1. Growing Up Right: Investing in Early Child Development Interactive Innovations III Conference Charles S. Coffey, O.C. Council for Early Child Development March 4, 2008

2. “Knowledge is the currency of our economy and learning is a key to maintaining productivity, competitiveness and prosperity. By stimulating innovation in public education and learning systems, Canadians will become more highly skilled, creative and adaptable—qualities leading to an innovative society and a better workforce.” Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning The Conference Board of Canada The Capacity to Learn…

3. “If you want an idea of what your economy will look like in say 15 or 20 years…if you want an economy that's vibrant, citizens who are productive and a workplace that's innovative - think about the investment you're making in very young people today.” Dr. Fraser Mustard Children – “Keepers of the Key”…

4. Early child development (ECD) is the first and most critical phase of education and human growth. Foundation for Lifelong Learning…

5. 1.A child’s earliest experiences shape brain development. The Power and Workings of the Brain…

6. 1.A child’s earliest experiences shape brain development. 2.Between conception and entry to school, the developing brain establishes sight, hearing, language and cognitive ability. The Power and Workings of the Brain…

7. 1.A child’s earliest experiences shape brain development. 2.Between conception and entry to school, the developing brain establishes sight, hearing, language and cognitive ability. 3.‘Healthy functioning’ is not characterized by how much a child knows, but how much she/he is capable of learning. The Power and Workings of the Brain…

8. 1.A child’s earliest experiences shape brain development. 2.Between conception and entry to school, the developing brain establishes sight, hearing, language and cognitive ability. 3.‘Healthy functioning’ is not characterized by how much a child knows, but how much she/he is capable of learning. 4.¼ of Canada’s children between birth to age 6 are experiencing some learning or behavioural difficulty. The Power and Workings of the Brain…

9. “First, young children develop in an environment of relationships. Second, early experiences sculpt the evolving architecture of the brain. Third, wise investments in young children are among the most cost-effective outlays a society can provide.” Jack Shonkoff, Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor of Child Health and Development at the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Graduate School of Education, and founding director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University The Power and Workings of Economics…

10. “We're spending too much money on prisons, welfare, remedial education and crisis intervention because we don't spend enough on children before they head off to school.” “…a $17 return for every dollar invested in high-quality early learning” Art Rolnick, Economist - Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis The Power and Workings of Economics…

11. “The returns to human capital investments are greatest for the young for two reasons: (a) skill begets skills, and b) younger persons have a longer horizon over which to recoup the fruits of their investments.” James Heckman, a Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences University of Chicago The Power and Workings of Economics…

12. Rates of Return to Human Development Investment Across All Ages Human Capital Policy http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uctppca/HCP.pdf

13. “The quality and capacity of our future population depends on what we do now to support early child development.” Dr. Fraser Mustard Council for Early Child Development…

14. Calls for the implementation of quality, universal, accessible, affordable and optional early child development programs that strive to meet the diverse and changing needs of children and parents. Early Years Study 2: Putting Science into Action for Children …

15. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

16. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community 2.Integrated governance model and universal application Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

17. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community 2.Integrated governance model and universal application 3.The parent-child relationship paramount Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

18. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community 2.Integrated governance model and universal application 3.The parent-child relationship paramount 4.Skilled, responsive and fairly compensated early childhood workforce essential Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

19. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community 2.Integrated governance model and universal application 3.The parent-child relationship paramount 4.Skilled, responsive and fairly compensated early childhood workforce essential 5.Sensitivity to the diversity of families and communities Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

20. 1.Existing neighbourhood schools - the natural location in every community 2.Integrated governance model and universal application 3.The parent-child relationship paramount 4.Skilled, responsive and fairly compensated early childhood workforce essential 5.Sensitivity to the diversity of families and communities 6.Community early child development tools measure and assess progress Council for Early Child Development… Early Child Development Centres

21. Assesses children’s kindergarten development and provides school districts and communities with information about preschool population Evaluates the effectiveness of early childhood interventions and helps predict how children will do in elementary school The Early Development Instrument (EDI)…

22. While interest in early childhood development has produced more public spending on programs, there is little accountability for the funding… little progress has been made in pulling the service strands together into a coherent system. From Public Spending…

23. …to CHAOS

24. Canada has fallen behind other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries that are taking steps to support early child development. Policy Challenges are not an Excuse for Inaction…

25. Public Expenditures on Early Childhood Programs Selected OECD Countries (%), 2004

26. “A four year Swedish study found that children entering daycare at an early age did a number of important learning and social tasks significantly better than children who were older when they started daycare.” “Money spent on Head Start early education programs in the United States has decreased the need for spending on special education, welfare, teen pregnancy, delinquency and crime.” From Voices for Children… voicesforchildren.ca

27. Well-funded, integrated child development and parenting programs improve the cognitive and social functioning of all children. High-quality early child education produces “long-term positive outcomes and cost-savings that include improved school performance, reduced special education placement, lower school dropout rates, and increased lifelong earning potential…” Business Roundtable of leading US Companies (2003) Evidence is Compelling…

28. How will innovative early child development centres impact K-12 – students, teachers, administrators, parents, communities and stakeholders? Reality Check…

29. Understand that effective early child development centres set the stage for greater student success in K-12 Consider the opportunity that schools are the natural infrastructure for ECD centres Be ready for change Lead the way Influence Public Policy and Change in Schools and Districts…

30. “ A new Early Childhood Learning Agency will be established. It will assess the feasibility and costs of full school day kindergarten for five-year-olds. It will also undertake a feasibility study of providing parents with the choice of day-long kindergarten for four-year- olds by 2010, and for three-year-olds by 2012.” Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Steven L. Point Full School Day Kindergarten on the Horizon…

31. Children First Initiatives Greater Nanaimo Early Years Partnership Success By 6 Initiatives in Nelson Early Childhood Development Programs Transferable Early Child Development: A Powerful Equalizer Lori G. Irwin, Arjumand Siddiqi and Clyde Hertzman World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health Council for Early Child Development Community Fellows Reflection on Conference Messages Learning Steps in your Communities…

32. Early learning – shared goals of stakeholders Intrinsic link between early education and economic prosperity too significant to ignore Substantial and sustained investments in growing up right – in early child development will be necessary to improve the competence, health, and well-being of populations in Canada and throughout the world. Urgency to act Leadership in Action

33. Growing Up Right: Investing in Early Child Development