NEW BERN, N.C. - North Carolina's public school children could return in August to very different classrooms if the state Senate budget is passed. The proposal is up for a second vote today before moving on to the House. It reduces the number of teacher assistants and pre-kindergarten slots, and it ...Read More

ALBANY, N.Y. - A report released in Albany today says there's a "skills gap" in New York State, especially in the Capital Region, where high-tech jobs are growing. It says there are too many "unprepared students and unprepared workers." The study, prepared by the business group America's Edge, says ...Read More

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A newly published report about the condition of workers in New Mexico shows that the Land of Enchantment has yet to emerge from the Great Recession. The state has lost well over 42,000 jobs since December 2007. The report's author is Gerard Bradley, senior researcher and policy ...Read More

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Many Illinois educators are having a difficult time planning for the next school year because of uncertain funding. According to the Illinois Board of Education, the state cut more than $500 million from schools this year. At the Unity Point School District in Jackson County, tha ...Read More

LANSING, Mich. – Recent studies have shown that infants' brains are reacting to external stresses, even while babies sleep. Things such as domestic conflicts, violence and other traumatic events can influence people's behavior later in life – even if they don't have any conscious memo ...Read More

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Hearings were held this week in Kent and Moses Lake about proposed budget cuts that would affect training and support services for people who provide child care for school-age children. Many providers couldn't attend, however, since the Department of Early Learning (DEL) held the ...Read More

RISON, Ark. - Arkansas Head Start programs say they're trying to serve as many children as possible in the face of federal budget cutbacks. It's a mandatory 5 percent reduction for Head Start, which serves lower-income children from birth to age five. Arkansas Head Start directors meet every other ...Read More

SEATTLE - May 1 traditionally is a rallying day for workers' rights - and it's also known as "Worthy Wage Day," an effort to improve wages and benefits for early childhood teachers and center directors. According to the latest federal data, most workers in this field make poverty-level wages - 77 ...Read More