Transcript Slide 1

Early Care and Learning Council
June 6, 2012
Stephanie Fanjul
President, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
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Overview of Presentation
Today, we will talk about:
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North Carolina’s experience building an early childhood system,
The importance of the birth to five years,
The value of high quality early childhood experiences, and
What’s at stake for New York and the nation.
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Background: What is Smart Start?
Smart Start inspires and connects people to make immediate
and lasting change in the health and well-being of North
Carolina’s young children. It is a network of nonprofit local
partnerships led by a state-level organization (NCPC) working
together.
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Background: What does
Smart Start Do?
• Educate that early experiences have lasting impact on later
learning.
• Establish innovative, high-performing programs that increase
young children’s health, development, and school readiness.
• Build strong relationships and shared goals between people,
programs, and communities.
• Increase investments in early childhood education, health, and
family support.
• Produce and use data to identify needs and trends, demonstrate
results, and promote continuous quality improvement.
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Background: Smart Start Works
More children attend high quality care. In FY 2010-11:
• 67% of all children in early care and education attend 4- and 5star programs as compared to 33% in 2001.
• 78% of children whose families received subsidy attend 4- and
5-star centers (compared to 30% in 2001).
A 2011 Duke University study found children had higher third
grade reading and math scores and fewer special education
placements in counties that received more funding for Smart
Start when those children were younger.
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Why Does it Matter?
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Why Does it Matter?
The Education Continuum: The first 2,000 days are critical.
“There are only 2,000 days between the newborn baby and when
that child will show up in kindergarten. It is urgent that we use the
best scientific info to make sure we support all our children so they
can succeed in school. Our children can’t wait.”
Dr. Andrew Meltzoff, co-director
University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences
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What Happens in the
First 2,000 Days?
Children’s earliest experiences
literally determine how their brains
are wired; lay the groundwork for
future health; and form the
foundation of the social and
emotional skills needed for academic
and workplace success.
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What Happens in the
First 2,000 Days?
Today,
neuroscientists are
able to show that
early experiences
actually shape the
architecture of the
brain.
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What Happens in the
First 2,000 Days?
Early experiences are built into our
bodies. They shape the wiring of the
brain and impact how biological
systems develop. Scientific evidence
suggests many common diseases such
as high blood pressure, diabetes, and
heart disease are linked to processes
and experiences that occurred in early
childhood.
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What Happens in the
First 2,000 Days?
Academic ability alone does not make for a
successful adult. Social and emotional skills are
equally important in determining success in
school, work, and life. Social and emotional
skills include the ability to self-regulate, manage
mood and control anger, self-motivate, manage
relationships, empathy, and the ability to relate
to and influence others.
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What Do We Get When We Invest
in the First 2,000 Days?
High quality early education yields:
• higher graduation rates,
• reduced crime, higher earnings, and
• better jobs.
Economists estimate that every dollar invested in high quality
early education produces a 10% return through increased
personal achievement and social productivity.
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Has to Be Quality
Low quality child care has lasting negative effects.
Poor quality care can diminish potential and lead to poor
cognitive, social, and emotional developmental outcomes.
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Investing in Quality
North Carolina has a strong early childhood system. It is the
collective strength of all partners and the connections between us
that results in shared successes.
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Quality Rating Improvement System in Licensing
Division of Child Development Early Education
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood®
Child Care WAGE$®
NC PreK
Child Care Resource & Referral
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC
Community College System
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Investing in Quality in New York
• Voluntary 5-star rating and improvement system
• Provide clear, organized, cost-effective way to assess, improve
and community quality of New York’s early care and learning
programs.
• Benefits children, parents, early care and learning field,
policymakers, taxpayers, and donors.
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Investing in Quality in New York
Children
Child Care
Providers
Families
Early Care &
Learning
Council
Statewide
CCR&R agencies
Employers,
Chambers,
Economic
Development
Officials
Elected Officials
and Education
Leaders
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There is Urgency:
Academic Success
“Our children deserve nothing less than a strong start to a life
filled with opportunity, and it all starts with successful early
learning programs.”
“Systematically improving early education has the potential to
benefit the nation for generations to come. It is simply one of
the most cost-effective investments America can make in its
future.”
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
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There is Urgency: National Security
United States facing a crisis because 75% of 17- to 24-year olds
cannot meet the eligibility criteria to serve in the military.
Children’s issues needed to be understood as paramount to
America’s existence.
Major General Charles D. Luckey
Assistant to the Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters
Joint Staff Lead Iraq Transition
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There is Urgency: Economic Security
“Early childhood education has a tremendous impact on the
national economic security and the viability of the American
dream.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Institute for a Competitive Workforce
Only 37% of New York public school
students graduate “college and
career ready.”
America’s Edge
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There is Urgency: Economic Security
“We urge you to recognize our concern
that early childhood education is critical
to the continuum that produces a strong
and competitive workforce, support our
current workforce and their families and
will help our state maintain and excel in
global competitiveness.”
Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber
of Commerce in a letter to legislative
leaders
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There is Urgency: Economic Security
In 2009, 62% of children under six live in families where all
parents work.
Every dollar in New York invested in early care and education
generates a total of $1.86 in sales of local goods and services
throughout the state, generating as much or more activity than
investments in all other economic sectors, including
manufacturing, construction and transportation.
America’s Edge
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There is Urgency: Crime Prevention
“High-quality early education is a critical strategy to help reduce
crime, lower prison costs and save taxpayers money.”
Ralph Evangelous, Wilmington Chief of Police
North Carolina spent $1.36 billion in FY 2009-10 on corrections.
New York spent about 2.5 X that!
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Everyone Benefits
Early childhood investments
produced sustained results
at the local, state, and
national level and are critical
to keeping the United States
competitive in a global
market.
With quality early childhood education, children will be
school ready; have higher graduation rates and grow
into productive citizens and valuable employees.
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www.first2000days.org
Learn more about why the importance of early childhood
investments at www.first2000days.org.
Learn more about Smart Start at www.smartstart.org and:
www.facebook.com/smartstart
twitter.com/ncsmartstart
www.youtube.com/ncsmartstart
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