First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
Twenty-one grantees across Nebraska provide Head Start services to more than 5,783 young children ages birth to age 5 and pregnant women. Key changes are being implemented to enhance high-quality early learning opportunities aimed at helping to eliminate the education achievement gap.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) was reauthorized by a strong bipartisan vote in 2014. Staff at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have worked tirelessly since the reauthorization to implement new policies. Here's an update on changes that have gone into effect and others that are being considered.
Children who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade face a daunting roadblock to their future education and professional success. Deficits in reading skills start much earlier than third grade. By getting ahead of the problem before children even start school, we can greatly mitigate the costs of assessment and intervention later in the K-12 system.
April 21 is National Kindergarten Day. Thank you for all you do Nebraska kindergarten teachers!
Sixpence Early Learning Fund has given thousands of Nebraska infants and toddlers at risk a stronger start in life by promoting high-quality early learning opportunities. It recently launched a new website as part of its 10-year anniversary celebration.
FFN Director Becky Veak is serving on a Buffett Early Childhood Institute commission to develop a comprehensive plan for expanding and strengthening Nebraska's early childhood workforce. The group includes leaders from state government, higher education, public schools, child care, health care, advocacy, philanthropy, practitioners and the business community.
Governors made early childhood education a priority at their recent annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Early childhood was discussed during the opening session, with emphasis on how quality education in a child’s most formative years can help build economic strength and yield social benefits for our communities.
Today is a reminder that making reading to children a priority prepares them for success in school and later in life.
Nebraska senators introduced nearly 700 bills in the first 10 days of the current legislative session. Of those, we’ve identified six as priority bills and 90 others that have the potential to impact the earliest years of a child’s life.
For over 40 years I have researched the origins and development of dyslexia in children beginning with newborn infants and following them through age 13. Our work has shown the clear impacts of speech discrimination skills at birth on the development of language at ages 3 and 5, and subsequent impacts on reading skills at age 8.