TAMPA, Fla. – A new study shows kids who attend Pre-Kindergarten programs do better in reading, writing and math as they get older than those who weren't enrolled.
The Duke University study tracked the progress of students who'd been in North Carolina's pre-school program and showed gains in every group, no matter their household income, through eighth grade.
Brenda Brinson is the director of Hillsborough Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), a program that helps parents prepare young children for success in school. She says the study confirms the overall consensus about early-childhood education – although she sees firsthand the barriers keeping many children from achieving the same success.
"I think it's probably access,” says Brinson. “And I know with the families that are migrant families, there's challenges with language barriers. Literacy levels of parents could also be a problem, because we're a parent involvement piece. "
According to Florida KIDS COUNT, half of all three- and four-year-olds in the state weren't enrolled in a preschool program in 2013 through 2017 – despite the Head Start program and others in the state increasing access in recent years.
Brinson says she hopes to see more progress with helping to remove barriers, including the challenges of many working parents and the obstacles that can keep them from engaging with their children. She says in some homes, parents resort to keeping kids occupied in front of the television, leaving them unprepared for the rigors of kindergarten.
"They are still not as ready as they should be,” says Brinson. “Progress definitely has been made, most definitely, but more needs to be done yet, still."
Brinson, the Duke study and research from Florida KIDS COUNT all conclude there is a need for investment in high quality Pre-K programs because they improve school readiness, with especially positive gains for higher-risk children.
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This fall, additional free classes will be offered in Minnesota for people thinking about a career as a certified nursing assistant. It follows an initial wave earlier this year to help address health-care worker shortages around the state.
The Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative will start classes in September and October at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Keith Hovis, director of communications for the Office of Higher Education, said it isn't statewide like the program kickoff in January, but it's still important to help more people get their foot in the door.
"Over the course of the pandemic, there have been thousands and thousands of vacancies that haven't been able to be filled," he said. "So, this initiative, it's intended to help start filling those vacancies and make sure that we are supporting health of Minnesotans all around the state."
The program uses American Rescue Plan funding to cover the cost of tuition, books, uniforms and certification exam fees. The first group of participants exceeded the state's goal of 1,000. Hovis said if the Legislature agrees to renewed funding, they could resume the no-cost courses at locations statewide.
Earlier this week, thousands of Minnesota nurses voted to authorize a strike if contract talks don't improve. Hovis said while the program might not touch on some of the broader issues facing those workers, it's important to step up at a time when solutions are needed.
"We see this initiative as a way to really get people into the health-care career in a way that won't cost them anything - it's completely free," he said, "and hopefully they start a career that will flourish and continue within the health-care field."
Earlier this year, the state issued a survey that offered a glimpse into industry shortages. Vacancy rates climbed for several professions, including licensed practical nurses. That rate climbed from 12% in 2019 to 17% in 2021.
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Madera Community College outside Fresno is making big plans after being named winner of the Million Dollar Community College Challenge Wednesday.
Lumina Foundation sponsored the challenge for the first time this spring, to help colleges reach more potential adult students.
Angel Reyna, president of Madera Community College, said the funds will help the school attract more adult students who need to boost their skills and their job prospects.
"We will use the funds to redesign our website, to have activities on our campus to engage adult learners," Reyna outlined. "We're also looking at murals on our campus to create that sense of belonging."
Madera Community College serves about 8,000 students a year, and is still growing, despite the pandemic.
Mary Laphen Pope, strategy officer for participation at the Lumina Foundation, said the funds will help shape people's perceptions about community college and help the schools create a more student-centered experience.
"Now more than ever, community colleges need a new way to connect with the millions of Americans who need a short-term degree or credential," Laphen Pope emphasized. "We challenged colleges to tell us how they would transform their brand building and their marketing efforts to be more inclusive of today's students."
Nine other colleges nationwide were named as finalists, including Long Beach City College. They will receive a $100,000 grant, plus technical assistance to make the most of the opportunity.
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Universities across the country lost enrollment to COVID-19. As students return, Texas A&M is making sure adequate mental-health services are in place to help them navigate the "new normal."
Mary Ann Covey, director of the student counseling center at Texas A&M University, said students quit or did not enroll because of illness and the ever-changing safety measures required at higher-ed institutions some found disruptive or even intolerable. Covey recounted as the pandemic raged on, some students created their own ways to cope while others felt lost.
"You know, 'Do I fit in, do I belong, what does that look like? Can I handle the coursework?' There's a real sense of self-doubt because they've been online," Covey pointed out.
When classes start next week, Texas A&M will recommend students wear masks when indoors, and offer both free vaccines and testing sites.
Rebecca Fischer, epidemiologist and assistant professor at Texas A&M, has reminded students monkeypox is not highly transmissible through casual contact, noting the risk of infection remains low, and classroom spread is not expected.
For two years, COVID hampered many traditional communication channels, according to Covey, which caused students to avoid interactions, resulting in developmental delays.
"You saw (high school) seniors didn't get to be a senior, juniors really didn't get to be a junior or a senior, and so starting college was incredibly overwhelming," Covey observed.
Covey added more students began seeking mental-health services and appointments there as early as 2018.
Texas A&M has since launched a mobile app called "My Student Support Program" or "My SSP," which allows students to access short-term virtual counseling.
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