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A wonderful thing happened as a result of a terrific collaboration among EYI, Nassau BOCES, the Alliance for Quality Education and LProgressive Coalition. For the first time, the superintendents of the ten high-needs school districts on LI were convened (Hempstead, Roosevelt, Freeport, and Westbury in Nassau and Amityville, Brentwood, Central Islip, Copiague, William Floyd, and Wyandanch in Suffolk). They came together to discuss what is known about the forthcoming Requests for Proposals from the New York State Department of Education for the expansion of pre-K. The Governor's budget included $25 million for this purpose, to be doled out in competitive grants. Another $50,000 is available in competitive grants for community schools (where community services are physically housed within the school) and extended day or extended year programming (after-school and summer programs). The districts all expressed an interest in applying for the pre-K grants. Many were concerned about space, since all of these districts are experiencing a growth in the number of students enrolled. That is why the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk were present, to offer the districts help in identifying community-based organizations that might have space for pre-K children. EYI is intent upon unifying the segments of early childhood education that exist within various government and institutional structures. As the schools begin embracing 4 year olds, they can benefit from the incredible expertise that Long Island has to offer. In the end, I can't help but notice that once again, it's funding that got everyone to the table.
-Dana Friedman, president, The Early Years Institute
View EYI on Early Childhood Investment View Jon Stewart on Funding UPK |
 Public Policy in Early Childhood |
Governor Cuomo and NYS Legislative Body proclaims April 29-May 5 as Screen-Free Week in the State of New York. This resolution encourages EYI to invite families, schools, childhood programs, libraries, pediatricians, places of worship and parks to work together to promote children's health and literacy so they are ready to succeed in school and life by turning off screens. Click here
The Whitehouse President Barack Obama speaks on Early Childhood Education - "Expanding access to high quality early childhood education is among the smartest investments that we can make. Research shows that the early years in a child's life - when the human brain is forming - represents a critically important window of opportunity to develop a child's full potential and shape key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child's success in school and life." Read more
"Ed. Funders Giving More to Same Few, Studies Show" - "As more and more foundation money floods into K-12 education, it is being channeled to fewer and fewer groups, according to new research presented at the American Educational Research Association meeting last week in Philadelphia, PA." Read more
"Infographic: We're Getting Beat on Preschool" - "President Barack Obama and the Center for American Progress have proposed significantly expanding access to high-quality preschool."
Center for American Progress (May 5, 2013) Read more
"Arnie Duncan: Universal preschool is a sure path to the middle class."
Washington Post Opinion Blog (April 18, 2013) Read more |
| Hot Topics In the News |
Energeia Partner Dana Friedman of the Early Years Institute talks about the need to invest in our kids education while they are very young. View here
Read EYI's Blog - "The Rich Get Richer Early Childhoods" - "It's always been true that richer children surpass their poorer peers in grades and test scores. What's news, however, is that this achievement gap is growing substantially and the solution may not rest with schools, but with families." Read more
"Poverty as a Childhood Disease"-"Poverty in this country is now likely to define many children's life trajectories in the harshest terms: poor academic achievement, high dropout rates, and health problems from
"How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies" - The latest research on how natural environments can refocus our attention, lessen stress and hasten healing - especially in children. Read more |
EYI in Westbury |
The Rauch Foundation Funds EYI's Ready, Set, Achieve! Fund with $75k
The Early Years Institute announces The Rauch Foundation's $75,000 grant to establish EYI's Ready, Set, Achieve! Fund on Wednesday, June 12. This re-grant fund will specifically be used for Westbury agencies who work with children from birth-5 years old. The application period will open in the coming months for agencies to apply.
Dryden Street School Celebrates Screen-Free Week
by Unplugging and Building Literacy Skills
In celebration of Screen-Free Week, the PTA kicked- off their School Reading Initiative program by hosting two "Meet the Author Days" with a "Story Time Reading" for all the pre-K and Kindergarten students in support of building literacy skills. Offered as part of Screen-Free Week, the readings were conducted by PTA vice-president, Elizabeth Hunt, and children's book author, Nathaniel Calloway. The events were held on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, at the Dryden Street School.
Congratulations to the Dryden Street Kindergarten students for sharing - "I Love Reading."
 Many thanks to Assemblyman Michael Montesano (photo center) and Councilwoman Viviana Russell (center right), EYI's President Dana Friedman (center left), Dryden Street Principal Dale Telmer (far left), Superintendent Mary Lagnado (2nd left), guest author Nathaniel Calloway (2nd right), and Assistant Principal Juanita Sherwood (far right) for supporting Screen-Free Week and Building Student Literacy Skills. |
Thank You for Unplugging! - EYI's Screen-Free Week
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After months of planning, this year's Screen-Free Week was a tremendous success! There were over 43 Screen-Free Week events held throughout Long Island with over 4,000 families and children who participated and "unplugged" for seven days!
Many thanks to the The Early Years Institute's Regional Screen-Free Week Committee, Westbury Committee and The Child Care Partnership of Port Washington as we could not have done this without you!
We are extremely grateful to and humbled by State Senator John Flanagan (District 2) and Assemblyman Charles Lavine (District 13) who presented The Early Years Institute with a Legislative Resolution, proclaiming Screen-Free Week as an annual event in New York State.
Thank you to our local government officials, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilwoman Viviana Russell and Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory (District 15) for their support in promoting this worthy cause by hosting screen-free events for the children and families within their communities during this week of "unplugging."
We could not promote this event without the help of our sponsors: CA Technologies, Fidelis Care, Long Island Parent, Anton News Media, WLIE 540 AM, the Town of North Hempstead and individual donations from people like you.
 
Remember - share your favorite Screen-Free Week moments!
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Screen Smart Resources - Download Your Copy Now! |
EYI's Screen Smart Guide for Elementary Schools - As schools increase the deployment of technology as a teaching tool,our goal is to encourage educators, families and children to be mindful of how much time is spent on screen-based entertainment media. Now is the time to learn how to Be Screen Smart by balancing time with screens and time spent in activities that are more conducive to creative play, problem-solving, critical thinking and active play outside. Read More
Child Care Program "Facing the Screen Dilemma: Young children, Technology and Early Education" - Smartboards, Smartphones, Tablets, E-books, and more. The rapid influx of new screen devices poses a special challenge for the early childhood community. How do we best support children's growth, development, and learning in a world radically changed by technology? Read More |
EYI Events, Awards and Honors |
EYI's Dr. Dana Friedman, et al, presented at the Social Justice and Diversty Summit, "The Persistence of Inequality in Modern Society: Education, Immigration and LGBT Issues." Farmingdale State College Social Science Research Institute (April 20, 2013) Read more
The Hispanic Network named EYI's Helen Dorado Alessi as one of the Top 25 Latino Advocates on Long Island. (May 7, 2013) Read more |
EYI's New Board Member |
 The Board of Directors of The Early Years Institute (EYI) has appointed Huntington, NY resident Jaci Clement, executive director of the Fair Media Council, a New York metro area media watch organization headquartered at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, NY, to serve on its board. Clement is a nationally recognized media expert with over 20 years of experience in the communications industry. Clement holds the title of Executive Communicator, the highest rank of distinction bestowed by the Association of Women in Communications. |
Visit EYI's "new" Family-Friendly PickaPark.org website |
 Looking for a great place to spend time with the family? Check-out EYI's " new" family-friendly website called Pickapark.org!
A searchable online guide of approximately 700 Long Island parks where you can choose a park by zip code or amenities such as bathrooms, wide pathways for strollers, refreshments, playgrounds and benches.
It's time well spent...reconnecting with nature! |
Favorite Quote
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"An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people
how to make a living, but doesn't teach them how to make a life." - Author Unknown -
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Through your generosity, EYI improves early learning opportunities for all children in our region to help them achieve success in school and life.
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EYI on the Web
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EYI's Board of Directors
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Jane Ashdown, Ph.D., Chair
Adelphi University
Warren Rosenfeld, M.D.
Vice-Chair & Secretary
Winthrop-University Hospital
John Sepe, Treasurer
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Lorraine Aycock
Bank of America
Dr. Constance R. Clark-Snead
Educational Consultant
Jaci Clement
Fair Media Council
Erika Craven
PHH Arval
Erica Lee-Benedetto
Worldwide Who's Who
Benjamin Malerba
Rivkin Radler LLP
Michael Rainone
ProActive Technology Group, LLC
Sandy Feinberg
Middle Country Public Library |
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EYI on Long Island | |
Children are born learning!
By age five, a child's brain is 85 percent developed. Our vision is to close the achievement gap so all children are ready to succeed in school and life.
EYI is working in over 30
communities throughout the region
to transform early childhood education and promote school readiness.
Ready, Set, Achieve! |
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EYI's Media Partners |
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Contact Us
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The Early Years Institute
One Dupont Street
Suite 101
Plainview, NY 11803
516.304.5480
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