EmpoweredEd2020

We believe the use of technology is changing rapidly, as is the knowledge base on which literacy approaches will work best for diverse children and families.  The Campaign for Grade Level Reading forecasts that communities committed to making a demonstrable impact on grade-level reading will need to prioritize their technology-based efforts by determining which areas are most pressing.  Promoting a personal connection among parents and educators via social media, cell phones, texting, and the development of hybrid learning communities is key. 

When Ralph Nader visited Atlanta I shared our pilot programs for new moms, now named Educare, with him over a coffee. Here are some of Nader’s thoughts regarding parents’ involvement in early childhood education.  Nader believes education is clearly a significant factor in enhancing the future of impoverished children. Education levels bear heavily on efforts to bring families out of poverty and in providing livable wages for low and moderate and middle-income families. Nader is adamant, “We need to invest in the nation’s children. We must assure an adequate safety net, health care, higher quality and more plentiful child care and vastly better educational opportunities, particularly as early as Kindergarten.”  Parental responsibility should be encouraged by finding ways to help support parents in their efforts to help support their children as more families confront economic conditions demanding a greater deal of time be spent away from home. Parents should be as involved as possible