An important endorsement

The Child Development Education Alliance (CDEA) is a non-profit organization pursuing the highest standards of early care and education in Christian settings. The CDEA encourages child development education, quality accreditation, legislative involvement, networking of Christian early care educators, support for parents, community involvement, ministry to families in need and quality, comprehensive curricula inclusive of Christian materials and values.

We are pleased to announce that the Child Development Education Alliance has endorsed two of The Children's Movement of Florida's 2012 legislative agenda items. First, our VPK item -- (1) requiring that VPK providers choose an evidence-based curricula, and (2) requiring that VPK providers use a pre- and post-assessment to determine where a child stands socially, emotionally and cognitively. That assessment would be shared with the parent and help determine a teacher's best path to helping a child.

Second, CDEA has endorsed The Children's Movement special needs agenda item -- the providing of on-line screening and referral tools for families to ensure that early identification is possible along with conducting a full inventory of the already-available statewide treatment programs for children with special needs.

January 24, 2012

Dear Friends at The Children's Movement,

The CDEA has long supported initiatives that increase quality learning programs for all children. We are delighted to see that your 2012 Legislative Agenda items for VPK are what the CDEA has long supported. We endorse the need for evidence-based curricula that address the whole child. We also endorse a pre- and post-assessments in VPK that assesses all domains, not just reading and math skills. Assessing the whole child is the only way to address a child’s true needs.

The CDEA also has long supported initiatives that promote quality learning programs for ALL children. We have actively supported early identification of children with special needs coupled with quality early intervention techniques and family involvement.

We believe that supporting family values and involving families in the ongoing development of their children is paramount to maximizing the potential of young children. The Children’s Movement has done an excellent job in outlining a system which supports and involves families.

It gives us great pleasure to endorse The Children's Movement 2012 VPK, Special Needs, and Families Agenda items. We look forward to partnering with you to promote higher quality early learning in VPK, early identification and increased access to quality early learning services for special children, and supporting and involving families.

Sincerely,

Ellen McKinley
President

Christine Stephens
Executive Director

For more information on The Child Development Education Alliance (CDEA), please vist http://www.cdealliance.org/