Sharing Web Resources

The website I have been looking at during this course is the Children’s Defense Fund.   One topic on the Children’s Defense Fund website is the issue of the federal budget.  This issue is very relevant to our topic this week as well as myself as an educator and a citizen.  The website is advocating for funding for education and supplies data in support of this funding.  It is advocating for policy makers to support a budget where cuts to education are not included.  The website states, “The biggest threat to America’s national security and long-term economic well-being is the failure to protect, invest in and educate all our children right now (2012).”  While some politicians support investing in children, others don’t.  The CDF website describes the Ryan Budget, “The Ryan budget is an assault on children and the poor while protecting the interests of the wealthiest Americans and corporations. Rather than make the $55 billion in defense cuts required by sequestration in 2013, it actually increases funding for defense, so programs serving children, vulnerable families and the poor would be even harder hit in sequestration than anticipated, as those cuts are shifted to non-defense discretionary spending (2012).”  Through this information, I see that while some politicians are supporting investments in education, others are not.

 

    The website also offers information about the state of early childhood education and care.  It mentions scientific studies that show investments in early childhood programs can produce high rates of return, more so than other investment opportunities (Children’s Defense Fund, 2012).  It also mentions that children need a access to early learning experiences, and these programs are not available to all people.  The website also mentions the Common Core standards and the need for children to access full day Kindergarten in order to prepare for the rigor.  One thing that is not mentioned in this section is information about best practices for early learning.  It leaves me wondering if the website is in support of the Common Core standards or do they have criticisms about it?   

 

Resources

Children’s Defense Fund, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org