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- All Subjects: Early childhood education
- Creators: Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board
- Resource Type: Text
Through surveys and interviews, this publication reveals that parents – regardless of income, education levels and ethnic background – basically want the same things from their child care providers: a safe, nurturing learning environment. The study also reveals that many parents face challenges in finding information about child care options in their communities, care that meets all of their expectations, and resources to pay for early learning programs.
For kids 5 and younger in early learning programs, success is largely determined by the knowledge and skills of their teachers, and by the quality of the interactions with those educators. This publication describes how Arizona continues to struggle in educational attainment, wages and retention of its early learning workforce. It also offers recommendations for parents, providers, policymakers and other stakeholders on how we can all better support those responsible for helping infants, toddlers and preschoolers get ready for school and set for life!
Designed to provide baseline measurement of the degree to which early childhood services work together in Arizona. The FTF Partner Survey will continue be administered on a yearly basis to evaluate ongoing progress toward FTF coordination and family support goals and improvements in early childhood collaboration.
First Things First discusses the link between school readiness and early language levels. Last year, nearly 1 in 4 Arizona third graders did not pass the reading portion of the state standardized test. The number of words a child knows at age 3 strongly correlates with reading and comprehension levels at ages 9 and 10. The brief details how First Things First infuses literacy in to its funded programs and offers parents and caregivers tips on how they can support language and literacy development in their child.
First Things First examines the need for a quality rating and improvement system, and how Quality First can standardize and help improve early child care in Arizona.
Across the country, states are acknowledging the importance of understanding children’s developmental status as they enter kindergarten to ensure an effective response to their instructional needs. Arizona’s KDI partner group is no exception, as they have recognized the importance of the development of a KDI in Arizona. In addition, they understand that the development and implementation of a KDI will be a significant effort within the state. The KDI Stakeholder Taskforce was convened early in the planning process to provide stakeholder input on three key issues: the KDI tool, PD, and communications. This stakeholder input is invaluable as the state moves forward with next steps related to the development of a KDI that will benefit the early childhood community, the K-12 education system, and all children and families across Arizona.
This document is the result of the convening of the Arizona Early Childhood Taskforce in the spring and summer of 2010. It defines the ideal system of early childhood development and health in Arizona and articulates First Things First's role within that early childhood system.
This report provides a model to help readers conceptualize the essential elements of a robust professional development system, and how they fit together. Drawing upon a comprehensive environmental scan completed this year, the report continues with a description of the current state of Arizona’s early childhood PD system, identifying gaps and opportunities. Finally, the report outlines a Two-Year Strategic Plan that represents the recommendations of the Arizona Professional Development System-Building Working Group.
This document stresses the importance of collective efforts among families, early care and education professionals, health care professionals, family support providers, community members, and policymakers in supporting the learning and development of young children.