CCW awarded grant to promote preschool

Research shows that high-quality preschool programs improve the chances of long-term success for children and give them a boost in meeting school readiness standards. Now, with the help of a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Center for the Child Care Workforce (CCW)—a national organization that affiliated with the AFT Educational Foundation in 2002—and the California Federation of Teachers will work to build support for universal preschool in California.

The CCW and the state federation will use the grant to promote activities aimed at getting CFT constituencies involved in the Preschool for All program, an initiative that promotes universal, voluntary preschool for 3- and 4-year olds. Less than 46 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in California are currently enrolled in a preschool program.

Like many other states, California has committed to expanding preschool opportunities to its residents. For example, nearly 65,000 4-year-olds participate in Georgia’s preschool program, which is free to all children. In 2002, Floridians approved a ballot initiative that will provide free preschool to all 4-year-olds by 2006. Other states, including Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York also are planning universal preschool programs.

“Preschool for All is a movement that is growing nationwide. This grant is a first step toward creating long-term support for the initiative,” says Marci Young, director of CCW, which along with the AFT shares a common vision of accessible, quality child care services and early childhood education for all children. “This project exemplifies why CCW teamed up with the AFT—to engage educators at all levels as well as organized labor to lead the charge for early childhood programs that include a highly qualified and well-compensated cadre of early childhood teachers.”

Together, the CCW and the CFT will use the grant to create a comprehensive communications and outreach plan to encourage union members to participate in California’s Preschool for All efforts. The CFT plans to hold workshops and forums to get members talking about the initiative, says Margaret Shelleda, assistant to the CFT president. Meanwhile, the state federation will continue working with other AFL-CIO unions and the child care community to lobby for legislative reform of California’s child care and preschool system.

AFT Super Conference in May

It’s being called the 2004 AFT Super Conference, and it’s slotted for May 13-15 in Philadelphia. Members from across all five AFT constituencies are invited to attend the unprecedented gathering, which this year will include the Northeast Regional Meeting; the AFT National Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Conference; seminars hosted by the union’s Redesigning Schools To Raise Achievement project; and training developed by the AFT Union Leadership Institute.

The theme, “Our Issues, Our Plan: Driving the Politics of Change,” captures the focus of the conference: the upcoming elections and what’s at stake.

“As we prepare to elect national, state and local officials, it is essential that we focus on how politics and public policy affect our issues, lives and the work we perform,” AFT president Sandra Feldman says.

No matter the constituency or job title, all AFT members are concerned about fairness, quality and professionalism. The conference will feature seminars and workshops designed to provide information on how these concerns can be addressed through effective political action.

Please visit this page on our Web site for more information.

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