Advocates, leaders meet to discuss the future for Texas children

Advocates, leaders meet to discuss the future for Texas children

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News staff

A public policy plan to improve early childhood education and development (ECED) for all children in Texas so they will be prepared for kindergarten is undergoing review today and Friday at Rice’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

More than 200 advocates of child care, health and education, elected officials, representatives from governmental agencies, university researchers and business leaders throughout Texas have been invited to the two-day summit to learn more about and help refine the Texas Plan To Enhance Early Childhood Development. This long-range policy plan capitalizes on current knowledge about the inseparable connection between young children’s everyday experiences, brain structuring and the ideal conditions for learning. The plan includes proposals that define the governance and financing mechanisms for a complete system of early childhood education and development within public or private settings for children 3 to 4 years old.

The Baker Institute’s Texas Program for Society and Health, in collaboration with the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition, has written preliminary recommendations for a statewide child care and education system that is widely available, sets standards for quality and advocates the participation of parents and community.

Alvin Tarlov, a senior fellow in health policy at the Baker Institute and executive director of the Texas Program for Society and Health, said many studies have documented that the early years are critical to development and health for both children and adults. ”Brain research lends support to the importance of providing nurturing, educationally stimulating and safe environments and experiences during a child’s early years,” he said.

Co-chairs of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition Karen R. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the United Ways of Texas, and Sandy Dochen, Texas public affairs manager of IBM