Thursday, November 10, 2022
$3 Billion for Early Learning in Florida
The Division of Early Learning recently released a plan to spend significant pandemic relief funds to bolster early learning centers and family child care homes–as well as directly support educators. The Children’s Movement of Florida was pleased to play a role in influencing the spending plan, together with partners in Florida’s Early Learning Consortium. (If you are eligible for funding and have questions, your local early learning coalition will be the best resource for you!)
For now, here’s what we know:
Monday, October 24, 2022
Speech from David Lawrence Jr. to the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum
The Future of Early Learning
The Florida Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “Future of Florida
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Vance Aloupis: Looking For Better Salary Base for Early Childhood Educators
Monday, September 26, 2022
Chamber Forum: Investing in parents, children is good business
From Florida Politics: “During the 2022 Future of Florida Forum, Children’s Movement of Florida founder and former Miami Herald publisher Dave Lawrence spoke at length about the educational challenges facing Florida’s children — and he opened with some alarming statistics.”
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Want To Be Part of the Solution? Become a UWBB ReadingPal
From Tallahassee Democrat: "One hour of your time each week spent helping a child in pre-K to third grade learn to read can not only put that young boy or girl on equal footing with classmates, but it also helps ensure future academic and career success."
Monday, May 2, 2022
'If we don't open, mom can't go to work' — the pandemic puts a priority on child care
From WLRN: "Children learn how to communicate and cooperate and all of these socio-emotional skills – they develop that in pre-school. And, so, business who are saying ‘hey, I don’t have the right talent to hire.’ They were looking at their education priorities and starting earlier in the early-learning and pre-school years to say ‘This is where we need to get it right.’"
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
These four states already have universal preschool. What can Colorado learn from them?
From Chalkbeat Colorado: "When universal preschool originally launched in Florida, the vision was to offer both a 3-hour and a 6-hour preschool day, but there was never enough funding for the longer day, said Madeleine Thakur, president of the advocacy group, The Children’s Movement of Florida."
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Life lessons: Make a difference in the world, speak up and, always, keep learning
From Miami Herald: Our founder and chair, David Lawrence Jr., recently received the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce “Sand in My Shoes” Award. This is an excerpt from his speech.
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Matthew Love Leads Nicklaus Children's Health System Through COVID
From Miami Today: “To this day, Mr. Love carries the lessons a mentor, Meri Armour, instilled in him, including that taking care of kids is the utmost privilege and priority.”
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Publix heiress and children’s advocate Carol Jenkins Barnett dies at 65 of Alzheimer’s
From The Miami Herald: “Carol, the mother of Nicholas and Wesley, understands that nothing is more important to a child’s future success than a caring, knowledgeable, loving and nurturing parent. She exemplifies the best: Caring, good, committed to making a difference. Wants for every child the same high-quality child care that her own children received. Wants every child with special needs to have a real chance to fulfill his or her potential,” Lawrence said in his remarks.
Saturday, November 20, 2021
Child Care Benefits Attract and Retain Employees
From Inside Business: “No matter what happens in coming weeks concerning government decisions on parental leave and child care, the responsibility of creating a sustainable workforce remains with employers.”
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Future of Florida Forum: Child Care Staffing Crisis Could Cripple Economic Comeback
From Florida Politics: “If the pandemic showed us anything, it shows that early learning is also about the worker.”
Monday, October 11, 2021
Volunteers Keep ReadingPals in the Classroom
From Citrus County Chronicle: “The grant program is measured for success. Reports show that the children who participate in ReadingPals have greater learning gains than those who don’t.”
Monday, August 16, 2021
Keys to Society's Future: Quality Child Care, Improved Reading Skills for Children
From Palm Coast Observer: “By the year 2030, Florida’s goal is to have 100% of kindergartners ready for school and 100% of third graders reading at grade level.”
Thursday, August 12, 2021
ELC Needs Volunteer Readers in Clay County
From Clay Today: “Reading to young children sets the groundwork for a child’s future ability to read and learn,” said ELC Early Literacy Coordinator Joan Whitson.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Breastfeeding Women, Children Need Support of Employers, Community
From Tallahassee Democrat: “Promoting breastfeeding is beyond just the responsibility of those in the labor and the delivery room. It requires a communitywide, public health approach.”
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Biden’s Pre-K Proposal Faces Questions From Republicans Over Federal Role
From Wall Street Journal: “Vance Aloupis, a Republican state representative in Florida who worked on recent preschool legislation in the state, said that he is happy early childhood education is getting attention. But he said any federal investment should give state leaders flexibility. ‘I don’t think it would be wise to have a one-size-fits-all conversation. There has to be significant flexibility provided to the states.'”
Friday, June 18, 2021
Statewide Advocacy Efforts Lead to Big Wins to Strengthen Florida’s Early Childhood System
From Alliance for Early Success: “Florida’s youngest children and their parents are big winners with this legislation to enhance Florida’s VPK program and put a greater value on early learning,” said Madeleine Thakur, president of The Children’s Movement of Florida.”
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Florida Chamber Learners to Earners Summit Will Outline The Workforce Needs of Tomorrow
From Florida Politics: “House Early Learning & Elementary Education Subcommittee Chair Vance Aloupis, a stalwart advocate for early education, will bring it home in a discussion with Children’s Movement of Florida President Madeleine Thakur titled ‘Where do we go from here? Policy that aids education.’”
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Transforming Child Care Access is Key to a Just Recovery
From Florida Policy Institute: “As the state emerges from the pandemic-induced recession and health emergency, policymakers need to better understand the status of child care in Florida and the significant policy opportunities that lay before them.”