Sharing Web Resources

The website I have been exploring is the National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org

This week I decided to explore the resources link and there I found a wealth of information.  The resources link comprises of the bibliography, papers and publications.  Under papers I found 5 areas which are considered priority of the NBCDI in 2011 and coincidentally these areas also contribute to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education and at the same time issues and trends in the early childhood field.  They are:

• Protect and sustain investment in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Increase alignment and coordination across early childhood and the early grades
• Invest in early childhood workforce quality
• Promote meaningful family engagement
• Reduce childhood obesity and hunger

Among the Recommendations and Letters is a letter that was sent to President Obama on the 29th July, 2011 by an advocacy group appealing to the President not to use children as any deal as it relates to raising the debt ceiling. This letter also addresses issues of equity and excellence.  The group noted that 1.3 million children drop out of school each year.  Forty three percent of families with children are struggling to afford stable housing.  Poverty level for children will soon hit 25 percent. It really worth your time actually it deals with the starling really that is facing us so you can access it at: http://nbcdi.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Final-letter-to-President-and-Congressional-Leadership-on-Federal-Budget.doc

Another letter was sent from NBCDI to the Administration for Children and Families in which comments were sent pertaining to the proposed rule amending Head Start Program Regulations to establish a system of designated renewal.  In this letter an appeal was made to ensure that high quality programs are not sacrificed at the expense of low-performing programs, the need to close the achievement gap and many other related issues. The article can be sourced at: http://nbcdi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Head-Start-Redesignation-Letter.pdf. 

I was unable to access the publication area, a donation is required.

Additionally, I realized that having a deficit budget may not be a negative thing since it will keep many persons – elderly children, families on the brink from experiencing sever hardship unlike if efforts are made to ensure that a balanced budget exists.  It would necessitate severe cuts in vital programs.  I am sure that early childhood would be one of those programs that will be sacrificed if it comes to that.  I believe that it is for reasons like these that serious efforts are not being made to make early childhood care and education compulsory by making universal preschool education a reality – free preschool education available to those who need it.

Reference

National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org