Pre-K Post Newsletter

Pre-K Post Newsletter

Inside this issue

• Alabama Pre-K tops national quality ranking once again, goes virtual in the wake of COVID-19
• Early educators can earn extra cash taking Read Right from the Start courses from home

News Clips

AL.com: 14 years and counting: Alabama's First Class Pre-K tops again

Alabama Daily News: Alabama First Class Pre-K earns high mark, increases enrollment

Yellowhammer: Alabama's First Class Pre-K program ranked nation's best for 14th straight year

Alabama News Network: Alabama First Class Pre-K Ranked Nation's Highest Quality Program for 14th Straight Year

Clanton Advertiser: At-home learning options offered to CCS preschoolers

Education Dive: Pre-to-3: While some preschoolers learn online, most programs seek stability

The Alabama School Readiness Alliance is a joint campaign of:

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	Alabama Pre-K tops national quality ranking once again, goes virtual in the wake of COVID-19
	The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has declared Alabama First Class Pre-K the nation's highest quality state-funded pre-kindergarten program for the 14th consecutive year. This ranking was announced Wednesday in the release of NIEER's The State of Preschool 2019 annual report. While Mississippi, Michigan and Rhode Island have joined Alabama in meeting all 10 of the research-based quality benchmarks recommended by NIEER, Alabama has done so for the longest consecutive streak. "Alabama First Class Pre-K is once again proving to be successful in providing a solid foundation for our youngest learners to be successful in school and life," Governor Ivey said in a press release. "We can all be proud that Alabama continues to lead the nation in high quality early childhood education." The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, which administers the First Class Pre-K program, requires all First Class Pre-K lead teachers to have a bachelor's degree, at a minimum, and provides salary parity with K-12 teachers. The program has gone virtual during the COVID-19 crisis, with a strong emphasis on parent support and social-emotional learning. "Now, more than ever, First Class Pre-K has the important responsibility to ensure our youngest learners have a strong start to their educational journey," said Jeana Ross, Secretary of Early Childhood Education. "Prioritizing a high quality pre-k year has an transformational, positive impact on equity and achievement gaps." "Alabama continues to lead the nation in high quality pre-k" said NIEER Founder and Senior Co-Director Steven Barnett, Ph.D. "The state has been committed to expanding access and must continue to invest more resources and expand access so more children benefit from this quality program." The current level of state funding for Alabama First Class Pre-K allows about one third of four-year-olds to participate statewide. Click here to read full report:The State of Preschool 2019. Follow the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education on Twitter to see examples of how First Class Pre-K teachers and leaders have shifted to virtual learning and parent support during the COVID-19 crisis.
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	Early educators can earn extra cash taking Read Right from the Start courses from home
	As part of its Feed Me Words early language initiative, the Alabama Partnership for Children continues to offer $100 stipends to early childhood educators who complete Read Right from the Start courses online. The courses are housed on the Cox Campus, a virtual professional development hub powered by the Atlanta Speech School. Read Right from the Start is an online training program for teachers of children from birth to eight years of age. This research-based professional development program contains interactive, video-based coursework, which is focused on practical strategies teachers can use to promote young children's language and literacy. Learn more, and sign up to take courses and receive stipends here.
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