Follow some of the outside links
that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?
I visited several websites regarding state policies and
initiatives related to Quality Improvement in Arizona through the Zero to Three
website. One webpage was hacked and the others couldn’t even be found. The one
that I could investigate more on was the Quality First rating system in Arizona. “Quality First is a voluntary rating system
that assesses child care centers and home-based providers on safety,
environment, curriculum, credentialing, and teaching style”. It is not
mandatory and it it’s funded by the state government. When centers enroll to
participate they are first evaluated and then they are given an improvement
plan with supervising coaches that help them become a high quality program. When
they implement the plan they are given funds for equipment, professional development
for teachers, and even scholarships for low income children.
Thoroughly search one area of the
site. What do you find?
I read a power point presentation: TOWARD A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN: Building A Strong
infant-toddler Workforce and I found out some really good information. Because
the first 3 years of life are crucial, and early experiences shape the
architecture of the brain, those who are around young children should be
professionals that care and are knowledgeable about child development. “Young
children cared for by adults with higher levels of formal education and
specialized training in child development have been found to be more sociable,
exhibit more sophisticated use of language, and perform better on cognitive
tasks”. So this means that the state and federal government should invest to promote
high quality professionals, with better compensation for those who make the extra
effort.
If you receive an e-newsletter,
follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying. What new
information is available?
In my Zero to Three newsletters the information I receive is
regarding child development and parenting, which I happen to love. I have a 5 year
old and a 9 month old baby, and to be honest I realized that I’ve forgotten
some of the issues regarding parenting with babies. So the information I read
has become a mind refreshing.
Does the website or the e-newsletter
contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and
excellence in early care and education?
The zero to three website had as a topic this month the
beginnings towards equity in the path of the early childhood field regarding
the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) signed in 1993 by former president Bill
Clinton. Senator Dodd and Bond, made child care more accessible and affordable
for working families. “FMLA guarantees eligible workers up to 12 weeks of
unpaid leave a year to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, care for a
seriously ill family member, or recover from their own serious health
conditions”. The FMLA movement was the voices of families throughout the U.S.
and the collision of more than 100 organizations that made the noise for policy
makers. It wasn’t an easy process; it took several rejections before it became
a law.
What other new insights about issues
and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring
the website and/or the e-newsletter?
This week I’ve learn that there are many factors that
contribute to achieve equity, accessibility, and affordability. I’ve learn that
the early childhood is a battle field where one needs to fight for what we think it's
worth it. I’ve learned that the virtue of policy makers really matters because
they help us make our voice be heard even louder and our information is
their ammunition.
I need to subscribe to this ZERO TO THREE newsletter myself. Even as an educator who have taken numerous courses on childhood growth and development, I still have questions or simply need a "refresher" on how to do things. I will be sure to go sign up. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteHello Elisa,
ReplyDeleteThank you for exploring these different websites! In a country where families and children’s welfare are often referred to, it amazes me that mothers are allowed 12 weeks of unpaid leave of absence and granted their job back afterwards. How can those families survive when 2 salaries are needed and one new member has arrived in the family? How can 1 salary now provide for 3 people when 2 salaries were just enough to cover for 2 people’s needs? I totally agree with you when you state that we need to fight for what we think is right and that we, educators must learn how to sway policy makers into writing laws in favors of children, mothers, and families.
Hello Elisa,
ReplyDeleteGreat find! The New Zealand approach encourages job creativity as well as “empowers women in the work force”. It seems logical that programs subsidized by the government be subjected to “expectations and qualifications” and that caregivers providing schooling be subjected to training and documentation of children’s progress. New Zealand’s approach to early childhood education brings flexibility in the equation of excellence and equity.
I agree that politicians have to take responsibility on the state of early childhood education in their respective countries. Inequity is a choice not a fatality.