Index: Education
Education - Early Childhood
Quick Data Links
What's New (updated 5/21/07)
According to the 2007 Kidscount in Colorado! [pdf], Larimer County youth (pg. 55) fair well in child and maternal educational achievement, but continue to lag behind the Colorado average on measures such as mothers smoking during pregnancy and low birth weight births. (Colorado Children's Campaign, May 2007)
According to the 2007 Kidscount in Colorado! [pdf], Larimer County youth (pg. 55) fair well in child and maternal educational achievement, but continue to lag behind the Colorado average on measures such as mothers smoking during pregnancy and low birth weight births. (Colorado Children's Campaign, May 2007)
What We Measured:
Children's Health:
Highlights:
- From 2004 to 2005, the average monthly number of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases decreased slightly (5%), while the average monthly payment to child care providers increased 6%. (Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP))
- In 2000, 70.9% of Larimer County's three and four year olds (4384) were enrolled in a nursery school or preschool. (Enrollment - Preschool)
Children's Health:
- From 1996 to 2000, the Larimer County rate of heart defects was statistically significantly higher than that of Colorado (289.5 vs. 196.9 per 10,000) and slightly higher for muscular/skeletal defects (184.4 vs. 165.9 per 10,000). (Birth Defects)
- Since 1997, Larimer County has had a lower infant mortality rate then Colorado. (Infant Mortality)
- Larimer County has consistently had a lower percentage of low birth weight babies than Colorado. (Low Birth Weight Babies)
Related Studies:
- Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions found that early childhood intervention programs yield benefits in academics, behavior, delinquency, and labor market success. (June 2006 - RAND Corporation, Karoly, Kilburn, and Cannon)
- Success Stories: State Investment in Early Care & Education in Illinois, North Carolina, and Rhode Island [pdf] (Anne W. Mitchell, March 2005) examines three diverse states efforts to provide comprehensive, high-quality early childhood care and education.
- The 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book (June 2005) - this annual report, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reports on national trends in child well-being. In addition to the report, customized graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state profiles can be generated through the online KIDS COUNT database.
- Early Childhood Care and Education: Effects on Ethnic and Racial Gaps in School Readiness [pdf] - According to this report posted on The Future of Children website, substantial increases in Hispanic and black children's enrollment in preschool may decrease the current school readiness gaps.
- Toward an Early Care and Education Agenda for Hispanic Children (Early Childhood Research & Practice: Fall 2004) - this paper concludes that Latinos are underserved by early care and education programs and addresses possible actions to improve these services.
- Colorado's School Readiness Indicators (December 2004) - This report identifies Colorado indicators that reflect the school readiness of children, their families, their communities, and the schools they will attend.
- Exceptional Returns from Early Childhood Education [pdf] (October 2004) - a report by the Economic Policy Institute, which contains case-studies, estimates on cost-benefits and crime reduction and the overall economic impact of early childhood education.
- Child Care Assistance Policies 2001-2004: Families Struggling to Move Forward, States Going Backward [pdf] - (September 2004) - a comparison of state child care assistance policies in 2004 and 2001 reveals that many families faced increased barriers to affordable child care.
- Current Data on the Salaries and Benefits of the U.S. Early Childhood Education Workforce [pdf] (July 2004) - this annual report by Center for the Child Care Workforce confirms that industry wages are low, benefits are minimal and turnover rates are high, while at the same time highlighting the link between high-quality early child care and high-quality jobs for caretakers.
- Economic Impact of the Early Care & Education Industry in Larimer County [pdf] - Prepared for the Larimer County Early Childhood Council by BBC Research & Consulting. This report presents a characterization of the Early Care and Education (ECE) industry in Larimer County, including employment and wage information, and the impact that this industry has on the local economy.
- Child Care in Colorado: The Early Education of Our Children, August 2002 - a Colorado Kids Count issue brief. [pdf]
- Kids Count - this annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks states based on an index of child well-being and contains data on education, health, and economic conditions for each state.
- Prekindergarten in U.S. Public Schools: 2000-2001 - this report includes information on the number of schools offering prekindergarten classes, the number and characteristics of children enrolled, and funding sources used by the schools. Additional studies on children's issues are available at this site, National Center for Education Statistics.
- NICHHD Study of Early Child Care & Youth Development - this study, supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, examines how variations in child care relate to children's development.
- The Right Start: The Condition of Babies and Their Families Across the Nation - this special report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation allows you to generate your own profiles, line graphs, national maps, rankings, and raw data on how children born in each state as well as the nation's 50 largest cities fared on eight selected measures of a "right start."
- Trends in the Well-being of America's Children & Youth - an annual report published by the United Stated Department of Health and Human Services.
- Working Mother Magazine's National Child Care Survey - compares state standards for child care safety and quality.
Related issues within Compass:
- Larimer County 2003 - Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Reduction
- Child Abuse
- Education: K-12
- Individual Economy: Food Stamps, TANF, Free/Reduced School Lunches
- Juvenile Crime: Arrests, Charges Filed, Probation
Additional Resources:
- Child Care Bureau - this Department of of Health & Human Services website contains datasets, grant announcements, and information on the federal Child Care and Development Fund.
- Colorado Department of Human Services: Division of Child Care
- Early Childhood Council (ECC) of Larimer County
- Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County (HCC) - is a broad-based coalition of nonprofit, business, government and citizen leaders focused on improving the health and well-being of Larimer County residents.
- Larimer County Health Department - information on immunizations.
- Larimer County Human Services Department - information on basic assistance programs, including the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Child Care Association
- National Child Care Information Center - this United States Department of Health & Human Services website contains links to child care resources.
- National Institute on Early Childhood Development & Education
- Larimer County Child Care Resource and Referral - (The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County)
- Zero to Three - information on infants and toddlers.