The web site I chose to explore further was the High Scope page. The section that seemed relevant to my current professional development was the section on the six curriculum content areas and the 42 key developmental indicators (KDI’s). I have been an early childhood teacher for almost 20 years but this is my first year using the High Scope Curriculum. I believe that early childhood education should be a federally mandated and funded opportunity for every child and a universal curriculum should be used to teach all children 0-5. High scope provides a curriculum that is high quality, culturally responsive, and encompasses everything an early childhood experience that is rich in experience and developmentally appropriate should provide.  

On the High Scope page there is a resource that provides you with information on how high scope aligns with each states early childhood standards. If universal standards were in place you would not have a need to have all of this cumbersome information. One set of standards would not only be easier to assess but easier to apply. This resource did not seem controversial to me but it did make me think how can something seem so simple to me but be so cumbersome to politicians and law makers?

Politicians support is necessary for universal standards to be set and early childhood education to be a reality for every American child. Economists must explain how a universally designed program will meet federal standards and give the most human capitol returns. A lot of work went into designing a universal program (social security) for our oldest citizens and I believe with a little elbow grease and tax payer support we can design a universal program for our youngest citizens that will not only give us a leg up in education but it will set American children apart from other children globally.

Some other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field that I have gained from exploring the website are: an article on childhood obesity and how being overweight has long lasting affects into adulthood (http://www.highscope.org/file/NewsandInformation/HotTopics/MovementAndObesity.pdf) and a study of how a home literacy environment can improve as a result of parent and child engagement. (http://www.highscope.org/content.asp?contentid=907)

References:

http://www.highscope.org/

http://www.highscope.org/