GSC Web Admin
07-23-2009, 09:07 AM
A new study released in June 2009 by Child Trends for the Council of Chief State School Officers reports that the achievement gap is evident in children at nine months and grows larger by 24 months. Disparities existed across cognitive, behavioral, social and health outcomes. The most prevalent risk factors are low family income and low maternal income. The data used was obtained from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort, a nationally representative study of 11,000 children born in the United States in 2001.
The study from Child Trends recommends that in order to lessen the effects of the risk factors and help children succeed in school, intervention must be in place early. Recommendations are:
Start Early with comprehensive, high quality programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
Children from low income households should receive the most intensive services.
Engage and support parents
Provide parent education on child development
Support parents in education to improve their employment potential and ability to provide for their families
Improve the quality of early care and education settings by offering children care with providers trained and licensed to meet high quality state and national standards for care and education.
Programs debated for budget cuts are the very programs that can help reduce the gaps in learning. Michigan has a blueprint and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation is coordinating efforts with the Great Start Collaboratives to create programs and services so that all Michigan children can be prepared for school and start on the road to success. Please continue to let your representatives know how important these issues are to you.
The study from Child Trends recommends that in order to lessen the effects of the risk factors and help children succeed in school, intervention must be in place early. Recommendations are:
Start Early with comprehensive, high quality programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
Children from low income households should receive the most intensive services.
Engage and support parents
Provide parent education on child development
Support parents in education to improve their employment potential and ability to provide for their families
Improve the quality of early care and education settings by offering children care with providers trained and licensed to meet high quality state and national standards for care and education.
Programs debated for budget cuts are the very programs that can help reduce the gaps in learning. Michigan has a blueprint and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation is coordinating efforts with the Great Start Collaboratives to create programs and services so that all Michigan children can be prepared for school and start on the road to success. Please continue to let your representatives know how important these issues are to you.