"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." This much-repeated quote speaks eloquently to the kinds of life-enhancing skills children develop when they interact with caring adults in thoughtfully designed nature-filled outdoor classrooms. As a network of these classrooms springs…

Points out accomplishments of Project Head Start and suggests issues to be considered for future program development. (RH)

Research tells us that specialized training and education of teachers is one of the strongest predictors of child care quality. In the late 1960s, however, most states did not require preservice training or higher education for teachers in early childhood programs or family child care homes. At that time, Missouri wanted to develop a project that…

The hearing-impaired child in a nursery school for children with normal hearing is surrounded by experiences which help him to regard speech as a natural outlet for expression. (NH)

Defines the competency-based approach to teacher education and describes the development of an early childhood program at the University of Houston. (ED)

This article is an essay review of the book "Project Head Start: A Legacy of the War on Poverty," coedited by Edward Zigler and Jeanette Valentine. (DB)

Analyzes the basis on which early childhood programs are accredited and deferred and what criteria are frequently not met by accredited and deferred programs. National Academy of Early Childhood Programs decisions for accredited programs and for deferred programs are presented. The programs are then compared. (BB)

Examines diversity in home visiting by considering policy and program design decisions related to the content of the visit, relations between the parent and the home visitor, and individualization of the visit. (BG)

Provides a conceptual framework for describing family day-care services in terms of eight aspects of family day care and the regulation and support of systems. Research and policy implications are considered. (BB)

Focuses on key policy issues surrounding the provisions of state-funded prekindergarten programs. Issues examined include program standards, stability, and continuity; program funding; coordination and continuity of educational services; program eligibility; and the relationship between prekindergarten programs and educational reform. (Author/BB)

Describes one teachers' system of democratic discipline in which the children deliberate and construct the list of rules for the classroom. Addresses: (1) introducing democratic discipline; (2) daily routine; (3) typical problems, typical solutions; (4) novel solutions; (5) recurring problems; (6) unintended results; (7) context for children's…

Discusses nine common myths, which represent collective opinions based on false assumptions or are the product of fallacious reasoning, associated with developmentally appropriate programs for young children. (BB)

Describes problems for a university-based child development laboratory of decreased university funding, overworked staff, and huge public demand. Explains that instead of conventional responses, the program was redesigned by decreasing enrollment and increasing length of the remaining program, thereby maintaining income levels and addressing…

Maintains that educators who are working for increased funding for early childhood services need to link the emerging vision for comprehensive services for children and their families with the principles that call for quality programs and equitable policies. (BB)

Describes successful practices and procedures for designing effective infant care programs for children born to teenage parents, including supervisory support for nurturing caregiver-child relationships, continuous staff training in infant development, low teacher-child ratios, active parent involvement, a child development curriculum, and…