News from First Five Nebraska
 June 2017
 

 

Our vision is that all Nebraska children begin kindergarten with the experience they need to become successful students and productive citizens.  

 


See our 2017 session-end report on bills we identified as high priority items this year. The status of other bills with the potential to affect early childhood can be found on our website's Nebraska Legislation page. 


Congratulations to Westminster Preschool in Lincoln on becoming the first child care center to reach Step 5 in Nebraska Step Up to Quality. 

High-quality early care and education gives children the start they need to begin school ready to learn. 
Quick Links
  • Omaha World-Herald: Nearly 4,000 kindergartners received books and worksheets to combat "summer slump." Read More
  • Sixty percent of Nebraskans without children believe the state is investing too little in early childhood education programs, as do 63% of parents with young children and 55% of parents without young children, according to a Buffett Early Childhood Institute report. 
  • Here are 2017 Children's Choice book awards, great options for summer reading with kids. Read More


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New Early Childhood Education
Grants Awarded for 2017-18

The Nebraska State Board of Education approved 11 new and expansion Early Childhood Education Program grants to provide access to high-quality early childhood education for approximately 270 3- and 4-year-olds at risk of failing in school. 

High-quality early childhood care and education programs support families as they carry out their critical role as children's earliest teachers. Families access early childhood programs and services depending on their needs and those of their children for a variety of reasons.

Congratulations to: 

Crete Public Schools
Dorchester Public Schools 
Fremont Public Schools
Gothenburg Public Schools
High Plains Community Schools 
Lincoln Public Schools
Nebraska Unified Schools
Palmyra District OR1
Papillion-LaVista Public Schools ,
Southwest Public Schools   
Westside Community Schools



Nebraska's Early Childhood Education Grant Program is changing the outlook for many 3- and 4-year-olds at risk. But far fewer of our state's infants and toddlers have access to the kinds of early care and learning experiences that will help prepare them to thrive in preschool and the K-12 years. 





Guest blogpost: 

Tammi Hicken
Ann Adams
The Nebraska Department of Education's Office of Early Childhood has rolled out new features to the online record system they developed to support early childhood education workers. The easy-to-use dashboard lets ECE workers house their records in one place that follows them throughout their career, even as they change employers. 




Research continues to show us the lifelong benefits involved fathers have on their children's lives, particularly the critically important role they play in developing children's physical, social-emotional and cognitive skills.

This short video shows how children with involved fathers are more confident and more patient, handle stresses and frustrations better, are less likely to get in trouble or experience depressions, have stronger physical development and can better regulate their emotions.