Giving Compass' Take:

· According to Education Dive, areas in Nebraska have reimagined the idea of early childhood education and adopted a new structure that encompasses the first 8 years of life. 

· What encouraged these areas to begin early childhood education at birth? Why is early childhood education important?

· Learn more about the importance of early childhood education.

Early intervention goes a long way toward preventing developmental delays seen in students as young as pre-K. The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) sends early-learning specialists to low-income families for 30-minute visits twice a week, starting when a child is 18 months old.

Sarah Walzer, CEO of ParentChild+, said reaching families before students enter school has a “transformative” effect, citing data showing those in the program were 50% more likely to be ready for kindergarten, and 30% were more likely to graduate from high school. Another 50% were less likely to be identified for an Individualized Education Program later.

The trend is spreading. More than 700 communities now have programs that support young students in a program modeled after Teacher Home Visits, a Sacramento-based nonprofit. Head Start, a free pre-K program for children from low-income families, conducts similar home visits. Funding is a hurdle. Most home visits are funded by Title I, but some schools must also rely on grants, state funding or other means.

Read the full article about early childhood education by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive.