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The national movement toward massive expansion of early childhood education and development has evolved into individual state-by-state initiatives. Contributors set forth the evidence that will encourage states to take up this cause, provide advocates with the information they will need to make their case, and guide states and advocates in building a public and political will for change. Great advancements in the sciences of child development and brain development have provided a whole new foundation of thought regarding early childhood programs (preschooling) for 3- and 4-year-olds. The eleven chapters are organized into three sections: I, The Science; II, Early Childhood Intervention Programs; III, Social Action and Public Policy Issues. An inspiring read that is also serious and instructive.psychologists, teachers, and education professors and policymakers.
E-Book Content
Investing in Early Childhood Development
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Investing in Early Childhood Development Evidence to Support a Movement for Educational Change
Edited by Alvin R. Tarlov and Michelle Precourt Debbink
INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Copyright © Alvin R. Tarlov and Michelle Precourt Debbink, 2008. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published in 2008 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–7993–3 ISBN-10: 1–4039–7993–6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Investing in early childhood development : evidence to support a movement for educational change / editors, Alvin R. Tarlov and Michelle Precourt Debbink. p. cm. ISBN 1–4039–7993–6 (alk. paper) 1. Early childhood education—United States. 2. Education and state— United States. 3. Child development—United States. 4. Children—Health and hygiene—United States. I. Tarlov, Alvin R. (Alvin Richard), 1929– II. Debbink, Michelle Precourt. LB1139.25.I595 2008 372.210973—dc22
2007028865
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: February 2008 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America.
This book is dedicated with reverence and gratitude to J. Fraser Mustard, medical educator, biomedical scientist, leader, and friend. From 1982 to 1996 he served as Founding President, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; from 1996 to 2007 as Head, The Founder’s Network; and since 2004 as Founding Chairman, Council for Early Childhood Development, all in Toronto, Ontario. Over the past 20 years, through countless hours and days of conversation with Fraser, I acquired from his sophisticated understanding of the production of health and the importance of early childhood education to child health and development, the conceptual platform on which my interest in early childhood education and development is based. Alvin R. Tarlov
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Contents
List of Figures
ix
List of Tables
xi
Preface
xiii
List of Contributors
xxi
I The Science 1
2
Building Brain Architecture and Chemistry: A Primer for Policymakers Pat Levitt Children Develop in