the anxieties of teachers, students, and parents will require patience, compassion, and careful communication.” In addition to a nation-wide scan of reopening plans…
