Ohio families with incomes 300% or below the federal poverty level can access up to $500 for each eligible child (ages six to 18) for learning enrichment activities, as part of a new Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) program. 

Since 1990, the price of child care has increased a staggering 214%; in Central Ohio alone, Action for Children reports that the average price of infant care in a center is $13,100 per year. They point out that this child care expense is more than in-state tuition for one year at Ohio State.

New from Crane

ICYMI: Check out Crane's new research brief (lead author Dr. Kelly Purtell), examining how code-focused (letter knowledge & phonological awareness) and language skills demonstrated by Ohio preschoolers predicted their later performance on state kindergarten and 3rd grade assessments. 

Events & Happenings 

Join us for the first Crane Research Forum of the academic year next Tuesday, September 6th at 12 pm. Dr. Shayne Piasta, Crane faculty associate and professor of literacies, literatures, and language arts in OSU's College of Education and Human Ecology, will discuss findings from a recent study where the Nemours BrightStart! emergent literacy intervention was trialed by teachers and community aides in authentic preschool settings. Register here.

Beyond the Buckeye State

Like many states, Maryland is using federal ARPA dollars to invest in and stabilize early care and education. One unique facet of the state’s new grant program is an emphasis on “creating a coordinated system for enrolling in prekindergarten.” As described in a legislative report from last fall, state leaders envision a unified and common enrollment system as well as a coordinated effort to smooth transition between pre-K and kindergarten.

The Cincinnati Enquirer takes a dive into Ohio’s high maternal and infant mortality rates, which are among the worst in the country. The piece points out, “Elected officials for years have dedicated resources to combat the issues, but birth workers and advocates say it'll take structural reform and support outside the health care industry to save the lives of mothers and children.” Part of this structural reform must include addressing implicit bias and racism, listening to pregnant moms, and better understanding of (and screening for) social determinants of health. 

Ed Surge asks an important question in this article, “Can advocates in red states make the business case for child care?” (The answer is yes.) 

A new estimate from the Brookings Institute places the inflation-adjusted cost of raising a child (one, single child) at a whopping $310,000. 

The Hechinger Report describes the limits of the federal student loan forgiveness program, a great opportunity that excludes child care workers working in for-profit centers as well as self-employed home providers. 

Research Round Up

Early Learning Nation describes research published earlier this year showing that earlier entry into Head Start (at age three) among children with obesity predicted a greater reduction in their BMI and that “Head Start participation was related to healthy changes.” As one of the study authors, Dr. Melissa Dahlin, told ELN, “The bottom line is that the Head Start program is an existing, comprehensive program that is already well set up and well-suited to make a difference in our country’s child health and overweight and obesity issues.”