Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education

Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education The government is investing heavily in early childhood education, trying to get students school-ready earlier. This will then cut down on catching up time, making class time more efficient, according to an article in the District Administration. The U.S. Department of Education has collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services to create a $500 million grant for early childhood education. The government is also throwing in incentives to encourage states to promote early childhood education. Under Obamas Race to the Top, states can earn extra funding if they create better early childhood education programs that close the school readiness gap for young children. Jacqueline Jones, senior adviser on early learning for the Department of Education, told the District Administration that the school readiness gap can appear as early as one year of age. Data shows real differences in math, language and literacy achievement scores in kindergarten for children coming from homes of poverty, where English isnt the first language, where the mothers education is less than a high school diploma, single parent homesall of these are major risk factors, Jones said. This is the exact group that the Department of Education is trying to target because it believes that the school readiness gap will only widen if the problems are not addressed early. It says the gap can widen to a point where it will be almost impossible for young students to catch up. The Department of Education said the funding will help states build more coordinated and structured early childhood education programs. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced this funding on May 25, 2011. The money will help states create various head start programs for early childhood development. Currently, these programs are funded through grassroots organizations, and funding can be very inconsistent. Because of that many of these programs go under. But, the Department of Education is trying to provide consistent funding to stabilize these programs. Were not just adding to the array of early learning. Were trying to leverage the funds and bring Head Start, Title I, special education and other programs together in a coordinated manner, Jones said. These programs will be geared toward low-income students to help narrow the school-readiness gap. These programs will also be aligned with K12 standards to cut down on training students to be school-ready. Obama created the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, a similar plan in 2010. This initiative funded similar programs in urban communities to help ensure those students are not already lagging behind when school starts. These grants can range from $50 million to $100 million, depending on the state and will be awarded at the start of 2012.

A Student Perspective on University of Michigan

A Student Perspective on University of Michigan The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jennifer is a 2012 graduate of University of Michigan with a bachelors degree in communications and psychology. She specializes in English tutoring, math tutoring, reading tutoring, and several other subjects. Check out what she had to say about her time at University of Michigan: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Jennifer: The University of Michigan is situated in the center of Ann Arbor, MI. There are two campuses, the main campus and north campus. Every building on the main campus is an easy 5-10 minute walk. To access North Campus, students must take a bus. The University buses, however, are reliable and run every 5-10 minutes. There are also other bus routes that travel around the main campus. Some students have a car; however, it is not necessary and it can be very difficult to find parking. Ann Arbor has city buses that can take you beyond campus if you need to go somewhere like the mall or a larger grocery store. The campus is very safe and, since it is in the center of downtown Ann Arbor, retail and restaurants are easily accessible. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jennifer: University of Michigan staff members are very open and accessible. Most professors and teaching assistants hold office hours at least once a week, where you can stop by and ask any questions you may have. When a student is enrolled in a large lecture, they are assigned a teaching assistant. The teaching assistant typically teaches a seminar once a week to go over topics from the lecture and answer any questions. Students are required to meet with the academic adviser at least once a year, but you can make an appointment with him or her at any time. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jennifer: There are several dorms on U of Ms campus. Most of the dorms have their own dining hall. Typically, each dining hall has a variety of options, and students can visit any of the dining halls. For example, students can have lunch at a dining hall that is near their class rather than the one located in their dorm. There are a few different style dorms. Almost all dorms are shared with another student. Some dorms, however, are suites, in which you share a personal bathroom with another pair of students. For others, there is a central bathroom for the hall. With the exception of the dorms on North Campus, all the dorms are pretty close to all the academic buildings. For students placed on North Campus, most have to take the bus to get to and from class. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at University of Michigan? Jennifer: Many undergraduate students at University of Michigan are enrolled in the school of Literature, Science, and the Arts. This is also the program that I was enrolled in. I enjoyed this program because there is a wide variety of courses available. During my first semester of my freshman year, I took a lot of different courses in order to decide on my major. I originally decided to major in Communications my freshman year, because of my interest in the subject. By my sophomore year, however, I decided to double major in Psychology and Communication. My main critique is that I wish that the university offered more career exploration. For instance, if you are interested in a particular career, having a program to say, These are the courses that will best suit you. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jennifer: I found it very easy to make new friends and meet people as a freshman. Many people who attend U of M are from out of state and do not know many other students at the university. As a result, everyone is interested in meeting new people. Greek life plays a large role at U of M. I was not part of Greek Life and I found it easy to meet people in other ways. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Jennifer: I found the Career Center to be helpful, especially during my senior year. Many companies post their opportunities on the career center website. Additionally, there were workshops available to help improve my resume and other topics that were valuable to finding a job. U of M holds several career fairs throughout the year and many reputable companies attend. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges at University of Michigan? Jennifer: There are a number of different libraries, student unions, and lounges available. I found them very easily accessible. By my sophomore year, I had figured out my favorite spots to study and do work. Describe the surrounding town. Jennifer: Downtown Ann Arbor is right next to campus. There are a ton of restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores, etc. Students go to the downtown area daily because it is so close to campus. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jennifer: U of M has a huge student body, but this is something I knew going in and was okay with. I had both large and small classes. Although I did have some lectures that had hundreds of students, each of those lectures had a seminar once a week that had 20 students or less. I also had some other classes that were as small as 8 students. For me, the large classes were not a problem. It may be a factor, however, for someone who is not comfortable with large classes. Most of my large classes were during freshman year. By the time I was a senior, most of my classes were pretty small (10-50 students). Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jennifer: One of my favorite classes at the University of Michigan was Positive Psychology with Professor Christopher Peterson. Professor Peterson was one of the founders of Positive Psychology, and therefore, was very knowledgeable about the topic. His lectures were always very enjoyable and filled with laughter. Unfortunately, I learned that Dr. Peterson passed away after I graduated, but I know that his ideas of optimism and character live on at the University as they have lived on in my own life. Check out Jennifers tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.