Early Childhood's Trials and Tribulations, Report-O-Rama, and Marketing to Kids (New and Notable)

For the second or third week in a row, there’s lots about early childhood education: Georgia Early Learning Professionals Receive More than $1 Million from Smart Start (PR Newswire via ECS), State Aid, Enrollment for Preschool Climb (Education Week).

But not all the news on the cute-little-kid front is unequivocally good. Last week, it was revealed in a Tribune editorial that officials in Chicago had used a hard-won increase in state preschool funding to pay other bills rather than create 3,000 additional preschool spots.

This week, news comes out that Jeb Bush might lower preschool standards: Governor set to allow lower pre-K standards (Orlando Sun-Sentinel), and Jay Mathews tells us about the move towards focusing on literacy in the early primary grades: Reading More Into the First Grade (Washington Post). As one teacher told me recently, “Kindergarten is the new first grade, and preschool is the new Kindergarten.”

Report-O-Rama:
Costly new testing program certifies few teachers Stateline.org
School spending on the rise Stateline.org
Federal Report Examines Charter Schools NY Times
Crime in Schools Fell Sharply Over Decade, Survey Shows NY Times
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2004 (NCES)
Federal Plan to Keep Data on Students Worries Some New York Times
Government might require colleges to report 'sticker price' of ... Muncie Star Press

Marketing to kids:
Design 2004: The Thoroughly Designed American Child NY Times Magazine
A drug kids take in search of better grades Christian Science Monitor