CEC Policy Insider

Apply Now! The Society for Research in Child Development Offers Policy Fellowships in Congressional and Executive Branches

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is now accepting applications for policy fellowships for 2013-2014. Fellows will have the chance to work in either the Congressional or Executive Branches and have the opportunity to come to Washington, D.C. to use their research skills in child development to inform public policy. Each Fellow will work as a resident scholar within a federal agency or Congressional office placement. The fellowship will also include monthly seminars with topics in child development and public policy or career development. SRCD has three goals for their fellowship program which applicants should consider while applying:

1. To contribute to the effective use of scientific knowledge about child development in the formation of public policy
2. To educate the scientific community about the development of public policy
3. To establish a more effective liaison between developmental scientists and the Federal policy-making mechanisms

Each applicant must have a doctoral-level degree in a relevant discipline and must demonstrate exceptional competence in child development research. Each applicant must also be a member of SRCD. The application deadline is December 15, 2012.

You can find more information on the Fellowships by clicking here or by emailing policyfellowships@srcd.org.

DNC Platform Features General Commitments to Education and Accessibility; Does Not Mention Students with Disabilities

The Democratic National Committee unveiled its 2012 platform on Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention. The platform features integrated, narrative goals highlighting education as a vital necessity for improving quality of life. This includes striving to have the highest proportion of college graduates of any nation by the year 2020. The platform also highlights the ESEA flexibility waivers, Race to the Top grants and educational opportunities at all levels including improving opportunities for early childhood education and Head Start. The dropout rate and the achievement gap are also highlighted as concerns and are addressed by the need to strengthen the public school system from traditional public schools to charter schools, magnet schools and career academies.

The platform also features a section on Americans with Disabilities featuring access to employment and health care, as well as a commitment from the administration to hire 100,000 employees with disabilities within the federal government by the year 2015. The platform does not mention IDEA nor does it feature any specific intentions or goals for students with disabilities or special education, but does maintain inclusivity and access to education for all students as one of its primary goals.

To read the DNC platform, please click here. To see CEC’s PI story on the Republican National Committee, please click here.

Department of Education Announces first ever Office for Early Learning

Last week at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Conference, Senior Advisor on Early Learning Jacqueline Jones announced the Department of Education’s plan to create the first ever Office for Early Learning. The object of this new office will be to correct the isolation in which federal early learning programs and funds have functioned and provide the strong coordinated collaboration necessary to dramatically improve early learning services.

U.S. Department of Ed to Host Field Hearings on Early Learning

CEC is encouraging all of its members to participate in the upcoming expert panels focused on early learning.  Here is a summary of the upcoming events and additional information on how to become involved.