Overview

"This is a comprehensive, detailed account of the complex state of Universal Preschool (UPK) in the United States. As discussions regarding access, equity, and the societal value of early childhood education enter into the public forum, this book offers critical perspectives for next steps. The authors join the synergy of wonder to the practicality of wisdom to navigate complicated systems of power, relationships, and discourse. Cross-sector efforts to address planning and implementation of UPK are examined while acknowledging the current inequitable nature of the field. The book is a cautionary tale that includes historical and current vignettes showing that some issues in UPK collaboratives are constant across time. To bring the discussion alive, a variety of stakeholder perspectives offer insights into the ""why"" behind policy decisions. Reshaping Universal Preschool will help stakeholders explore, reflect, and apply lessons learned to existing or potential UPK collaborative efforts. Book Features: Honors and illustrates perspectives from the participants—families, teachers, support staff, administrators, researchers, and policymakers. Considers the complicated nature of perceived power among stakeholders. Offers pragmatic suggestions to consider while engaging in policy changes that affect early childhood practice. Provides insight on collaborative practices building up from early education to the larger educational context. Contains reflective questions to help readers apply the research and concepts to their own practice, situation, and communities."

Full Product Details

Author:   Lucinda Grace Heimer ,  Ann Elizabeth Ramminger ,  Sharon Ryan ,  Beth Graue
Publisher:   Teachers' College Press
Imprint:   Teachers' College Press
ISBN:  

9780807761274

ISBN 10:   0807761273
Pages:   160
Publication Date:   30 March 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Temporarily unavailable  
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Table of Contents

Contents (Tentative) Foreword Elizabeth Graue Acknowledgments Preface Terminology A Dilemma Our Lens Chapter Summaries Our Hopes 1. Early Education in the U.S.: Is it Fair Game? Educational Equity in the U.S.—A Quick History Public Education Why Should Early Education be Treated Differently? The Current U.S. Early Educational System—A Patchwork Early Childhood Equity in Other Countries Have Societal Attitudes Changed in the U.S. Summary 2. Universal Preschool: Panacea or Perpetuated Patchwork Defining Universal Preschool Key Components of Early Childhood Programs Universal Preschool Efforts Require Collaboration What Does Collaboration Have to Do with Policy? Pandora's Box of Power/Knowledge Relationships Collaboration Is Constructed Through Discourse Panacea or Propensity for Power Collaborative Leadership The Early Childhood Collaborative (ECC): A Past Story of UPK Summary 3. Encouraging All Voices in the Universal Preschool Conversation Collaborative Policy Past Story: EEC—Voices at the Table Ensuring All Voices in Current Universal Preschool Efforts Present Story: I Don't Know Why They Don't Come (Kristin Whyte) Summary 4. Equitable Access to Universal Preschool: Enrollment Issues Policy Is Multi-faceted Past Story: ECC—Come One, Come All Enrollment Decisions Present Story: Enrollment Silos and Conundrums (Sarah Galanter-Guziewski) Summary 5. Leading the Curriculum Process: One Size Does Not Fit All Curriculum in Early Education Past Story: ECC—Who's the Boss? Present Story: Who Gets to Say we can Play in 4K? (Kate K. Delaney) Summary 6. A Long and Winding Road What Have We Learned from Research and Stories? Next Steps on the Universal Preschool Journey Present Story: NYC Pre-K for All—Conflicting Interests and Beliefs Around Curriculum and Assessment (Lacey Peters) Summary: Keeping Wonder at the Heart of Wisdom Conclusion Appendix: Methodology References Index About the Authors

Reviews

""" Reshaping Universal Preschool is an ideal book for those who are interested in exploring the early education landscape in the United States from a critical perspective. In the quest for establishing universal preschool and equal access to high quality early education, Heimer and Ramminger's book offers practical recommendations on how to do so and, at the same time, acknowledges and highlights some of the associated challenges of such an endeavor."" --Teachers College Record"

Reshaping Universal Preschool is an ideal book for those who are interested in exploring the early education landscape in the United States from a critical perspective. In the quest for establishing universal preschool and equal access to high quality early education, Heimer and Ramminger's book offers practical recommendations on how to do so and, at the same time, acknowledges and highlights some of the associated challenges of such an endeavor. --Teachers College Record

Author Information

Lucinda G. Heimer is associate professor and program coordinator for the dual licensure program in early childhood education special education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Ann Elizabeth Ramminger is founder of Early Childhood Solutions Consulting based out of central Massachusetts. With contributions by Katherine K. Delaney, Sarah Galanter-Guziewski, Lacey Peters, and Kristin Whyte.

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