Building 2007

Trends & Reports • Updated ECE Research Summaries now online • Business Executives Underestimate Link Between Workforce Quality and Preschool Education, Study Suggests • Final Report from the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study

New Developments • Chapter 49-2 Final Form Regulations Approved by the State Board of Education • OCDEL Offices Move to 333 Market Street • May 23 e-Grants TA call cancelled – one-on-one technical assistance available

In the Community • Nearly 500 rally in Harrisburg for Pennsylvania’s early childhood initiatives • Getting kids registered for kindergarten

Upcoming Events

Resources for Early Learning Professionals • New dates for workshops for Kindergarten Teachers on Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards for Kindergarten

The Early Childhood Education E-Newsletter is a project of the Pennsylvania Build Initiative, Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare to inform early learning professionals, the early childhood community, policymakers, community leaders and the public on developments in early childhood education and care in Pennsylvania. Please feel free to forward this email to friends, family, and colleagues. You may access archived copies at the PDE website, www.pde.state.pa.us.

Trends & Reports

Updated ECE Research Summaries now online April's early childhood research updates include articles demonstrating that the quality of language inputs in high quality center environments are similar to the types of language provided by affluent families in Hart and Risley's ground-breaking research on language development and that quality can be maintained in child care sites for at least 3 years after a state initiative ("Preschool" summary). The "Best Practices in Early Childhood" summary provides new research on the impact of transition practices on teachers and parents as well as the role of parents in stimulating mathematical thinking. This set of research summaries also presents a new series, "Early Intervention Efficacy," which summarizes research demonstrating the benefits of participation in Early Intervention services.

Updated research summaries are now available at: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/cwp/view.asp?a=179&q=106802&early_childhoodNav=|10723|&early_childho odNav=|

Business Executives Underestimate Link Between Workforce Quality and Preschool Education, Study Suggests PNC Financial Services Group Reports Public Support across Income Levels for Government-Funded Preschool

Amid mounting concerns about the United States' ability to compete in a global economy, business executives appear to underestimate the impact of quality, early childhood education on the development of a highly skilled workforce, according to study findings released today by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

Among the general public, meanwhile, there is agreement on the importance of early education for children. Strong support also exists among parents of all income levels for government-funded preschool.

Build ECE News: 5/18/07 page 2

The first-ever PNC Study of Early Childhood Education is a comprehensive survey of American adults, including parents of young children along with teachers in pre-kindergarten through third grade, plus corporate executives and Congressional leaders. It was commissioned by PNC as part of its $100 million, 10-year investment in school readiness among children from birth to age 5.

Conducted in January through May, the survey of executives from a broad range of industries and company sizes across the nation along with the general public and U.S. Congress found:

• Most executives feel U.S. children are ill-prepared to learn when they start kindergarten as 56 percent say youngsters are somewhat/not

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