美国学前教育(2015) (1).doc

Preschool Education in US - A Brief Overview In United States, Pre-school education embraces all formal and informal education before the age of six (when compulsory schooling starts). It includes tots and toddler programmes, play school, nursery school (also known as pre-kindergarten) and kindergarten. Attendance at school for children under six isnt compulsory, and the provision of schools for children under six varies according to the finances and circumstances of local communities. Most public elementary schools provide a pre-school kindergarten (K) year for five-year-olds, which is usually the first year of elementary school.There are various types of pre-schools, including non-profit co-operative schools, church-affiliated schools, local community schools, private schools and Montessori schools. A co-operative school is usually the least expensive, as parents work voluntarily as teachers aides alongside professional teachers. Church-affiliated schools are usually attached to religious centres and may include religious education (it isnt always necessary for children to follow the same religion as the school). Private schools are the most expensive and vary considerably from small home-run set-ups to large custom-built schools. A number of private nursery schools use the Montessori Method of teaching, developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. Montessori is more a philosophy of life than a teaching method and is based on the belief that each child is an individual with unique needs, interests and patterns of growth. Some Montessori schools have pre-school (for children aged two-and-a-half to six) and elementary levels (ages 6 to 12).Methods of Pre-school EducationIn many areas, private classes are offered for children aged from six months to three years. These combine the theory and practice of play groups and day care centres. Many areas also have what are termed toddler or tot programmes, which usually accept children from two to four years of age. Activities generally include arts and crafts, music, educational games, perceptual motor activities and listening skills. Most communities also have informal community schools or learning centres, playgroups, morning programmes at local YWCAs, and other inexpensive alternatives to private schools. Community colleges also offer a variety of courses for small children, e.g. painting, dancing and cooking, once or twice a week, e.g. on Saturday mornings.Many children attend private nursery schools for two to six-year-olds and some private elementary schools have a pre-nursery or nursery programme. Fees for private nursery schools range from $5,000 to $15,000 per year for full-time schooling, depending on the school and area. School hours vary, but children usually attend for a few hours in the morning, e.g. from 9am to 11.30am, or afternoon, e.g. 12.45pm to 3.15pm, or both. Some schools allow you to choose a number of morning or afternoon sessions only, thereby reducing the fees. Many day care centres are designed for working parents and combine nursery school and (extended) day care, with centres open from 6.30am to 6pm.Pre-school Education levelsPre-school education programmes maintain a close relationship with the home and parents and are intended to introduce children to the social environment of school and concentrate on the basic skills of co-ordination. Activities are often expanded to include alphabetic and numerical orientation, so children entering kindergarten or grade one at the age of five or six who havent attended pre-school are usually at a disadvantage. Research in a number of countries (including the US) has shown that children who attend pre-school usually progress at a faster rate than those who dont. A much lower proportion of children (around 60 per cent) attend pre-school in the US than in Japan and many European countries (e.g. Belgium and France, where its 95 per cent). In some areas (e.g. New York City), nursery schools are in short supply and its necessary to put your childs name on a waiting list as soon as possible (before conception!). Some of the more prestigious (and expensive) nursery schools require pre-admission testing and interviews (of the potential students and their families), as some people believe the choice of the right nursery school is essential for eventual university admittance. Ensure that a pre-school or day care centre is licensed and meets local and state standards.Nursery school is highly recommended for all children, particularly those whose parents mother tongue isnt English. After even a few months in nursery school, a child is integrated into the local community and is well prepared for elementary school (particularly when English isnt spoken at home). Parents can also make friends in the community through pre-school contacts.Early Childhood InitiativeThe years before a child reaches kindergarten are among the most critical in his or her life to influence learning. President Obama is committed to providing the support that our youngest children need to prepare to succeed later in school. The President supports a seamless and comprehensive set of services and support for children, from birth through age 5. Because the President is committed to helping all children succeed - regardless of where they spend their day - he is urging states to impose high standards across all publicly funded early learning settings, develop new programs to improve opportunities and outcomes, engage parents in their childs early learning and development, and improve the early education workforce.The Administration strongly believes that, to be of high quality, an early childhood program must include a developmentally appropriate educational component. According to the influential National Academy of Sciences publication, Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers, care and education cannot be thought of as separate entities in dealing with young children. To this end, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are working together to ensure that our children have a strong foundation in both the educational and the social-emotional domains that provide children with the preparation they need to enter kindergarten ready for success. The Presidential Early Learning Council will help to enhance the early learning and development of all of Americas children. Early Childhood Education ProgramsEarly Reading First program, established in the No Child Left Behind Act, provides competitive grantsto school districts and pre-school programs, such as Head Start centers. The grants fund the development of model programs to support the school readinessof preschool-aged children, particularly those from low-income families. Program activities will prepare teachers to provide high-quality language, literacy, and pre-reading activities, using scientifically based research to support childrens understanding of letters, letter sounds and the blending of sounds and words.Even Start supports projects that provide educational services to low-income families, including parents eligible for services under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and their children from birth through age 7. The program improves the educational opportunities of children and their parents in low-income areas by integrating early childhood education, adult education, parenting education, and interactive literacy activities between parents and their children into family literacy programs.The Special Education Preschool Grants and State Grants program ( Part B, Section 619 of IDEA), along with 6 percent of Special Education State grants, provides formula grants to states to make available special education and related services for 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities. It supports early childhood programs that provide services needed to prepare young children with disabilities to enter and succeed in school. The Special Education Grants for Infants and Families formula grant program (Part C of IDEA) assists States in implementing a coordinated statewide system of early intervention services to all children with disabilities, from birth through 2 years old, and their families.Other Early Childhood Education ProgramsThe Reading is Fundamental/Inexpensive Book Distribution program awards an annual contract to Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) to provide, through aid to local nonprofit groups and volunteer organizations, reading motivation activities. RIF encourages reading both inside and outside of school by allowing youngsters to select books to keep at home.The Ready to Learn Television is designed to facilitate student academic achievement by supporting the development and distribution of educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children and their parents.Foundations for Learning Grants supports projects that help children become ready for school. The program will focus on a childs emotional, social, and behavioral development that will coordinate with services through community resources for individualized support to children and their families.Department of Health and Human Services ProgramsThe Child Care Bureau is dedicated to enhancing the quality, affordability, and availability of child care for all families. The Child Care Bureau administers federal funds to states, territories, and tribes to assist eligible low-income families, and families participating in the TANF (welfare) program, in accessing child care for children when the parents work or participate in allowable education or training activities. In addition, the Child Care Bureau funds a network of Technical Assistance projects that promote quality, strengthen program administration, support the goals of Good Start, Grow Smart (the presidents early learning initiative), share research findings, and help policy makers, program administrators, communities, caregivers and parents understand and make good decisions about child care.Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.Emerging trends in USA It has been generally accepted throughout the world that children benefit from pre-kindergarten education. It is emphasized the importance of educating children during their early years of brain development. Educational programs designed for pre-kindergarten children can decrease future dropout rates, improve childrens cognition and other brain functions, and improve the overall quality of life. To meet the needs of children, particularly in the United States, more emphasis has been placed on pre-school and daycare educational programs since both parents increasingly work outside the home. In the United States, most tax funded educational programs are organized and administered at the local and state level. In fact, only about 10 percent of money allocated for education is provided by the federal government. The remaining 90 percent of funding comes from state and municipal governments and private organizations.Since most pre-school programs are administered by private organizations, more funding is being provided at the state and federal level to provide make it possible for children to have the opportunity to attend pre-school, especially children coming from families living below the poverty line. Federal funding for pre-school programs usually comes in the form of Title-I grants dispersed by the United States Department of Education. Likewise, more money is being made available for Head Start and other pre-school programs since the U.S. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. Head Start and other pre-school programs are designed to prepare young children for formal elementary and secondary education. There is special emphasis placed on working with at-risk or special needs children. In fact, money is