Beech Tree News Network

Early Childhood Advocates Joining Together to Celebrate "Early Childhood Education Day-2021." 

MORGANTOWN--Members of the Tri-SKY Collaborative Early Childhood  Council, serving Butler County, are proud to partner with Butler County Schools, Morgantown  City Council and Butler County Fiscal Court in recognizing early childhood educators by  declaring May 7, 2021 as Early Childhood Education Day in Morgantown, Butler County KY.  There will be a proclamation signing on that day at 1:30PM at the Butler County Courthouse  Lawn. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Morgantown City Hall. 

May 7, 2021 was chosen in Butler County as Early Childhood Education Day as it comes as a  joining of National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7) and National Child Care Provider  Appreciation Day (May 9).  

Community Leaders and Early Childhood Advocates want to recognize all of those early  childhood educators who nurture, teach, and care for children in various settings in our county.  Early childhood educators are found in settings that include child care centers, child care  homes, school- and community-based preschools, and Head Start programs.

Early Childhood Education is a field that deserves recognition:

The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) at the University of California,  Berkeley estimates that approximately two million child care providers/ early educators help  shape the future of 12 million children in child care from birth to five. The 2020 Early Childhood  Profile, published by the Kentucky Center for Statistics, reports six early care and education  programs in Butler County. Of these six, one is a certified family child care home, three are  licensed centers, two are Head Start programs and two are public preschool programs. In order  for a program to be listed in the early childhood profile the program must be regulated by the  state. Anyone who cares for more than three unrelated children is required by KY law to be  regulated as a child care setting.  

Early Childhood Education is essential:

Essential is a word that has been heard recently related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, however,  the field of Early Childhood has been essential for many years- without early childhood  educators, other people can NOT go to work! While the state did shut down regulated child  care due to COVID in the spring of 2020, they were re-opened more quickly than some  businesses and schools due to the essential nature of their work to the workforce. 

Early Childhood Education is School Readiness.  

School readiness is a “hot topic” these days and the state wants to be sure children are as  prepared as possible when they go to kindergarten. The experiences that children have during  the first five years impact how prepared they are when they get to kindergarten. Butler County  is lucky to have a variety of community programs that are available for all children.  

The Proclamation signing is one way our community can show appreciation to all those who  work with young children and their families during the early years.

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Article submitted to BTN.