Preschoolers Get Language Boost From Classmates, Study Shows
Preschoolers can learn key language skills from their peers, a new study finds. The study, “Peer Effects in Preschool Classrooms: Is Children’s Language Growth Associated With Their Classmates’ Skills?” shows that students who began preschool with limited language skills improved dramatically when grouped with classmates who were  more advanced. These findings suggest changes are needed in the current preschool approach, with federally-funded programs mostly populated by students from lower-income families, while private programs serve children from... ... More »

New Policy Brief Emphasizes Importance of Pre-K-Third Grade Alignment for Grade-Level Reading
The Pre-K Coalition, a collaboration among education groups to build awareness of pre-K and develop common principles for pre-K policy, has released a new policy brief detailing how aligning early education from pre-K through third grade can increase grade-level reading proficiency. The brief, “The Importance of Aligning Pre-K through 3rd Grade,” highlights effective strategies states and school districts around the country are using to strengthen early learning, and makes recommendations for how the federal government can... ... More »

20 Communities Receive Promise Neighborhood Grants
The federal government Monday awarded grants to organizations in 20 communities to develop Promise Neighborhoods, an integrated, place-based strategy that sustains children from cradle to college to career. Five communities---Buffalo, Minneapolis, San Antonio and Hayward, Calif. in the East Bay and three counties in southern Kentucky—received grants to begin implementing wraparound programs that coordinate health, social, community, and educational support for children starting at birth. Another 15 (listed here) received planning grants to develop such programs, based... ... More »

Nine States Win Early Learning Challenge Grants
Nine states will divide $500 million in federal grant money to foster early learning reform that will improve the quality of programs and the educational outcomes for children from birth to age 5, the White House announced this morning. The states-- California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Washington--were among 37 applicants for the Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge Grant program designed to develop integrated systems for the youngest learners. "If we... ... More »

Target and Ellen Show to Select Schools for Literacy Grants
As part of its plan to invest nearly $1 billion for literacy programs over the next few years, Target is teaming up with The Ellen DeGeneres Show to award grants to help 50 K-12 schools improve reading achievement. Viewers of the Ellen Show were asked to help identify schools with a significant need or compelling story that could best use the $100,000 grants to better serve their students and communities. Learn more about the grants and... ... More »