Eight National Institutions Call for Reinvention of Higher Education Programs for Professionals Working with Children from Birth to Age Five

Research has continually shown that in order for children to have exceptional, high quality early care and education, they must have teachers and staff with specialized knowledge, skill, and experience. In a newly released paper, eight national organizations including National-Louis University, request that every college president address this by asking two questions: What is the current state of our early care and education programs? How can we make them better? Drs. Paula Jorde Bloom and Teri Talan represented NLU and contributed to this study. Read more »

Research Notes (Fall 2008)
From Policy to Practice: Learning from Center Directors in New Jersey's Mixed-Delivery Abbott Program

In an effort to close the achievement gap, the Supreme Court of New Jersey mandated in 1998 that all disadvantaged 3- and 4-year-olds in the state would be offered high-quality preschool education. Since then, New Jersey's Abbott Preschool Program has demonstrated that privately run preschool classrooms participating in the program have improved in quality and have become comparable to classrooms run by school districts. Further, children in both types of Abbott classrooms demonstrated gains through kindergarten in their school readiness skills. Read more »

Professional Development Opportunities for Chicago Directors
Funding Provided by the Chicago Public Schools Community Partnership Program

Go for the Gold
The Illinois Director Credential (IDC) is the "gold standard" for excellence in Illinois validating a director's accomplishments in early care and education. Go for the Gold is designed to support Chicago directors interested in pursuing the IDC. This 10-month initiative provides four half-day training sessions, on-site technical assistance, and access to additional professional growth opportunities. It culminates with attendance at the Leadership Connections conference May 14-16, 2009. For more information, download a flyer or contact Lila Goldston at (800) 443-5522, ext. 3469 or lila.goldston@nl.edu.

Coaching for Results
Coaching for Results is a leadership training opportunity designed to support Chicago lead teachers, supervisors, coaches, and staff trainers. This 10-month professional development experience begins with a three-day residential institute. Participants then attend six subsequent one-day training sessions. The initiative culminates with attendance at the Leadership Connections conference May 14-16, 2009. For more information, download a flyer or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 or debra.trudesuter@nl.edu.

Taking Charge of Change Follow-up
This new training initiative is especially designed for Taking Charge of Change alums who believe they would benefit from continued support to sustain the program improvement plan they initiated as part of their original participation in TCC. This 10-month professional development opportunity provides on-site consultation and includes attendance at the Leadership Connections conference May 14-16, 2009. For more information, download a flyer or contact Lila Goldston at (800) 443-5522, ext. 3469 or lila.goldston@nl.edu.

Fall Management Institute: The Family-Friendly Director
National-Louis University Wheeling Campus Annex (Map and Directions)
October 24-25, 2008

This institute will help you examine your center's policies and practices through a "family-responsive" lens. Participants will look at the social, economic, and technological factors impacting families in contemporary society and explore ways to make centers a part of a community-wide support system for parents. Emphasis will be given to developing a family-responsive mission statement as well as creating marketing and enrollment literature that engages parents as true partners in their children's care and education. Guest presenters include Karen Stephens, author and director of the Illinois State University Lab School and Cynthia Stringfellow, director of the Family Focus Midwest Center for Learning. For more information, download a brochure or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 or debra.trudesuter@nl.edu.

Leadership Connections
The Westin Chicago North Shore (Map and Directions)
May 14-16, 2009

Join us at the luxurious Westin Chicago North Shore for this highly acclaimed professional development opportunity especially designed for center directors, lead teachers and supervisors, trainers and consultants, technical assistance specialists, and family child care providers. Three stimulating days of training, exhibits, networking, and fun! Total conference package is only $375 before February 1, 2009. This includes:

• Thursday: Opening luncheon and keynote, public policy forum, networking reception, marketplace, spotlight on best practices, and pamper yourself activities
• Friday: Continental breakfast, skill-building clinics, box lunch, marketplace, meet the authors, and afternoon ice cream treat
• Saturday: Continental breakfast, seminars, and closing luncheon and keynote
• Plus a conference bag, yellow pages of professional resources, and LOTS of raffle prizes and gifts

The complete brochure will be available later this fall. For more information including sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Jonas at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5058 or donna.jonas@nl.edu.