Early Childhood Education
Policy Issues for the 1990s
Description:... Noting the separation of child-related policy makers from practitioners who know best what is good and appropriate for children, this anthology is designed as a guide for child-related policy development. The book's chapters are as follows: (1) "Early Childhood Policy" (Dolores A. Stegelin), providing an historical context and identifying eight important issues for early childhood in the 1990s; (2) "State Policy Related to Disadvantaged and At-Risk Preschoolers," (Bill Clinton), arguing that poverty, work, and family structure are primary challenges to the family, and that government should be a catalyst and partner to aid preschoolers; (3) "Birthing Collaborations in Early Care and Education" (Sharon Lynn Kagan), arguing the need for a federal policy commitment to collaboration; (4) "Beyond the Sandbox" (Robert A. Cervantes), discussing child care as a state policy issue and offering recommendations for statewide policy and practice; (5) "The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study, Similar Studies, and Their Implications for Public Policy in the United States" (Lawrence J. Schweinhart and David P. Weikart), proposing that early childhood policy should be driven by the need to alleviate crime, illiteracy, and poverty; (6) "Issues Related to Infant Child Care Policy" (Eleanor Stokes Szanton), showing how issues of infant and toddler policy are entangled with many of the nation's central domestic policy concerns and offering insight for policy based on research; (7) "Emerging Child Care Policy Issues" (Helen Blank), examining issues that must be addressed to make child care more available; (8) "The Role of the Corporation in Promoting Early Childhood Education and Care and Family Support Systems" (Ellen Galinsky), reviewing current and future corporate roles in promoting early childhood education and family support; (9) "Developing Appropriate Practice and the Challenge of Public School Reform" (Thomas Schultz), noting the significance of developmentally appropriate practice within the policy context for public education, the difficulty of implementing these concepts, and strategies for promoting such practice; (10) "Creating Change with the Public Schools" (Stacie G. Goffin), describing a collaboration between a public school district and a university to develop appropriate early childhood programs, and suggesting policy issues for public schools, teacher preparation, and certification standards; (11) "Federal Initiatives for Exceptional Children" (Karen S. Gallagher and R. J. Pat Gallagher), discussing public policy regarding exceptional children in terms of its relationship with the public school system; and (12) "Emerging Policy Issues" (Dolores A. Stegelin and Peggy M. Elgas), identifying critical variables in early childhood policy and summarizing recommendations. Each chapter contains references. (TM)
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