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Welcome to Fairfax Futures
Where Smart Businesses Invest in School Readiness
Greetings!
You have probably heard that six degrees are all that separate
you from anyone else on the planet. True or not, it is a good
metaphor for our increasingly interconnected world.
This month's newsletter features another set of connections: discoveries about how
babies learn are incorporated in a report on improving math education for preschoolers, which
economists have linked to preparing workers for the jobs of the future and which business
and political leaders say is key to American competitiveness.
Not sure how it all fits together? Learn more at Fairfax Futures'
Third Annual School Readiness Leadership Forum (see column at right). The
program features speakers who will entertain and challenge you
to think about developing the critical thinking and problem solving skills our
children will need to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century.
Register online today. We look forward to seeing you
on September 22.
Sincerely,
Vera Steiner Blore
Executive Director |
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'Jobs of Tomorrow' Report
A new report from the president's Council of Economic
Advisers, "Preparing the Workforce of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow," concludes
that job growth will be greatest in health care and jobs that require a
post-secondary education between now and 2016. How do we prepare for a more
skills-based economy? The report asserts that "the most important 'post-high
school' education and training reform is a strong early childhood and
elementary and secondary system," reports the NY Times.
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Business Likes Promise of Education Reform
"We have to educate
our way to a better economy," says Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The man
who controls billions of dollars in stimulus funds is looking to business for support
with school reform. So far, business likes what it is hearing, according to
this report in the Chicago Tribune. |
U.S. Secretary of Education Appoints Senior Advisor for Early Learning
Dr. Jacqueline Jones was recently appointed senior advisor to the secretary for early learning by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Jones will speak at Fairfax Futures' 3rd annual School Readiness Leadership
Forum (see column at right). She brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as New Jersey's assistant commissioner for the Division
of Early Childhood Education and as a senior research scientist and director of early
childhood research for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J. |
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
A report from the National Research Council calls for
a national initiative to improve mathematics education for preschoolers. Christopher T. Cross, chair of the committee that wrote
the report, said, "Evidence shows that early success in math is linked to
later success in both math and reading. Given the increasing importance
of science and technology in everyday life and for gaining entry into many
careers, it's crucial that we give all children a strong foundation in math and
that we start many years before they enter formal schooling." The Council identified which math concepts should be emphasized in early childhood settings. |
Learn Like a Baby
Researchers from a host of different fields - neuroscience, psychology
and education, to name a few - are making key discoveries about how
humans learn. For example, babies as young as eight months old gather
statistics and make complex calculations, says Patricia Kuhl, a neuroscientist.
Social interaction is also much more important than previously thought. How babies
learn, and what we can learn from them, is the subject of a report in Science Daily.
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Resources at Your Fingertips
Fairfax Futures offers a new resource page for businesses on
its Web site, with an online digest of news on building a competitive workforce,
the case for investing in early education, the new science of learning, and
news and resources for your employees.
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Fairfax Futures' 3rd Annual School
Readiness Leadership Forum
READY TO ACHIEVE:
Investing Early in the
Education of America's Future Workforce
Tuesday, Sept. 22 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon
Capital One Conference Center
McLean, Virginia Register online or call 703.324.3076
Speakers:
The Honorable Jim Moran U.S. House of Representatives
 Dr. Jacqueline JonesSenior Advisor to the Secretary for Early LearningU.S. Department of Education
General Hugh Shelton USA(R)
Former Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Dr. Derek Cabrera
President and Founder
ThinkWorks, Inc.
The ever-changing world will
require a workforce that is agile and able to solve complex problems using
technologies that have not yet been invented.
Join other business,
government, military and education leaders to learn what we can do to ensure
children's readiness for the 21st century.
This event is made possible
through a generous contribution from Capital One. To
see all our corporate and philanthropic partners, visit the Fairfax Futures'
School Readiness Network. |
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