Policies and National Regulations and Standards for Early Childhood Education

State of California Policies and Standards for Early Childhood Education:

According to the California Department of Education, there are many child care and development programs within the state. Some of the programs offered are for children from birth to age 12 (California Department of Education, n.d.). The program offers early learning and after school services to babies, toddlers, children in preschool, and children in kindergarten through sixth grade (California Department of Education, n.d.). Other programs also assist children with disabilities and children of migrant farm workers (California Department of Education, n.d.).

In 2008, California State Preschool Program Act consolidated several childhood initiatives into one funding stream, resulting in the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) (California State Profile, 2018). In California there is also a Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010. The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 moved the kindergarten eligibility age from December 02 to September 01 so that children would be 5 years old when entering kindergarten (California Department of Education, 2018). Following the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, California Transitional Kindergarten (TK) began during the 2012-2013 academic year. Under the Transitional Kinder (TK) Act children born between September 02- December 02 begin a year of a two-year kindergarten program (California Department of Education, 2018.).

The California Preschool Learning Foundations were developed using an inclusive and deliberate input process, including statewide stakeholder meetings, public input session held throughout the state, public hearings, and public and public comments California Preschool. There are three volumes for the California Preschool Learning Foundations. Learning Foundations, Volume 1 focuses on the domains of social-emotional development, language, and literacy, English-Language development, and mathematics (California Department of Education, 2020). Learning Foundations Volume 2 focuses on domains of visual and performing arts, physical development, and health (California Department of Education, 2020). Finally, Learning Foundations Volume 3 focuses on the domain areas of history-social science and science (California Department of Education, 2020).

Compare and Contrast:

From the readings this week, I have learned that The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) share similarities.  Both agencies have a goal to assess the whole child. A system that supports a reciprocal relationship among curriculum, child assessment, and program evaluation (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2003). According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment is a process through which teachers learn about children’s social, cognitive, linguistic, physical, and emotional development by gathering and interpreting information (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2012). According to the California Preschool Learning Foundations can provide early childhood educators, parents, and the public with a clear understanding of the wide range of knowledge and skills that preschool children typically attain when given the benefits of a high-quality preschool program (California Department of Education, 2020). Therefore, there are similarities between California and The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Board for the Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). I can say that the NAEYC and the NBPTS as well as California also ensure that the all domains are incorporated into everyday learning within the field of early childhood education.

Questions:

1. What can early childhood educators help parents understand the importance of young children attending an early childhood program?
2. What can I do as an early childhood educator to educate parents about free to low cost early childhood programs that young children can attend within their community?
3. How can educators involve parent from different cultures and languages to become involved in their child’s education?

Resources:

California Department of Education (2018). California State Profile, NIEER State 15 Essential Elements for High-Quality Pre-K. Retrieved from  http://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/EE_California_2018.pdf

California Department of Education (2020). California Preschool Learning Foundations. Retrieved from https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes. (2016). State-by-state. Retrieved from http://cee;p.org/stat-information/state-map/

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2003). Early childhood  curriculum, assessment, and program evaluations. Retrieved from   https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-   shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/position-statements/CAPEexpand.pdf

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). (2012). Early childhood  generalist standards (3^rd ed.). Retrieved from http://www.nbpts.org/wp-      content/uploads/EC-GEN.pdf