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FFYF Testifies in Favor of Statewide Competition at ED ELC Forum

February 16, 2012

Earlier today nbsp FFYF nbsp participated in a public forum hosted by the nbsp U S Department of Education about the structure of the Early Learning Challenge in FY12 nbsp Director of Policy and Government Relations nbsp Shiek nbsp Pal was on hand to make the case for the ELC to remain a competition for states

FFYF Testifies in Favor of Statewide Competition at ED ELC Forum

February 16, 2012

What does the President's budget mean for early learning?

February 13, 2012

The President released his nbsp FY2013 nbsp budget proposal today and while we rsquo re not overwhelmed by Valentine rsquo s hearts and flowers for early learning the news could have been worse

Mr. T and “Amy T”: Early childhood inspiration from two unusual suspects

February 8, 2012

Today we celebrate another quiet success story of the Head Start program Read the inspiring story of the Our Head Start iPad contest winner Amy Sell

FFYF Welcomes New Director of Policy and Government Relations

February 3, 2012

To learn more about K Shiek Pal please visit nbsp http www ffyf org content leadership

Congrats to Early Learning Challenge applicants and selected states, thanks to Congress for supporting Round 2

December 16, 2011

This morning Early Learning Challenge competitive grants were awarded to nine states California Delaware Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota North Carolina Ohio Rhode Island and Washington

Waiting for Congress and for ELC announcements

December 15, 2011

Get ready Early Learning Challenge awards will be announced Friday December 16 at 10 00 nbsp a m Eastern nbsp nbsp

Stay tuned for big early learning announcements!

December 13, 2011

Heads up nbsp We hear from solid though unofficial sources that Early Learning Challenge winners will be announced this Friday morning from Washington

Early Learning Challenges

December 8, 2011

The first round of states selected to win an Early Learning Challenge grant haven t been announced but that hasn t stopped prognostications that the initiative won t significantly impact early learning policy The critics have their points but the bottom line is that the Challenge is a major step forward at a critical time

A Little Healthy Competition

November 8, 2011

As big fans of quality accountability and improved outcomes for our nation rsquo s most at risk kids we at the First Five Years Fund are heartened by President Obama rsquo s announcement earlier today of new regulations for competition in the Head Start grant process

FFYF applauds Senate’s efforts to include early learning in ESEA

October 12, 2011

FFYF supported integrating early learning into a reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act ESEA in a recent media alert

Just one more thing, Mr. Roker...

September 28, 2011

In an exciting week for FFYF Executive Director Cornelia Grumman appeared on NBC 39 s Education Nation and the Today Show to speak about the importance of early learning

In Defense of Head Start

September 21, 2011

Proven success rates in school healthier behaviors and positive actions are what programs like Head Start deliver What is there to critique Cornelia Grumman defends the Head Start program in The Christian Science Monitor

Build and FFYF Announce the Early Learning Challenge Collaborative

July 15, 2011

BUILD and the First Five Years Fund with the Birth to Five Policy Alliance as a key collaborator have joined together to create the Early Learning Challenge Collaborative

Your RTT-ELC Homework Assignment (with Cheat Sheet)

July 7, 2011

As you pore over the Race to the Top ndash Early Learning Challenge draft requirements we can offer you FFYF rsquo s handy dandy guide to the highlights Don rsquo t forget that comments are due Monday July 11

RTT-ELC 101, An Introduction to the Challenge

June 30, 2011

As promised here is Team FFYF rsquo s quick recap of what we just heard from the early learning policy gurus in DC about the contours of the Race to the Top ndash Early Learning Challenge

From Head Start to the Hill: Watch Chuck Testify

June 7, 2011

Remember nbsp FFYF rsquo s nbsp friend Chuck Mills He 39 s headed to the Hill Thursday to share his Head Start success story with members of the Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions nbsp nbsp

On Your Marks, Get Set...

June 6, 2011

Early learning leaders in states may feel a little like thoroughbreds just before the starting gun blasts and the race gates fling open nbsp At stake 500 million

Education Experts Weigh In on the Early Learning Challenge

June 3, 2011

National Journal 39 s education insiders are talking early learning this week See what they have to say and read my own take over at their blog

Breaking News! $500 Million for Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge

May 25, 2011

Moments ago Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius revealed the number we rsquo ve all been waiting for 500 million for Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grants

First Five Years Fund Welcomes $500 Million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants for States

May 25, 2011

CHICAGO ndash The First Five Years Fund today praised administration officials for committing 500 million to improve education outcomes for America rsquo s youngest and most vulnerable children

An Ode to Early Learning's Accidental Friend, Charlie Sheen

May 24, 2011

The First Five Years Fund pauses to tip its hat to our improbable hero Charlie Sheen as he continues on his tour of spectacular self combustion That 39 s right you heard me Charlie Sheen

Times Square: Not Just for Broadway and Tourists, Now a Showcase for the Importance of Early Learning

May 16, 2011

At a critical time for early learning investments nationwide FFYF is airing a video on a Jumbotron in NYC rsquo s Times Square about how smart investments in our youngest children build better educational outcomes and a stronger economy

Busting Myths About Head Start's Effectiveness

March 21, 2011

As an advocate for programs that educate young children at risk of school failure I hear many comments rooted in bold ignorance of facts about this issue yet have no such therapeutic recourse I rsquo m going to take on those misconceptions one by one in a series of ldquo myth buster rdquo posts

Head Start Program Gives Bonita Family Leg Up

February 20, 2011

Head Start is impacting the lives of so many Americans like the Head Start graduates of Spring Creek Elementary in Bonita Springs nbsp

New First Five Years Fund Website to Serve as a Leading Resource on Federal Early Learning Policy

February 16, 2011

FFYF org nbsp arms advocates and policymakers with up to date data tools and analysis to support effective investments in early childhood education

Valentine's Day Hearts (and Darts) for Children

February 14, 2011

The President just released his FY12 budget and the news is good for early education But remember this is the federal budget process About a dozen significant hurdles must be cleared before those numbers become reality The mother of all those hurdles remains the FY11 budget

First Five Years Fund Statement on President’s 2012 Budget and House Continuing Resolution for 2011

February 14, 2011

We applaud President Obama for demonstrating his vision for investing in early learning in the FY 2012 budget It rsquo s a sharp contrast from Friday rsquo s CR from the House of Representatives which proposed slashing money for early learning

Welcome to the Starting Point: Bringing the Baby Into the Room

February 11, 2011

The late Irving Harris talked about the importance of ldquo bringing the baby into the room rdquo when discussing the importance of quality early learning for our nation 39 s most at risk children In that spirit today we introduce a new early education blog by bringing a baby of sorts Chuck Mills into the room

U.S. Dept of Ed's Dashboard Starts with 3-Year-Olds

February 10, 2011

U S Department of Education 39 s new online ldquo dashboard rdquo includes data on 3 and 4 year olds

Early Learning Challenge Fund: More Important than Ever

February 7, 2011

As states across the country confront unprecedented budget deficits early education is under fire

Value of Early Education? What's the Bottom Line?

February 3, 2011

Ed Week story nbsp highlights Nobel laureate economist James Heckman argument that the social habits and quot soft skills quot children learn through early childhood education last for a lifetime

SOTU Reaction: President Says Education is the Solution for Rebuilding America; Experts Say, Start Early

January 26, 2011

In the 2011 State of the Union address President Obama stated that investing in education is one of the smartest things we can do for our country We know we have to start early

Our Head Start Launches

January 26, 2011

FFYF launches ldquo Our Head Start rdquo a campaign to educate policymakers community leaders and the public about the critical role the Head Start program plays in shaping the lives of so many successful Americans

Report Finds Many Young Adults Cannot Pass the Military's Basic Exam

January 24, 2011

USA Today story ldquo Another view on kids Focus on early education rdquo reports that most young adults in the U S cannot qualify for military service and one major reason lies with our troubled educational system nbsp

Obama Administration Emphasizes "Huge" Returns on Early Childhood Education Investments

January 21, 2011

At the Aspen Institute rsquo s 2011 Education Innovation Forum Melody Barnes emphasized that investing in early childhood education results in ldquo huge rdquo returns for our country Watch the interview here

Pre-K Advocates Feel Fiscal Jitters, but Stay Hopeful

January 18, 2011

Ed Week describes how in a recession altered world state leaders struggle to maintain their constitutional commitments to public education and early childhood programs who are on treacherous fiscal ground

Retired General Calls the State of Education a Matter of National Security

January 16, 2011

In the San Diego Union Tribune Major General James Comstock explains in quot Education a matter of national security quot nbsp that a growing number of retired generals and admirals are concerned with the present state of education and its impact on our national security

Secretary Duncan Talks About the Importance of Early Childhood Education

January 7, 2011

Watch Secretary Arne Duncan talk about the importance of early childhood education and he calls on parents and citizens to get involved and ldquo be part of the solution rdquo

Early Childhood Education Field Loses Champion

January 1, 2011

Sargent Shriver passed away at the age of 95 on January 18 Among other remarkable public service roles Shriver was a pioneer for the early childhood education movement