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IUE supports publicly funded, voluntary early learning experiences for virtually all pre-kindergarden children.
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IUE will help design and encourage enactment of an improved system of state funding of education and other vital needs.
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IUE supports charter schools because they can provide superior education at modest cost, often to children from families that lack
an educated adult, and can by example help improve traditional, district-managed schools.
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Early Learning
In 1996, Calkins was
concluding his fourth year of teaching in Cleveland classrooms, and coming to
the conclusion that educational improvement might be achieved more effectively
by improvements outside of the K-12 curriculum. In particular, he became
interested in early childhood, and devoted much time and energy to creating
at University Settlement a program aimed at three and four year old children
and their parents.
A few years later, this program was replicated, with some
changes, by the Early Childhood Initiative, a major effort sponsored by Cuyahoga
County, the state of Ohio, and a group of Cleveland foundations, of which IUE was one.
In the last several years, it has become apparent to IUE, and to many others, that the years prior to
age five offer a critical opportunity for children to acquire pre-literacy skills, such as vocabulary
and conversation, and to acquire the rudiments of elementary math. It is clearly understood that these
cognitive skills must be additional to the socialization, motivation and attention skills, which are
also, taught in Head Start and other early childhood programs.
IUE has identified the expansion and improved
quality of early childhood programs as one of the initiatives on which it intends to focus.
IUE is committed to the concept that children learn from their earliest days and that,
at least for children who do not have a well-educated parent at home, Head Start, child care and
pre-school centers and homes should collaborate to provide quality nurture and teaching of
pre-literacy, pre-math and good character skills and habits.
Much of the focus must be on the quality of the teachers employed in the programs.
Professional education is therefore critical. IUE will support the
T.E.A.C.H. program for which Ohio is a pilot site. It will support funding for early childhood
professional education, improved articulation between social service provided education and
institutions of higher education, and rising standards for child care teaching positions.
It will assist in developing a public and legislative awareness of the importance of early childhood
development and education. It will attempt to identify attractive, alternative employment opportunities
for those present Head Start and child care teachers who may not wish or be able to meet the rising
academic requirements for those positions. It will cooperate with the numerous organizations and
individuals who are now at work with similar objectives. It will seek new allies in this important effort.
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White Papers
The initial White Paper will compare several approaches to early learning
and is currently under preparation.
IUE encourages challenges to and elaborations on the conclusions and
facts stated in these papers. IUE would be pleased to initiate a dialogue
on any or all of the three initiatives it is pursuing.
Please use the contact page to communicate with us.
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