Happy holidays, and Merry Christmas to those celebrating today! Your readership is greatly appreciated. Covering early childhood topics is a privilege, and gratitude is extended to educators, experts, and parents who have shared their stories. As 2024 concludes, several standout stories invite reflection:
- Experience Norway’s unique approach to childhood through values-based child care programs emphasizing empathy and human worth. The visit to Norway earlier this year highlighted a hopeful path for early childhood education.
- Child care in America is costly, but some families find free, quality care with the support of philanthropists, such as through Pennsylvania’s new network funded by the Milton Hershey School Trust. Learn more here.
- Many home-based child care providers in the U.S. remain unaware of their entitlement to pay, impacting mostly women economically. Discover the story of pay entitlement in child care here.
- Flawed IQ tests have long hindered children with disabilities from receiving necessary help. Investigate how these tests impact educational support here.
- An extensive investigation into state-led child care deregulation exposed troubling practices, including reduced training and increased ratios. Read the findings here.
Upcoming stories will explore district pre-K investment, early childhood inclusion, and innovative classroom management. Continued insights from international practices and policy developments will be shared. Contributions from readers are welcomed.
Support The Hechinger Report’s mission by making a donation here to sustain independent journalism.
Wishing you the best in the new year.
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This story about early childhood education was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.
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