FYI from EYI e-Newsletter March 2012

FYI from EYI

Dana Friedman thumbnail

New York State has not delivered on its promise of universal pre-K. There are currently 99,000 children enrolled in UPK in NYS, about 8,500 of whom are in Long Island UPK programs. Most of these children are in community-based programs rather than in a school building. Governor Cuomo's 2013 budget proposed flat funding for pre-K. No new districts may begin offering UPK and the funds provided do not cover the true cost of quality or needed social services and transportation. However, the NYS Board of Regents and WinningBeginningNY are proposing that $53 million more be invested in UPK to improve services and eliminate the Maintenance of Effort penalties. These increased resources may help stem the tide of districts proposing to cut Kindergarten or pre-K in their efforts to stay within the 2% tax cap. This is budget week. It is important to make your voices heard in the legislature now if universal pre-K is ever to become a reality.

-Dana Friedman, president, The Early Years Institute

Hot Topics...in Early Childhood Learning

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University shares five numbers to remember about early childhood development http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/multimedia/interactive_features/five-numbers/
Study shows that nurturing relationships help the brains of young children grow https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/23329.aspx
A first look at President Obama's FY2013 budget and the impact on early childhood
http://earlyed.newamerica.net/blogposts/2012/the_presidents_fy2013_budget-63693

SAVE THE DATE - MARCH 24--11:30AM-5PM Roots of Migration Symposium

Middle Country Library, Centereach

What Makes You American?

We are All Immigrants

Learn the facts about immigration on Long Island and take action!

* Immigrants' contributions to and impact on our community and the economy

* Reasons for migration

* Immigration laws and their effects on immigrants, citizen and communities

* The human side of immigration: true stories of people living and working

For information: Helen Dorado-Alessi

halessi@eyi.org
(516) 304-5480

Take the Pledge for Screen-Free Week

April 30 through May 6

Join EYI and the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood, a national campaign to reduce the time children and adults spend with TV, computers, video games and hand-held devices.

In our second annual campaign, planned by our Screen-Free Week Committee, EYI is working with local businesses, schools, libraries, religious organizations, child care centers, museums and pediatricians throughout the United States to turn-off all electronic entertainment for seven days -- and explore other ways to learn and play and have meaningful family time.

We thank our partners and sponsors for supporting this year's campaign pledging to be screen-free and planning fun activities at their places of business. Click here to sign-up to take the pledge.

Westbury Islamic Center Girl Scouts helping

Kids Stay Warm in Westbury

Mosque kids The Girl Scout Troop of the Islamic Center of Long Island located in Westbury, NY (ICLI) generously donated over a dozen hand-made children's scarves to The Early Years Institute, while earning their community services badge. The scarves will be shared with children in the Westbury Dryden Street School. Each year the ICLI Girl Scout Troop do various collections or drives for charity such as food drives, gently worn coats, books and toiletries that are donated to the local community in need. With so many people struggling financially due to the recession, the girls took great pride in making the scarves knowing that their hard work will benefit children this year more than ever.

United North Amityville Youth Organization (UNAYO) learns financial literacy and project management skills...

Thanks to a recent grant from Bank of America, the UNAYO youth are gaining valuable skills and Unayo Devor knowledge in budgeting, financial literacy and project management. The Director of LINCK, Patricia Manzi, was able to secure a highly skilled and certified PMP (project management professional), Devor Dokonal, from the Project Management Institute Long Island Chapter.

Devor met with the UNAYO youth group on Saturday, September 18 to share valuable, entry-level knowledge on implementing, executing and managing large-scale projects such as building an outdoor nature classroom.

Devor stated, "Most projects fail because of going over budget." By understanding key concepts, such as budgeting, risk management and communication, UNAYO youth will have more tools to get their project started right and completed successfully. The goal is to raise funds for building of an outdoor nature classroom at the UNAYO site.

It's getting warm outside...PickaPark.org is for your family's enjoyment in nature

You can pick your park by zip code or amenities such as bathrooms, wide pathways for strollers, refreshments, playgrounds and benches in the shade.

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!

Click here to learn more about Pick-a-Park.org

Through your generosity, EYI improves early learning opportunities for all

children in our region to help them achieve success in school and life.