Oakland Starting Smart and Strong’s Post

When considering the issue of early childhood education, we know that there are three big roadblocks to universal preschool: lack of facilities, lack of spots available, and the workforce gap. While we’ve spent a lot of time and resources over the years addressing the lack of facilities and lack of spots, we had yet to dive into the workforce gap problem until recently. Understanding the workforce gap and creating a plan around addressing this problem is a priority identified through our recent strategic planning process. Before jumping to solutions, we conducted a landscape analysis in order to first understand what the main problems are, who’s doing what, where the gaps are, and what could SVP be doing to potentially address some of these gaps. Tiffany Hsieh, an SVP Partner, took on this task. As she put it, "Conducting this landscape scan has been helpful to have a centralized resource for SVP Partners (including myself) to orient ourselves to all the stakeholders and work being done around expanding the early childhood workforce in Multnomah and Washington Counties and identify where SVP can play a unique role. Finding ways to get more early childhood educators into classrooms is such a central component to accomplishing our goal of expanding equitable access to early childhood education for all kids." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gFjCSzSC

Join the conversation, elevate your voice, and share your experiences on Creating a Caring, Equitable Community of Learners. At the Professional Learning Institute, we are excited to offer well-researched and cutting-edge sessions, featuring diverse voices and perspectives that punctuate the importance of quality professional development and its positive impact on early learning programs. Check out a preview of sessions that connect to this year's theme, Creating a Caring, Equitable Community of Learners. ⬇️ More Than Words: Teaching Preservice Educators About Caring and Equity Through Intentional Actions Building a Sustainable Workforce: Embedding Self-Care Skills for Early Childhood Professionals Utilizing Data and Strengths-Based Coaching to Promote Equity and Support Early Childhood Educator Efficacy Culturally Responsive School Leaders: Promoting Equity and Inclusion During the Early Years Investment Strategies in ECE That Center Quality for All Learners and Early Childhood Educators Inspiring Contextually and Culturally Relevant Technology Use in Early Childhood Programs: Applying DAP in Decision Making Listening to Learning: Assessing and Teaching Diverse Young Children Welcoming Families of Young Children with Disabilities to ECE Programs: Using Partnerships to Make Equitable and Inclusive Experiences for All To explore all Professional Learning Institute sessions, please visit https://lnkd.in/gV4XNyHG

🌟 The Foundation of Future Success: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) 🌟 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is not just a phase in a child's life but the very bedrock upon which future learning and development are built. Research consistently shows that high-quality ECCE programs lead to significant long-term benefits, including better academic performance, improved social skills, and enhanced emotional well-being. As an advocate for comprehensive ECCE, I am passionate about creating environments where children can explore, learn, and thrive. Here are some key aspects we should focus on to ensure the success of ECCE initiatives: 1. Holistic Development: Programs should address the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children. A well-rounded approach helps in nurturing well-balanced individuals. 2. Inclusive Education: Every child deserves access to quality education regardless of their background or abilities. Inclusive practices ensure that all children can learn together, fostering empathy and understanding from a young age. 3. Qualified Educators: The role of educators in ECCE cannot be overstated. Investing in the training and professional development of teachers is crucial for delivering high-quality early childhood education. 4. Parental Involvement: Engaging parents and caregivers in the educational process enriches the learning experience. Collaborative efforts between educators and families create a supportive and consistent environment for children. 5. Safe and Stimulating Environment: A secure, loving, and stimulating environment is essential for the growth and development of young children. Classrooms and play areas should be designed to inspire curiosity and creativity. By prioritizing these aspects, we can make a significant impact on the lives of children and lay the groundwork for their lifelong success. Let's work together to champion the cause of Early Childhood Care and Education and build a brighter future for our youngest learners! #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECCE #ChildDevelopment #InclusiveEducation #HolisticDevelopment #EducationForAll #FutureSuccess

🚀 Excited to share my latest paper, "Leveraging Lived Experience for Transformative Pedagogy in Daycare Settings," published with the support of St. Mary’s University! 🎉 This work delves into the vital role of evolving pedagogy at the practical level within Early Childhood Settings. It highlights how integrating personal knowledge, insights, and wisdom gained from lived experiences into daily actions, decisions, and professional practices can significantly enhance Early Childhood Education and Care. By embedding authentic human experiences, ECEC practitioners and leaders in Early Childhood Education and Care can ensure that programmes and policies are not solely guided by theoretical frameworks but are enriched by the realities of everyday life. This approach aims to create sustainable, high-quality early learning provision that are tailored to the diverse and ever-changing needs of contemporary childhoods. The ultimate goal? To foster responsive, dynamic early learning experiences that not only enhance children’s development but also drive meaningful, lasting change in their lives. 🌱 I invite you to read, reflect, and join the conversation on how we can shape the future of early learning together! 💬 #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TransformativePedagogy #SustainabilityInEducation😊

📣As part of #InternationalLiteracyDay reflections, let’s not forget babies and young children! 👶🏻👦🏼👶🏽 Babies are born ready to learn and early literacy can be fostered from birth through everyday simple early stimulation and play activities. ⁉️However, a large proportion of caregivers are unaware of their babies’ potential to learn or do not have the means to engage their little ones in playful learning from birth. ⏳Early intervention can give caregivers and children the inputs they need to take most advantage of the early years as a crucial window of opportunity for literacy and lifelong learning. 💸Now more than ever, we need investment in foundational education and caregiver based interventions for babies and children under the age of 3! Have a look at our evidence synthesis of Building Brains, a flexible, low-cost intervention, which effectively improves early learning outcomes for children and their caregivers. ⬇️⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eFFPWcwx

*I AM POSTING THIS AS A PARENT AND NOT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY ENTITY OR AGENCY* As families and children celebrate at Lights On Afterschool events nationwide this month, take a moment to ask Congress to add their support for afterschool and summer learning. Congress has passed a continuing resolution funding the government through December 20, 2024, and will be making funding decisions soon on the FY 2025 Labor, HHS, Education spending bill. The House has proposed steep cuts to a number of programs that support afterschool and summer learning, making it critical that your members of Congress hear about the programs that are the utmost priority for your community. Please reach out to your members of Congress to thank them for their past support and call on them to increase funding for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative – the only federal funding stream dedicated to supporting local school and community-based afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. Increased funding is also needed for the Child Care Development Block Grant, which can help parents provide school-age afterschool and summer programs to their children. Finally - maintaining and increasing funding for AmeriCorps is vital to support the afterschool and summer learning programs that so many young people and families depend on. The families of approximately 25 million children are unable to access an afterschool program. A significant funding increase will help programs cover growing costs and meet the nationwide demand for programs. Please take two minutes to send a message to Congress in support of afterschool and summer learning programs. https://lnkd.in/e_7zfNsP

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: 2024 showed me that the foundations of education success start earlier than we think. Moving from K-12 to early childhood development opened my eyes to how critical those first three years are - and how much we can achieve when we bridge these traditionally separate spaces. This year brought opportunities to connect educators and advocate for practical solutions: • Shared insights at ISTE Live, UNITED2024, and ASCD24  • Exhibited at Child Care Aware Leadership Institute • Developed partnerships supporting intentional teaching practices • Advocated for accessible, quality childcare solutions • Built bridges between K-12 and early childhood sectors Looking to 2025: Focused on expanding access to evidence-based early childhood resources while strengthening connections between early education and K-12. When we support educators with practical, proven solutions, we create lasting positive change for children and families. To every educator and advocate working to improve outcomes for our youngest learners: your dedication makes all the difference. Let's keep building bridges and finding practical solutions together. The impact of your work ripples through generations. -- Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind at https://lnkd.in/gnagvdCt

Week of the Young Child celebrates young children and draws attention to high quality early learning and the critical role that teachers and families play in children's learning and development. This year and every year, we aim to showcase the dedication and hard work of the early care and education workforce, while also emphasizing the importance of advocating for policies and practices that benefit young children and their families. If you’re interested in learning more about early childhood education and the impact it has on our economy, this article shares many ways that you can involved!

Does integration in early childhood education matter? I firmly believe that it makes us all better, and our partners at The Century Foundation outline how it can be done in this series. https://lnkd.in/ehevX296