Apples Year One Findings

27 December 2010

A paper presented at the National Invitational Conference of the Critical Issues in Cost Effectiveness in Children’s First Decade Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, 2007 | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis | Early Childhood Research Collaborative | University of Minnesota Center for Early Education and Development and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis | Human Capital Conference Series on Early Childhood Development

This study investigates the educational effects of state funded prekindergarten education for children at ages three and four that came about as a result of a unique situation. As part of the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court school-funding case, Abbott v. Burke 1999-2000 school year, 3- and 4- year old children in the highest poverty districts in the state were able to receive a high-quality preschool education that would prepare them to enter school with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations: Standards of Quality (NJ Department of Education, 2004b) and the Kindergarten New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJDOE, 2004a). Through a Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Human Services(DHS) partnership, Abbott preschool classrooms combine a DOE-funded six-hour, 180-day component with a DHS-funded wrap-around program that provides daily before- and after-care and summer programs. In total, the full-day, full-year program is available 10 hours per day, 245 days a year.

To read the rest of the study, click here.

WIC Turns 35: Program Effectiveness and Future Directions

27 December 2010

Barbara Devaney | Mathematica Policy Research | National Invitational Conference of the Early Childhood Research Collaborative | Minneapolis, Minnesota | December 7, 2007

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and social service and health care referrals to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. The WIC program is based on the premise that many low-income individuals are at risk of poor nutrition and health outcomes because of insufficient nutrition during the critical growth and development periods of pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.

The WIC program is a supplemental food and nutrition program to help meet the special needs of low-income women, infants, and children during these periods. WIC provides three main benefits to participants: (1) supplemental foods; (2) nutrition education; and (3) referrals to health care and social service providers.

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Creating a Learning Environment

27 December 2010

1. Give your child chances to experiment with new objects and environments.  Novel experiences not only feed your young child's natural curiousity, but also spur the growth of new connections in the brain.  Exposure to interesting toys and games stimulates her brain, and as it processes new information, its wiring develops.

2. Stop an activity when your child starts to turn his head away or fuss.  When it comes to learning and brain development, beware of too much of a good thing.  Avoid over-stimulation.  Pay attention to your child's cues.  Signs like turning his head away or fussing and crying indicate that your child has had enough of an activity and should be given quiet time to rest or digest what he has just experienced.

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How Does My Child Learn?

27 December 2010

There are three ways your child can learn.

1. Looking, or visual learning, involves responding to visual stimulation, like motion, color, shape and size.
2. Listening, or audio learning, more has to do with sounds and spoken words.
3. Moving, or tactile and kinesthetic learning, happens through touch and movement.

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