January 31, 2010
PreschoolFirst Experts Help Shape $10 Billion Grant Fund
RESTON, VA – In December 2009, early childhood experts from across the country were invited by the National Head Start Association (NHSA) to participate in a series of Head Start Policy Project work groups. Seven work groups prepared recommendations for the implementation of the federal government’s Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF) legislation. The ELCF is an Obama administration initiative that will spend ten billion dollars over ten years to encourage states to promote high quality early education.

Two of the invited experts were representatives of The Source for Learning, Inc., developer of PreschoolFirst (www.PreschoolFirst.com), an online curriculum and assessment service. PreschoolFirst is in use across the United States in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, independent and public pre-K centers, faith-based programs, and family child care facilities.

The SFL early childhood professionals are Mari Blaustein, Director of Preschool Initiatives, and Kamna Seth, Senior Manager of Educational Services. Their contributions to the work groups included recommendations about early learning standards, curriculum and assessment, and program standards. Their suggestions are included in the final NHSA policy recommendations presented to Obama administration officials during the January 2010 NHSA Leadership Institute.

PreschoolFirst is an initiative of The Source for Learning (www.sourceforlearning.org), a not-for-profit corporation providing enhanced learning through technology. In addition to PreschoolFirst, The Source for Learning is the creator of TeachersFirst.com, TeachersAndFamilies.com, and GrowUpLearning.com, a new service for the families of young children.