Index: Education
Education - Early Childhood
Quick Data Links
What's New (updated 7/15/09)
According to the 2009 Kidscount in Colorado! [pdf], Larimer County youth (pg. 79) fair better than the Colorado average in the majority of categories measured, but continue to lag behind the Colorado average on measures such as mothers smoking during pregnancy and early prenatal care. (Colorado Children's Campaign, June 2009)
According to the 2009 Kidscount in Colorado! [pdf], Larimer County youth (pg. 79) fair better than the Colorado average in the majority of categories measured, but continue to lag behind the Colorado average on measures such as mothers smoking during pregnancy and early prenatal care. (Colorado Children's Campaign, June 2009)
What We Measured:
Children's Health:
Highlights:
- From 2004 to 2007, the average monthly number of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases decreased 21% while the average monthly payment to child care providers increased 34%. In January 2008, the Larimer County Department of Human Services reinstated the family income criteria to <185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines allowing for a 22% increase in the number of cases served by CCAP. (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:
- The greatest number of birth defects in Larimer County between 2002 and 2006 were due to heart anomalies. (Birth Defects)
- From 2002 through 2004 there were fewer female infant mortality deaths in Larimer County than males. That trend has changed beginning in 2005 with more female infant mortality deaths than male. (Infant Mortality)
- Larimer County has consistently had a lower percentage of low birth weight babies than Colorado. (Low Birth Weight Babies)
Related Studies:
- The State of Children and Youth in Larimer County (July 2009) [pdf], this report, prepared by Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County, offers a snapshot of how children and youth in Larimer County are doing at the beginning of the 21st century.
- Setting the Foundation [pdf] (March 2007) - This report explores the P-20 Educational System, which is designed to integrate learning from preschool through post-secondary education training.
- Six Principles in Early Childhood Education [pdf] (May 2007) - this report, published by the National Child Care Association, calls for a new public policy debate to create core public policy principles that will enhance the availability of early childhood educational opportunities for all children from birth to kindergarten.
- 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)
- Stair Steps to Quality: A Guide for States and Communities Developing Quality Rating Systems for Early Care and Education [pdf] (July 2005) - this is a "how-to guide" for early childhood development professionals, child care resource and referral staff, child advocates, business leaders, and elected officials to creating quality rating systems for early childhood education.
- The 2008 KIDS COUNT Data Book [pdf] - 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 Data Center.
- 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 [pdf] (December 2004) - This report identifies Colorado indicators that reflect the school readiness of children, their families, their communities, and the schools they will attend.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 - this report published by the United Stated Department of Health and Human Services.
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 Child Care Resource and Referral - (The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County)
- 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.