Early-childhood education is not just an education imperative -- it needs to be a national security priority. Let me tell you why ... A recent report titled "Ready, Willing, and Unable to Serve" by the nonprofit organization Mission: Readiness, Military Leaders for Kids states that "early education is an investment in national security."

In a call for change that has raised eyebrows within the New Jersey education community, Gov. Christie's transition advisers have recommended expanding the number of charter schools, re-evaluating hundreds of education regulations, and radically tightening eligibility for high-school students applying to the NJ STARS college-tuition program.

Low-income families in Central Florida will soon have the opportunity to enroll their babies and toddlers in an Early Head Start program aimed at giving them a better chance to succeed in school and life, officials announced Wednesday.

University of Kentucky officials announced in Frankfort Tuesday they will commit $1.5 million over the next three years to create a partnership aimed at better preparing Kentucky’s school children "to thrive in higher education and the work force."

The county school system could move forward with a plan to offer pre-kindergarten services to more low-income students if a bill filed by Del. Tom Hucker passes ... Another bill filed would require the education department to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the progress toward a universal pre-kindergarten system.

Painfully, there will be reduction of 1,363 current state jobs, plus elimination of 456 currently vacant positions ... [Governor Phil Bredesen] would provide $46.7 million for growth in pre-kindergarten programs and the Basic Education Program. Using $533 million from federal "stimulus" funds, there would be $3.8 billion for pre-K through 12th-grade education.

Children who attend high-quality early care and education programs are more likely to graduate from high school, more likely to hold a job and less likely to need special education. It's a statement backed up by extensive research that will be discussed this weekend at the North Central Connecticut Regional Early Care and Education Summit.

As a law enforcement professional, I share the views of the economist and business leaders on both the immediate and the overall benefits of investing in preschool programs.

Ask 50 of the best minds in Oregon to think about "success stories" they've seen around the state in the past 20 years or so and the following list of achievements is what you get ... [such as] expansion of early learning in the state.

This week, we are joining the ranks of wonky podcasters with our debut edition of the bi-weekly Early Ed Watch podcast. On this recording, we interview our very own Christina Satkowski, author of The Next Step in Systems-Building: Early Childhood Councils and Federal Efforts to Promote Policy Alignment in Early Childhood.

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Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, collaborates with advocates and policymakers to lead a movement toward high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds.

Quote of the Day

"The research behind early education is irrefutable."

Rick Noriega, a colonel in the Texas Army National Guard and president/CEO of Avance Inc., an early-childhood education program serving Hispanics in low-income communities.

On the Inside Pre-K blog

"We Need to Invest in the Skills and Education of our People"
All in all, Obama's lead-in sentence connected education to the economy.
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