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Early Education

Early readers

Tennessee
August 17, 2017

Tennessee wants to boost third-grade literacy. Here’s why it’s looking to early childhood education as the answer.

Tennessee has been waging war on illiteracy for years but is increasingly zeroing in on early childhood ed as the best platform for boosting children’s reading skills.

early investments

National
June 12, 2017

A powerful pairing: Pre-K boosts future incomes and reduces risk of jail, especially when schools spend more

Why do some early childhood programs produce big benefits for students, but others don’t? It may have a lot to do with money.

Testing conundrum

Tennessee
April 18, 2017

McQueen wants to prevent non-tested early grades from becoming a dumping ground for weaker teachers

Tennessee's education commissioner says a new teacher evaluation system for lower grades should help strengthen the quality of the state's early instruction.

family ties

New York
April 7, 2017

When high schoolers are parents, parent-teacher conferences are a three-generation affair

New York City's LYFE centers, which help students who are already parents, have developed an unconventional model for parent-teacher conferences.

prek debate

Indiana
April 6, 2017

How a computer program designed for home-based preschool in Utah could get a piece of Indiana’s education budget

Upstart, a software program developed by the Utah Department of Education and the nonprofit Waterford, is at the center of the proposal.

prek push

Indiana
December 21, 2016

Everything you need to know about the brewing debate over preschool in Indiana

The state has spent two years trying out a program in a handful of the state’s 92 counties.

Getting an early start

Indiana
November 22, 2016

Indiana House speaker calls for a big expansion of preschool support

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma also said a priority for 2017 would be to get more schools to shift spending to the classroom and away from administrative and support services.

Pre-K payoff

Tennessee
November 16, 2016

North Carolina just countered Tennessee’s findings on pre-K fadeout. Here’s the difference, according to researchers.

A year after a Vanderbilt study revealed weaknesses in public pre-K, a North Carolina study suggests public pre-K can work, at a cost.

expanding reach

Indiana
November 16, 2016

State Board of Ed: Expand free preschool to more (but not yet all) 4-year-olds

The Indiana State Board of Education joined education advocates, policymakers and lawmakers in supporting an expansion of free preschool programs for low-income kids.

All IN 4 Pre-K

Indiana
August 12, 2016

Indy business leaders promise to fight for preschool for more kids

Indiana business and civic leaders launch efforts to lobby for an expansion of preschool opportunities for Hoosier children.

Early education

Indiana
August 11, 2016

What makes a preschool great: 4 things parents should look for

Experts agree on the benefit of preschool, but programs vary widely in Indiana. There are certain things parents should look for when choosing a program for their child.

Living Legend

Colorado
August 1, 2016

Longtime advocate Anna Jo Haynes: Parents need to become advocates for their children

Chalkbeat sat down with Anna Jo Haynes to talk about an esteemed roundtable and her thoughts on how early education has changed over the years.

Election 2016

Indiana
July 26, 2016

In replacing Pence in governors race, Holcomb calls for cooperation on education

Indiana’s Republican party today solved one political mystery by naming Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb as its candidate for governor but, for educators, another huge…

Early education

Tennessee
June 28, 2016

Will more pre-K seats mean better outcomes for kids in Shelby County? Depends who you ask.

A federal grant has funded about 280 new pre-K seats in four Shelby County districts this fall, according to movers and shakers gathered at a pre-K summit in Memphis.

Who You Gonna Call?

Indiana
June 22, 2016

Parents of young children get a number to call for help finding preschools

Early Learning Indiana will use more than $10 million in federal grant money to support a statewide push to help families find child care and preschool options.
Colorado
December 10, 2015

State board makes progress on one early childhood issue, not on another

The State Board of Education has approved an agreement with a testing company that’s intended to make use of the firm’s school readiness tool less time-consuming.

shaping up

Colorado
December 10, 2015

New Colorado child care rules take aim at obesity

New state rules for child care centers will ban sugary drinks, establish limits on screen time and mandate 60 minutes of daily physical activity for in full-day students.

building hope

Colorado
December 2, 2015

How an ambitious new program aims to fight poverty and help kids learn, one block at a time

An ambitious project modeled on the Harlem Children's Zone is unfolding within one elementary school's boundaries in the Adams 50 school district.

raising readers

Colorado
November 23, 2015

Report: Colorado taking its “first steps” when it comes to early literacy policy

A new state-by-state report on early literacy policies ranked Colorado 33, highlighting a few bright spots and several areas that need improvement.

model of inclusion

Colorado
November 10, 2015

Growing approach helps kick preschool expulsion habit

In light of concerns about preschool expulsion rates, the Pyramid Plus Approach represents one way to help early childhood teachers handle challenging behaviors.

Preschool debate

Colorado
October 23, 2015

Landmark study sparks question: Do preschool effects stick in Colorado but not in Tennessee?

Early childhood leaders here say a major study that raised doubts about preschool's effectiveness quality but doesn't match Colorado data on the topic.
Colorado
October 12, 2015

New waivers from school readiness law raise concerns

More than 60 Colorado charters - and one of the state’s largest districts - have been granted exemptions from a school readiness law just as it is being rolled out.

Brain science

Colorado
October 9, 2015

Q&A: A researcher who’s seeking nimble interventions for toxic stress

A Q&A with Dr. Philip A. Fisher, who argues that researchers and policy-makers must become more innovative in finding ways to mitigate the effects of toxic stress.
Indiana
September 16, 2015

Indiana high school senior to U.S. Secretary of Education: Help me get to college

Ben Davis University High School Senior Rosa Ramos Ochoa was sure she earned a 21st Century scholarship. And she had a Social Security number. But she was still left out.

building blocks

Colorado
September 2, 2015

Governor and lawmakers applaud release of state’s early childhood roadmap

A revised version of the state's early childhood roadmap puts more emphasis on the preschool-to-kindergarten transition and the two ends of the early childhood spectrum.

missing students

Colorado
September 2, 2015

Report: Early absenteeism leads to achievement gaps later

Colorado has slightly higher absenteeism rates in the fourth and eighth grades than the nation, according to a study that ties chronic absences to achievement gaps.
Indiana
August 18, 2015

Duncan: Indiana's preschool pilot should be open to all kids

Despite criticism from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that Indiana’s preschool pilot program should not shut out children who are in the country without permission, Gov. Mike Pence’s office said the rule is needed to stay consistent with the way federal preschool programs work.
Indiana
August 11, 2015

Special education funding dries up for some kids in kindergarten

The state doesn't recognize the category of "developmental delays" past age 5, along with 19 other states
Indiana
August 4, 2015

Some immigrant children are shut out of new preschool programs

Children who are in the country without permission aren't welcome into either the state or Indianapolis preschool program.
Indiana
July 31, 2015

As the state and city begin new aid programs, preschools seek to expand

Preschools are capitalizing on the momentum created by new state and city preschool programs by improving their facilities and raising their standards.
Indiana
July 29, 2015

Studying new preschool programs could bolster success evidence but cost is a barrier

Indianapolis has a chance to do a rare gold standard study of preschool effects if someone will pay for it.
Colorado
July 28, 2015

Homework for preschoolers? Aurora parents make the case

Last spring, a group of Aurora parents banded together to make a surprising request. They wanted homework for their preschoolers. District officials have agreed to put out a homework calendar and establish a new homework policy.
Indiana
July 17, 2015

Test yourself: Do you know the basics of Indiana education?

It's a good time to brush up on your Indiana education knowledge. Try your hand at our quiz that includes questions on our four newest "basics" posts out this week.
Indiana
July 13, 2015

The basics of Mike Pence on education: A battle for control

As governor, Mike Pence has pushed for career and technical education, school choice, tougher school accountability and changes to standards and tests.
Indiana
July 12, 2015

Coming this week: Your updated guide to education issues in Indiana

Starting Monday, come back to Chalkbeat each day next week for a new post on a topic that's important to education in Indiana.
Colorado
July 9, 2015

Early literacy effort having impact, advocacy group reports

The early-literacy programs created by a 2012 law have reduced the percentages of young students reading below grade level, according to a study by an advocacy group.
Indiana
July 2, 2015

Coalition's ambitious goal: improve and expand preschool in Indiana

The ultimate goal of the plan, advocates say, is to prepare the state for the possibility that a statewide preschool program could be widely expanded soon.
Indiana
June 18, 2015

Appointing IPS board members on Brewer's agenda for mayoral campaign

Indianapolis Republican mayoral candidate Chuck Brewer thinks the city should be more involved in education — so much so that he proposed adding two mayoral appointees to…

New nonprofit

Colorado
June 5, 2015

New statewide early childhood non-profit launches

A new non-profit, called Early Milestones Colorado, launched recently with the goal of improving the state’s early childhood systems.
Indiana
May 13, 2015

Mike Pence's 2015 education agenda: Wins, losses and consolation prizes

Some of Pence’s goals resulted in new laws, but others were gutted along the way or changed so much that they had a passing resemblance to what he originally pushed for.

Small changes

Colorado
May 12, 2015

Colorado plateaus in annual preschool ranking

While state funding for the Colorado Preschool Program increased a bit last year, Colorado didn't improve on measures of preschool quality or access, according to an annual ranking published by the National Institute for Early Education Research or NIEER.
Indiana
May 6, 2015

Huge demand for preschool aid far exceeds scholarships offered

More than four times as many children applied than the 1,300 scholarships available.
Indiana
May 5, 2015

Video: Experts discuss challenges of Indianapolis preschool expansion

Preschool options are growing in Indianapolis and statewide, but real practical challenges remain before early education advocates say the state will have an infrastructure it can be proud of.
Colorado
April 24, 2015

Adams 50 gets grant to explore Pay For Success financing

Adams County School District 50 won a $120,000 grant this month to explore the use of Pay For Success financing to expand early childhood programming.
Indiana
April 18, 2015

Panel: Partnerships, big and small, are key to preschool progress in Indianapolis

Preschool educators and policymakers gathered to talk about the future of preschool in Indianapolis, hosted by Chalkbeat in partnership with WFYI and Butler University.
Indiana
April 16, 2015

Preschool is expanding, but practical challenges remain

An event Saturday at Butler University featuring the state's top preschool advocates hosted by Chalkbeat will shed light on the future direction of preschool in the state.

Financing with a twist

Colorado
April 1, 2015

More groups explore how Pay For Success financing can help kids

After bursting onto the national scene a few years ago, Pay For Success financing is gaining traction among Colorado school districts and early childhood organizations. Three Colorado groups are currently investigating the model as a way to improve outcomes from children and youth.

Data dive

Colorado
March 23, 2015

Childhood poverty finally on the decline, according to KIDS COUNT report

A decline in Colorado's child poverty rate is just one of the many data highlights in the latest KIDS COUNT report published annually by the Colorado Children's Campaign.
Colorado
March 7, 2015

Denver Preschool Program resumes summer tuition support

The taxpayer-funded Denver Preschool Program is reintroducing summertime tuition help after a six-year hiatus.
Indiana
March 2, 2015

Council approves funding for Indianapolis preschool program

Paying for the program was the final decision needed to put into action what is expected to be a five-year program.
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