Early Childhood Trends and Issues

Prepared for the April 20, 2013

GAYC Board Meeting

Overview

National Trends and Issues

Obama support of Head Start, Pre-K, Early Education Home visiting funding available Concern about student achievement disparities Concern about nutrition/obesity/fitness Quality Rating Systems in 2/3 of states Increase in # of children/families living in poverty, displaced

and at risk Growth in diversity

GAYC Strategic Goals

For the 2012-17 GAYC Strategic Directions we agreed these four goal areas still make sense:

Early Childhood Education Professional Development Networking and Linkages High Performing Inclusive Organization Let’s look at each of our goals in relation to our state.

ECE QualityState Trends and Issues

ECE QualityState Trends & Issues (con’t)

ECE Quality Opportunities for GAYC?

Conduct impactful training on how to connect DAP and readiness/intentional practices. DAP is our vehicle!

Address the challenges in the FPG Child Care studies Accreditation funding opportunity Work in Promise Neighborhoods - Strengthening

Families Forge a quality role in GEEARS and QRIS

________________

What is the big quality issue we

should be focusing on?

State Professional Development Trends and Issues

Required education qualifications are increasing, but funding and pay are not

Teacher isolation – fewer opportunities to attend conferences and collaborate with others

State educational systems are major providers of professional development (DOE/BFTS/Head Start)

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are increasing

Math/science/inclusion/accountability/STEM/cultural competence are hot topics

Less support to provide instruction to children with disabilities or behavior issues.

Need to retain high quality providers

Professional DevelopmentOpportunities?

Increase awareness of and access to higher quality and intermediate/advanced professional development

Increase impact through mentoring, coaching and/or follow-up

Focus on more rigorous professional learning as a key aspect of professional development

______________________

What are the big professional development issues we should be focusing on?

High Performing Inclusive Organization Issues

Lack of updated Resource Development Plan and Committee. Limited monetary resources for additional staff and technology.

Transition to new leadership, loss of institutional and organizational memory

Lack of board diversity beyond early childhood education Lack of sufficient connection of GAYC work in

communities via board members Under utilized content volunteers

High Performing Inclusive Organization Opportunities

Focus more on technology Set the stage for new growth/opportunities under

new ED Utilize volunteers Request funding from the Community Foundation for

Resource Development Plan and Organization Assessment

What are the big high performing inclusive issues we should be focusing on?

Networking/Linkages Issues

Reduced membership due to economy Lack of connection with our members and

volunteers Need to better embrace diversity in our work Fragmented advocacy efforts Isolation of some providers

Networking/Linkages Opportunities? GAYC student groups (GA PACE) Coalition building (B-5, GEEARS, ECCS, SFG) Month of the Young Child Employer advocates in the HR community that rely

on child care Wider breadth of board members from different fields Educate, advocate, and provide professional

development to education decision-makers and local organization leaders (e.g., Chamber of Commerce)

What big linkage issue should we address?

Questions to be Answered

Are there new trends and issues in our ECE field? Yes, we have identified them.

Are the opportunities we will choose at the June Retreat valid and realistic for 2013-14?

If so, how should we address them in the2013-14 Operational Plan? To be answered

at the June Retreat