Early Childhood

Kentucky's child care workers and trainers who want more college instruction may be eligible for the Early Childhood Development Scholarship, administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). The scholarships are available to people who work at least 20 hours each week at a participating early childhood facility or provide training in early childhood development at least 12 times per year for an approved organization. Kentuckians employed as a preschool associate teacher in a state-funded preschool program are also eligible.

Early childhood leaders complete institute LEXINGTON - Parents and staff members from central Kentucky child care centers completed the Starting Strong Institute for Early Education Partnerships this fall. Area graduates included Ashley King and Jennifer Quinn, both of Danville, and Angela Perkins and Carol Smith, both of Lancaster, representing A Children's Place. Starting Strong is a partnership between the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute.

Melissa Clower has been awarded a Child Development Associate Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., which represents the early childhood education profession. CDA is the only major national effort to improve early childhood education and care by evaluation and recognition of the skills of individuals providing care. The first credential was awarded over 30 years ago, and now 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, include CDA in their childcare licensing regulations.

Since its inception in 2000, the Jessamine Early Learning Village has been recognized statewide as a quality educational facility. Since that time, both the facility and its teachers have also received national and regional recognition numerous times. The school was recognized once again last month when it was one of four Kentucky schools to be named a Center of Quality by the Department of Education. Jessamine County School Board member JoAnn Rohrback said the recognition was well deserved.

Early education is an investment, not pork politics To the editor: A recent opinion column - "Put priorities over pork in politics," Jan. 21 - made the unfortunate and inaccurate assertion that early childhood education qualifies as "pork" - something that is supported more for political gain than for public benefit. This couldn't be more wrong about pre-school education. There are few government-funded programs that provide a greater return - both economic and social - than investments in early childhood education.

Penny Sluder of Stanford has been awarded a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., which represents the early childhood profession. Sluder is the owner of P.J.'s Toddlers Daycare. CDA is the only major national effort to improve childcare by evaluating and recognizing the skills of individuals providing care. The first credential was awarded 25 years ago and now 46 states plus the District of Columbia include CDA in their childcare licensing regulations.

Wilmore residents named to Berea dean’s list Four Wilmore residents were named to the fall 2010 dean’s list at Berea College: Abigail Wier, Anna Carman, Alicia Carman and Matthew Walker. Students on the dean’s list at Berea College have achieved a GPA of 3.2 or higher for a minimum course load equivalent to 16 semester hours. Berea is a non-denominational, liberal arts college that offers bachelor-of-arts degrees in 28 fields of study and bachelor-of-science degrees in agriculture and natural resources, business administration, technology and industrial arts, and nursing.

A growing body of evidence continues to show that providing adequate investments in early childhood education and care is critical for economic development - now and in the future. Despite rising interest and awareness of the importance of these investments, the budget crunch in Frankfort has replaced plans to expand investment with talk of the need to tighten our belts. But belt-tightening in the past is part of the reason for the fiscal state we are in. In the long run, investments in early education and care can help Kentucky address its ongoing budget problems through enhanced economic growth and savings in other areas.

There could be more than 6,000 children between the ages of 1-5 in Kentucky with Amblyopia. Approximately 2 or 3 out of every hundred exhibit this disease, commonly called "lazy eye. " Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. The best time to correct it is during infancy or early childhood. The earlier the problem is detected, the more likely treatment is successful. The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation has developed a simple and non-invasive screening process to detect the problem and locally, Boonesboro Lions Club volunteers are bringing it to local day cares and preschools.

Carlisle Rankin could have spent her college days on the open water, but she doesn't regret her decision to turn inland for four years. Rankin is a freshman on the Centre College field hockey team, but hockey is only one of her many interests. She's also an accomplished sailor, one who has felt at home in a sailboat since her early childhood. Danville's distance from the coast gave Rankin pause before she made her college choice. "I didn't consider it (Centre) until the middle of my senior year in high school," she said.

You may have seen the stickers or license plates that look like puzzle pieces. Those are called Autism Awareness Puzzles and the purpose is to encourage the community to learn more about autism and show support.  Autism prevalence is now one in every 88 children in America. There is no known single cause for autism, but various researchers have their theories… Some believe autism has genetic causes, some believe it is various substances a mother may take in during pregnancy and some believe there are environmental factors that play a part in the risk.  The characteristic behaviors of autism spectrum disorders may or may not be apparent in infancy (18 to 24 months)

While Santa's busy checking his list, I'm inspecting claims that spending sleigh-fuls of money on government preschool programs would result in long-term improvement for Kentucky's children. During his recent inaugural speech, Gov. Steve Beshear made it clear he wants to return to the twin policy towers of his 2007 campaign - expanded gambling and a big-government early childhood program. But he doesn't seem interested in divulging specific details about either. His political pals, however, aren't as shy. Longtime Kentucky journalist Al Smith's Christmas wish list includes Beshear's plan to spend big on preschool programs, claiming profusely: “Pre-K is the best path to long-range economic development.”Really?

Wilmore residents named to Berea dean’s list Four Wilmore residents were named to the fall 2010 dean’s list at Berea College: Abigail Wier, Anna Carman, Alicia Carman and Matthew Walker. Students on the dean’s list at Berea College have achieved a GPA of 3.2 or higher for a minimum course load equivalent to 16 semester hours. Berea is a non-denominational, liberal arts college that offers bachelor-of-arts degrees in 28 fields of study and bachelor-of-science degrees in agriculture and natural resources, business administration, technology and industrial arts, and nursing.

Dear Editor, It was Mother's Day, and our pastor made a very interesting and positive statement. "From my early childhood," he said, "I remember her saying over and over again that her favorite piece of fried chicken was the boney back. " The more I thought about that statement the more I realized that it was about much more than a mother's choice of her favorite food; it was about the very heart of motherhood. Good mothers love their children dearly, and they care deeply about them.

By Howard Coop It was Mother's Day, and our pastor made a very interesting and positive statement. "From my early childhood," he said, "I remember her saying over and over again that her favorite piece of fried chicken was the boney back. " The more I thought about that statement, the more I realized that it was about much more than a mother's choice of her favorite food; it was about the very heart of motherhood. Good mothers love their children dearly, and they care deeply about them.

Melissa Clower has been awarded a Child Development Associate Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., which represents the early childhood education profession. CDA is the only major national effort to improve early childhood education and care by evaluation and recognition of the skills of individuals providing care. The first credential was awarded over 30 years ago, and now 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, include CDA in their childcare licensing regulations.

There could be more than 6,000 children between the ages of 1-5 in Kentucky with Amblyopia. Approximately 2 or 3 out of every hundred exhibit this disease, commonly called "lazy eye. " Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. The best time to correct it is during infancy or early childhood. The earlier the problem is detected, the more likely treatment is successful. The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation has developed a simple and non-invasive screening process to detect the problem and locally, Boonesboro Lions Club volunteers are bringing it to local day cares and preschools.

Since its inception in 2000, the Jessamine Early Learning Village has been recognized statewide as a quality educational facility. Since that time, both the facility and its teachers have also received national and regional recognition numerous times. The school was recognized once again last month when it was one of four Kentucky schools to be named a Center of Quality by the Department of Education. Jessamine County School Board member JoAnn Rohrback said the recognition was well deserved.

Kentucky's child care workers and trainers who want more college instruction may be eligible for the Early Childhood Development Scholarship, administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). The scholarships are available to people who work at least 20 hours each week at a participating early childhood facility or provide training in early childhood development at least 12 times per year for an approved organization. Kentuckians employed as a preschool associate teacher in a state-funded preschool program are also eligible.

Early education is an investment, not pork politics To the editor: A recent opinion column - "Put priorities over pork in politics," Jan. 21 - made the unfortunate and inaccurate assertion that early childhood education qualifies as "pork" - something that is supported more for political gain than for public benefit. This couldn't be more wrong about pre-school education. There are few government-funded programs that provide a greater return - both economic and social - than investments in early childhood education.