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New Perry Preschool Data: New data released this week from Nobel Prize-winning economist, James Heckman continues to affirm that high-quality preschool has a positive inter-generational effect on the life of an individual and their children, as reported by WTOP. Heckman’s latest research found that the children of those who attended Perry Preschool, a high quality early education program in the 60's, experienced lower rates of crime and better outcomes in employment, health and education, as reported by Education Week. Heckman’s research on Perry Preschool has played an important part in showing how early education can help break the cycle of poverty, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Additional outlets reporting on the new data include The Chronicle of Social Change, The Hechinger Report, KPCC and The First Five Years Fund.
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Declining Birth Rates: For the fourth year in a row the U.S. birthrate has fallen, and is now at 59 births per 1,000 women, according to new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That’s the lowest level since the 1980s, despite an improving economy,” reports MarketWatch. Historically, fertility rates increased when the economy improved, so demographers are somewhat confused by the numbers. “Whether more U.S. women are simply postponing motherhood or forgoing it entirely isn't yet clear,” reports The Los Angeles Times. NPR reported on the many barriers parents say they face trying to care for kids, including high cost of child care, health insurance and lack of parental leave. Additional outlets covering on the story include The Washington Post, TIME, NBC News:
Related articles:
Fox and Hounds: Record Low Birthrates and the Need to Invest in Childhood Development
CALMatters: California can fix the bad math of new motherhood
Mother's Day Round-up: Sunday was Mother’s Day and several journalists took the opportunity to bring attention issues impacting moms. From lack of adequate childcare so women can return to work, to abysmal rates of maternal mortality, publications from The Hill to The New York Times dug into tough issues facing mothers. Below are a few of the pieces reminding readers to appreciate the struggles mom’s endure:
Just Do It: Published on Mother’s Day, Olympic athlete Alysia Montaño penned an op-ed for The New York Times accompanied by a five-and-a-half minute video pointing out the challenges professional female athletes face when they want to have a baby, often having to fight sponsors to be paid while on leave. The piece was a powerful counterpoint to a new Nike campaign, also launched on Mother’s Day, encouraging women and girls to “dream crazy” and bring about gender equality in sports. Nike provided a statement to CBS News, who interviewed Montaño two days after the op-ed was published, stating, “We recognized that there was inconsistency in our approach across different sports and in 2018 we standardized our approach across all sports so that no female athlete is penalized financially for pregnancy.”
Related article: The Washington Post: These extreme athletes are proof that pregnant women don’t have to take it easy
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Politics and Current Events
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Comparing Budgets: A new analysis from the Center for American Progress (CAP) compares the increased budget proposals for overall, and “per-child under age 6” spending on early care and education for each of America’s 50 states. California ranked top of the list in overall proposed increased spending of $1,662.4 million, seconded by Oregon at $111.6 million. While the gap in between the states is large, California’s “per-child” spending numbers are less than Washington D.C.’s, which spends $1,014.87 per-child, and Colorado’s, which spends $595.30, indicating the sheer number of California’s children under 6. Several states had no proposed increase including Mississippi, Idaho and Nebraska.
Getting to Know You: Early Childhood Reporter Priska Neely published last Thursday an interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Deputy Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency, Kris Perry, who Neely shared was one of the “veritable army of advisors specializing in early childhood throughout his administration.” Perry is a national leader in early childhood education, previously serving as the executive director of Save the Children, the First Five Years Fund, and First 5 California. Neely also aired part of the interview on KPCC’s “Take Two” alongside comments about the Governor’s revised budget. Perry gave insightful answers, including her belief that, “Giving everybody the chance to achieve their greatest potential feels like common sense to me. That's why I'm here.”
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All Together Now: The First 5 Association, First 5's Center for Children's Policy and the Packard Foundation have launched a new social media campaign called "All Together Now," which endeavors to bring the California early childhood field into closer alignment in its messaging. Utilizing the hashtag #LittleKidsBigCaDreams, the campaign is sharing messages and data around improved home visiting programs, extended paid family leave, and quality Pre-K & full-day kindergarten. Join the Twitter party -- like and retweet!
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May 24 -- Investing in our Future: Promoting Policies to Help California's Children Succeed, Huffington Center at Saint Sophia Cathedral (1324 Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006), 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Free, click here to register.
May 25 -- Wellness for black moms-to-be: resilience in the face of racism, Exposition Park - Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Library 3900 S Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90062. At capacity.
June 4 -- The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust Presents, the 2019 Park Equity Summit: Transforming Communities Through Equitable Development, Co-hosted by L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, EXPO Center - Roy A. Anderson Recreation Center 3980 Bill Robertson Lane Los Angeles, CA 90037. Free, click here to register.
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ICYMI: In Case You Missed It, More Great Reads
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